The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1895-05-18

spent the sumner months IN their
country cottage, about mile from
popular little resort. Each season
had made the place dearer, and since
the boys and girls had scattered at
school and college during the win
ters, they had more than ever looked
forward to their summers together in
the country. This season they were
there alone for the first time. Mr..
Harmer having to go to England on
business, had persuaded his wife that
it would be safe to leave "the child
rem" at the cottage with their faithful
maid Betty. Almost Immediately,
however, Betty had been called home
by the illness of her brother, and the
young people were in high spirits at
the prospect of being in sole posses
sion for two months. After week
spent in putting the house and lawn
in good order, they felt that they were
ready, as Bob said, "to take life easy"
and enjoy to the utmost the rows and
drives and games that always filed
the summer days. 1t was at this
point that the unfortunate Miss Nun
roe was taken i'll, and Maud disturbed
the serenity of the family by propos-
ing to bring her to the cottage. Hav-
ing once agreed to the plan, however,
they determined to welcome the
stranger heartily. Their mothers
chamber was put in daintiest order,
and twelve years-old May expressed
the feeling of her sisters when she
said, as she arranged cluster of
sweet peas in a bowl: "I'm glad we
are going to bring Miss Munroe here,
it makes me think of that verse about
i was a stranger and ye took me in.''
That afternoon Miss Munroe lay in
her little room at the hotel. In spite
of the heat of the day her head was
enveloped in flannels, SO that she
scarcely heard light tap, and half
rose in surprise as the door gently
opened and Maud's bright face ap-
peared. "Why, my dear, come in!"
she exclaimed.
you didn't expect to see me so
soon, did you, Miss Munroe? I've
just come to ask you to go home with
me and stay till you are we'll. You
have no chance here. l can put
what you will need in this travelling
bag. You can keep on your wrapper,
and Rob and l will help you down
stairs. He has the buggy waiting,
with pillows and shawls. It's warm,
and I'll bundle you up SO that you
won't know you are out. We will
drive very slowly. I'm sure it won't
hurt you half as much as to listen to
that cross baby"
Miss Munroe tried to protest, but
Maud would not listen to her.
20, you must come; my orders are
to bring you with me. | should be
sorry to have to use force on account
of the notoriety. Think what head
ing it would make in the papers
Daring Case of Kidnapping in Day
lightp"
And SO, unable to resist, the half
bewildered little lady was soon tucked
into the roomy old buggy, surrounded
with pillows, and carefully driven
home by Maud, while Rob followed
on foot.
Then what delight it was to find
herself in large. airy room, fragrant
with Mays flowers! After Sue had
given her cup of hot broth, and af-
ter darkening the room, had left her
alone, how could she help dropping
into the sleep she SO much needed?
Downstairs Sue was saying: Pm
her firm friend for life. She said, as
all mothers's old friends do: you
look just as your mother did when
she was Young but she is the first
one who has failed to add: Only you
are not nearly SO pretty So for
sparing me that, she shall have the
best the pantry affords"
During the days that followed, the
young hostesses did all in their
power for their guests comfort and
pleasure, Mays self-appointed duty
being to lay blossom by her plate
before the tray was sent up stairs.
And the boys, Maud said. behaved
beautifully. They not only carried
the tray, but frequently did what
they called "girls' work." in order to
give their sisters time for rest or
short drive. In the evenings, Miss
Munroe, contrary to their gloomy ex-