The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1896-10-28

lhey put the unwelcome thougnt
aside, and enjoyed the present They
had no neighbors, and they didn't
want any. They wore cool wrappers
all day, read in the hammocks, braided
their hair down their backs, and lin
gered for two mortal hours at their
meals.
But in these days OF liberty and
abandon came the long rain-storm.
The rain came down in sheets tor
rents. 1t was deluge.
The girls watched it from their
chambe window.
From a direction beyond their
range two sturdy pedestrians, protect
ed by n single umbrella, marched
arm-in-arm through the merciless fall
of water.
Very stupid of me, Alan; but l
thought we could make the six miles,
and get to my sisters house before
the rain fairly set in. But here we
are blowing our way through the
water like couple Of porpoises. If
you hadn't been sick-rm afraid
you'll get your death"
"Never mind, Lance. I'm dry as
yet. see glimpse of white among
the trees. Is that the house?"
"Yes, that's the cottage. Helen is
master hand at hot negus.
You'll be oil right in a minute. my
boy"
you're Drowned up so by your sea
trip, Lance, / don't believe your sister'll
know YOU"
"Salt water agrees with me better
than fresh-that's fact"
By the time they reached the Pam
sizes, the rainstorm had increased to
such violence that Mr.. Laurence
Leighton burst open the door without
much ceremony, and hurriedly reliev-
ing themselves of umbrellas, over
shoes and dripping coats in the hall,
they proceeded to the parlor, where
the open piano, flowers aud books
about gave the apartment the air
to which Mrs. Willoughby'sbrother was
accustomed.
"Helen is somewhere about, Alan.
I'll find her in a minute"
Meanwhile the girls had heard the
sounds of intrusion with unspeakable
dismay.
"Robbers!" breathed Nab.
"Lunatics whispered Ethel.
Ethel looked as if she was going to
faint. Mab's black eyes flashed. She
picked up parasol, and marched
down stairs. Ethel catching the
spirit of resistance, caught up poker
and followed.
Lance, who was about leaving the
parlor in search of his sister, retreated
in dismay before the appearance of
these fair but very eccentric-looking
strangers.
"Sirs." cried Nab, "what does this
mean? What are you here for?"
MADAM - ladies =" etammered
Lance, looking at the parasol and
poker.
"a mistake |" murmured Alan West
ford.
"What mistaken" demanded Nab.
"This is our house. By what right
are you here?"
Pardon, but left my sister, Mrs.
Helen Willoughby--"
"She vacated the premises more
than fortnight ago."
"Then pray excuse me 1 am in
truding. am Mr.. Laurence Leigh
ton this is my friend, Mr.. Westford,
in whose yacht 1 have lately taken a
sea-trip. We landed only this morn
ing, and have had no late news of my
sisters movements. supposed she
was here. We have just walked from
Harborside, overtaken by the storm,
and Mr.. Westford has hardly yet re-
covered from an attack of pleurisy (;
but we will go to the village-to the
hotel-at once, of course.
Mab's black eyes looked into Alan
Westford's blue ones ;and Ethels blue
eyes looked into Laurence's black
ones. There was pause.
eff Mr.. Westford is sick" said
Nab, dropping her parasol.
"Of course he cannot go out in the
rain." said Ethel, putting away her
poker.
"No; and I hope you will pardon
u.s." said Nab.
''And stay to supper. We are not
inhospitable," said Ethel.