Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-11-27

to send ME away" says she in q low voice,
the smile on her lips sadder than any tears.
"What ridiculous thought" says Dray-
| ton, kindly, and in an easy manner, though
| in truth he is feeling very shocked.
| She was afraid! Afraid that he was go
ing to dismiss her. Good heavens! that she
should be driven to fear SO small thing as
| that. And he to dismiss her!
'tOh, noP' says he. 81 want you very
much indeed. Mrs. Clarke, and especially
at the present moment. l." hastily, "have
| Just had lot of kilograms from friends of
mine," pulling handful of dull red papers
/ from his pocket, Saying they will be here
| tomorrow in time for dinner, and--I-it's
carelessHess itself, isn't it?" continues he,
laughing in an uncertain sort OF way-really
it is ne who is nervous now-''but the fact
is, asked all these fellows down for the
shooting. There's very good shooting here
you know. 1 asked them when 1 was in
town few weeks ago, and I'm afraid for
rooms, their comfort-everything, you
! know" vaguely. "I've lived so long
abroad that I'm a little out of it sometimes.
In the East, you see, there are no prepara-
tions to be made. If you're camping out,
and you ask a fellow to join you for days
shoot, why he's uncommon glad if he finds
you've got anything to give him on his ar
rival, but here I'm awfully sorry for
/ got to mention it to you this morning, but
perhaps ifI telegraphed, eh? Town isn't
so far off, you know, and We might get
something in time for them to eat, eh?''
He is looking quite an1ious-so anxious
.. that Rhoda's spirits, always elastic, rise
with rebound that brings her to herself
again. Now or never is her opportunity
This she recognizes in an instant. can op-
portunity once lost" says the immortal
copy book, sis never to be regained." Rhoda
does not lose hers.
'Certainly," says she, with q decision
and promptness that positively startles
him. This courageous, reliable young
woman, is she one with the frightened, tear
filled, trembling girl of a moment since?
'Tn6nite variety" indeedl His head begins
to swim. Here is housekeeper who can
jump out of window as lightly as young
fawn. who can form very dainty sentences,
! who can 60 very near tainting at mo-
ment's notice, and take upon her shoulders
the entire management of household at
even shorter notice still Who is she?
Who, indeed?
'I am sure I can arrange matters for
you," says she deliberately. eff you tell
me the exact number of guests whom you
, expect, and give me an idea as to what you
think they will require.
"Tenp' Really he is growing as prompt
as she is "And-er-what want is, that
they should be comfortable! They are all
fellows who have come out of good houses
of their own, and 1 shouldn't like-that
is; you know what mean"
eyes," gravely, II know"
'Then may I ask you to help me out of
my difficulty"
she.
"To-Y
"Help you out of your difficultiesr"
There is q slight pause. There is one
difficulty out of which she has not helped
himl The difficulty of discovering who she
is
"Ah. Thank you," says he at length =
little lamely. "You will then undertake
the whole thing7 Peter is good old fel:
low, but worse than useless in an affair of
this kind. He. can manage the wine, and
will do as be is told. but beyond thatl I
am afraid Miss Clarke-I beg your pardon,
here sinecure. l."
"If you will tell nIe what you want, and
give me carte blanche to order what L
want, 1 think can make your friends COM
tortable," says she, gently.
"But that's il" says he. "I don't know
what 1 want. There are ten men, that
means ten rooms. and ten dinners"
sOh. mol" says she.
"Eh? Oh, OF course" says he, and after
a struggle on either part they both laugh.
sDinners for ten. I mean. Carte blanche?
That of course, and thousand thanks for
taking the trouble off my shoulders. You
you will be so good as to see that they
prt flowers on the dinner table?'
His tone is distinctly apologetic To give
this lovely creature orders! And yet what
luck to have got such housekeeperi One
who knowsl
"Yes," says she laconically. She recol-
lec.s herself moment later. Again she has
sinned, and in tho same old line Again
sha has aroused suspicion. A bald eyes"
to him % answer, and she ssrvantl His
servauti she fushes hotly.
eyes, sir" says she hastily, and again IN
such mighty hurry that the vsry suspi-