The record-union., 1897-12-05


the first time she had been the means
cousin.
Here they come" said Nell Heath
erton, land Fay does look worried. You
ought to have told her. P'tite.'
Quick" cried P'tite. In the den.
In the denl Comel" and she dragged
Ted after her by the buttonhole.
She put her head out again to admon-
ish Bob.
Make it a good bluff" and slammed
the door.
Miss Sterling came in hastily.
rs that Ted's overcoat in the hall?,'
she asked Have they come in YETI
Cant prove it by me- replied BOD
to order His sister looked dismayed.
"Oh, deari We've been up to the
stables and around to the conservatory
and everywhere and we can't find them
Oh, we didn't try the club, did we!
That's where they must have gone
WAS that you calling them at the
top of your lungs about an hour ago?
asked Bob carelessly.
mo, what was it? Where was it?''
gasped Fay.
Bob did not enjoy her anxiety any
more than did Margaret, but he could
not disobey a sovereign command. SO
he continued mercilessly:
Down on the pond. Someone
screamed--two voices. 1 thought of
investigating, but decided there We're
enough of you to be sufficient unto
yourselves in case anything happened. ;"
Mrs. Sterling here appeared with the
Il
by grasping her arms excitedly.
"Oh, do call Martin-somebody! Tell
him to get a boathook! Bob, don't you
understand? Ptite may be drowned"
Drowned" cried her mother.
"Yes-yes! Under the ice! Bob, you
idiot"
Under the ice?'' repeated Mrs. ster-
ling How did she get there?"
I'VE went up the creek. We weren't
gone fifteen minutes, but when we got
back they were gone, and there were
marks all over the ice around that aw-
full air hole.''
TT can't be possible so soon. Bob,
did you let them go out again?"
Again, mother?" cried Fay. HAS
she been back here since we went out?"
A small whirlwind burst from the
door.
"Oh. you dear goose! What a joke!
But you spoiled everything. Mrs. Ster-
ling. We might have had her drag
g.ing the pond for u.s." Then throwing
her arms around her friends neck.
well, l ought not to ask any more
conclusive evidence of your affection
for me, should I?''
Fay Immediately began to cry.
You are so thoughtless, P'tite," she
said
Here is your ginger" said Mrs.
Sterling briefly, wishing she had made
it twice as hot.
''Awfully good of you, but Fay must
have it. Now, dear. everything is all
right I'm terribly sorry. Drink the
ginger Are you almost frozen-out so
lcng?"
Jack Crawford had been apparently
Ito judge from the back of his chair)
perfectly oblivious of the proceedings,
but now he rose and came across the
room.
Come over and thaw out, Fay" he
said It's a beastly shame. That girl, y
ne added lower, as he fixed his chair
for her, has no more common sense
than a butterfly"
P'tite saw though she did not hear
the undertone. She turned merrily to
Harvard Clark.
I'VE did lead you chase, didn't
we? Weren't those marks on the ice
most cleverly, accidentally construct
ed?''
He looked at her grimly. you ought
TO be put in a straitjacket," he NUT
tered.
Miss Merryfleld completely ignored
the remark and sat down at the pi-
ano. She touched the keys softly with
playful sobriety, gliding into a negro
melody of alluring wierdness. Every
one was awkwardly silent. Harvard
Clark started TO talk with Nell Heath
erton, but conversation Jagged. Both
sat idly on the window seat, he look
ing absently out at the snow-eapped
arbor vines and she studying Ptite's s
dress and position in detail. Mrs.
Sterling rejoined Margaret with her
leaning against the mantlepiece os-
tensibly attendant upon Fay. Ted,
after a moments hesitation, came over
and stood by the piano.
Nell Heatherton finally broke the
drowsiness which was creeping over
the room by saying:
"Only three days more! Doesn't the
tree come tomorrow, Fay?"
Yes. l hope so. We shall need a
whole day 10 get it trimmed before
putting on the things"
You would better get the hall ready
tomorrow, then. 1t will take all the
next day for the tree. Don't bran the
floor too much. l detest them very
slippery. Have you heard from the
Biddluphs?"
Yes; and the Thatchers. Everyone
else replied long ago"
How many others are there to be?''
asked Clark
The Templetons and the Mathers,
Frank Watts and Mr. Knight Kath-
crime Taylor can't come, nor the Ded-
hams. They all go in town for holiday
week the day before Christmas
Il should think Kate would stay
over" said Bob. It's going to be dead
slow in town this year"
oh there's sure to be something
going on the 24th which she would
not want to miss for 50 small an af-
fair as ours viii be-
I'm glad it is TO be small" inter-
rupted Miss Merryfield, stopping in the
middle Of Nevin's "Dites-Moi' 1T will
be much nicer and cozier having a
big tree all to ourselves and then hav-
ing the few outsiders later in the even
ing. But really you don't know what
you miss by not keeping open house
all day"
well. P'tite" said Bob, well. all
come down to see you next year and