The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1893-09-06
The Nottley Farmhouse.
ny HELEN FORREST GRAVES.

of our days in this dismal place.? said
Alicia Gray, despairingly.
"Oh, Al. think it's splendid :"
cried Sylvia, the younger sister. peep
ing into the cool, stone-paved dairy
and clapping her hands to frighten
away the big cat who was furtiyely
watching the colony OF gray and pur-
pie doves that were perched on the
low brooding caves.
Gone could touch the ceiling with
ones hand " groaned Alicia
But Tint makes it all the more
cozy."
"How are we ever to get our big
furniture into these rooms?"
ooh, we must sell the big things
and keep only the little ones!" cheerily
responded Sylvia. Tall etageres and
monster china cabinets would only be
out of place in these dollhouse nouks
and corners. Do think, Al, how pleas
ant it will be here with muslin curtains
drawn, cottage fashion, across the
easement, and big wood fires crack
ling in those delicious cavcrn-likc
chimneysl"
Alicia smiled. She could not help
it.
"Sylvia," said she, ''if you were
imprisoned for life in the deepest dun
geon of the Bnstile, you would imme-
diately set to work to make it as pie
turesque and comfortable rs possible !"
Sylvia lifted her blue, smiling eyes.
"Well," said she, wouldn't that be
the best way?"
"It's all very well for you," said
Alicia, Struggling her shoulders. "Will
Barrymore has summoned up courage
TO ask you to marry him since he heard
that you were no longer an heircss!"
"Shan't marry any one 80 long as
mamma needs met" declared Sylvia,
flushing up to the roots of her lovely
haxen hair. "But, all the same, it's
very nice of Willw
"And," added Alicia, "Maior
Blossom has politely intimated that he
can't bring himself to drag me into
the poverty of an army officers wife,
now that circumstances have turned
out so different from what we ina
gined."
'Im glad of it, All" said Sylvia,
with energy. 81 never liked Major
Blossom and you know, dear, Mr.
Woodburn would give one of his eyes
to call you his"
Both of them," uttered clear,
manly voice, 'and every other feature
of his face into the bargain!"
And then the girls became aware.
for the first time, that pair of manly
elbows were resting on the window
sill, and that handsome young giant,
posted among the hlacs and syringas,
on the outside, was looking in, like a
magnifed copy Of one of Raphael's
cherubs.
''Don't scold me, Alicial" he plead
ed. 81 don't want TO drag you into
poverty, either, and don't pretend to
be rich man; but if you'll only give
me shred of hope to cling to, I'll
ftpa 30, h. 4, I.
home for you-aye, and comfortable
home, tool
''Say yes, All" coaxingly whispered
Sylvia.
But all that Alicia would murmur
was some disjointed sentence about
thinking of it, as she hurried away
down the dark, wainscoted corridor.
"Do you think she'll have me, Syl-
via?" wistfully demanded Mr.. Wood.
burn.
81 do believe she will," Sylvia an.
swered, cordially, "if only you'll per.
severev"
"In come again this evening"" said
he.
eyes, dol" encouraged Sylvia.
"When you're little settled"
Sylvia sat down on a packing -bo,
and surveyed the general confusion
around her, scarcely knowing whether
to laugh or cry.
''If he expects us to get little set
tied any time within week, he is con
siderably mistaken said she. "Bu
we must manage to civilize things /
little before mamma comes here. A
and l can camp down, gypsy fashion
anywhere. but mamma must be prop
erly cared for"