Bennington semi-weekly banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 1894-1902, 1895-07-12

w ''N't Ky TlBuG Ill, IIlaU S clear, ana
then, while they're all at dinner, III slip
around by the back way. and III say I've
been down in the birch woods asleep when
come down stairs"
But what am l gon to tell themP"
| asked Dan, who had never lied in his life
"Why, you drove home awfully slow,
and them
But didn't" objected Dan.
"Oh, you goosel Say you did anyhow,
and then say you saw some boys stealing
melons down in the patch and left the
house TO see if you couldn't catch them.
You go around back of the barn and come
out toward the house, as if you'd come
from the melons. You can say the bows
gave you dreadful chase. How's that for
an eXplanationp
"It's an awful lie, replied Dan frankly.
"But there's the capp'
"Ncither Of us knows anything about
it," answered Mirabel quickly. "Now
CO." An hour later the young woman
swept into the dining room, serene and
dainty, with profuse apologies for her
hardness and great surprise at the Won
derful news of the gypsies and the lost cap.
And now new era opened for Dan.
the vision of a beautiful woman dancing
and the sound of silver bells. 1t was q
kind of trance, only relieved by Mirabel's
actual presence in another guise. She dis
couraged all allusion to the barn scene.
sit was an odd mood of NINE you know,
and felt us if must express it. knew
how shocked you'd all be if you found mo
dancing on Sunday, and so meant to have
ont wi
from church. Only you caught me. :"
Miranda was very much puzzled by the
whole occurrence. She knew at once Dan
was not telling the truth. He was too
much Of n novice in lying to do it well.
| That there had been some woman in the
barn, and that Dan had seen her, she
guessed directly. Moreover, she know it
was no ordinary gypsy. The cap was too
fine bit of millinery for such strolling
tramps. She had intended to loeb up the
cap and examine it at her leisure, but on
Sunday afternoon it disappeared as mys-
teriously as it had come. Miranda knew
that Dan had taken it and at once OWNED
that he was still in communication with
the owner She bore her maternal anxiety
as well as she could for some time, but
finally, driven desperate by Dams absent
decided to Confidc her worry to Miss Heath
cote. She found Mirabcl alone in her ham
mock one morning and told her her trou-
Bile. The boardcr's hair was banded
smoothly over the brow, and her face had
the color Of Il Madonna.
"Of course you're young and incXpcri-
onccd" said Miranda, finishing her conf
dcnce, "and you wouldn't notice things so
l..
that boys jest crazy about some woman,
and want to know who it is and how
long it's been going ON. He never kept
thing from me before. thought perhaps
you could find out about it for me when
you're out driving sometimes. l know he
thought great deal of you, and some
times u stranger can do more than own
folks in such things"
ON try to help You, answered Mira
bel, "but I've hardly seen him alone since
the cap was found"
THAT wasn't any gypsy woman" con-
tinucd Miranda. "YOu didn't seea any one,
of course, cause you were asleep down in
the birchcs. l tell you who l think it was.
There Il boarding house over by the ponds
where they take in low theatrical folks
sometimes, and 1 think it was some of
them wandering over this way. They've
often asked to come here, but I wouldn't
have one of 'em in my house any more Ii
I'd have nest of addcrs."
Mirabel looked frankly into Mrs Keenc's
face. II believe you are right" she said
at must have been some such person.
1 saw nobody about the house. but they
might readily have come while l was
away. III do the best 1 can for you, for
you've been good to me. Don't worry
The boy will get over it. They all do. AS
soon as he finds out what low theatrical
folks are he won't care any moro for them.
He's been too we'll brought up"
ooh, yes, " answered Miranda hopefully.
81 know that Dan has the instinct of "a
true gentleman if he is my son, and he'd
soon see their real nature through their
outside 1lncry."
Tho next day the household was startled
by Miss Hcathcote's sudden call to the
bedside of sick relative in Boston. Dan
brought her the letter in the morning mail.
She read it through quietly and then went
at once to Miranda.
Gwen all miss you drcadfully, and
don't know what Danll do, said Dams
mother. 81 relied on you to help him bear
his trial about that actress woman, and l
sOrter hoped it would come out right again
for you two in the end, but of course sick
ness is sickness, and you must go. You'll
come back and see us as soon's you can,
won't you?"
The minister went down to Boston on
the same train with Mirabel, and so Dan
had no chance to speak with her alone. He
fancied she avoided him, but her manner
was us gentle as ever, and he could not be
sure. She promised to write as soon rs
she reached the city, but no word came.
Dan stood it for week and then deter
mined to follow her, to find out what was
the matter. Miranda encouraged him,
glad to see another interest supplanting
his infatuation with the gypsy woman"
He found the address Mirabel had given
them "a mistake There was no such num-
Der on the street. That night, tired and
dishcartcncd, he wandered into summer
opera hall, but his environment proved no
diversion. The noise and glare the silly
people and their folly, all disguised him.
He thought of his mother, of Mirabel
with her white gowns and lovely hair.
Call that dancingl All, they should see
her dance in the old barn
He was sitting, lost in the memory of
her, recalling every tone and movement,
the waving Of white arms and the tinkle
of the silver bells A burst of enthusiastic