The age-herald., 1898-09-11

She was staying there last spring."
 'Married?'
 "A widow, believe, nearly as old as MT. Calthorpe himself"
 sfDo you know her name?"
 "Oh, yes She Is the widow of an army surgeon named-Let me sec"
 "The name wasn't Sargent, was it?'
 "No" said Mrs. Bean. 'T met her sev- eral times. So did you, Maurice-Perry. That was her name-Perry."
 "Oh," said Bean, twas that old woman Calthorpe's sister?'
 "She isn't really old, dear. She's young CT than MT. Calthorpe. There's one daughter, I believe"
 "Is the learned counsel satisfed?"
 Mot quite. Mrs. Bean, we saw a girl there, as we came up from the station in that house, you know. And I thought her face was familiar. That's all"
 "Did you ever know anyone of that name?" Mrs. Bean asked, her eyes twink ling with curiosity.
 "No," said Guthrie.
 But that night Mrs Bean said to her husband: Leave me alone for two days, and I will know all about your window blind young lady. Then make Jeff Guth- rie come here and stay over night. You must just make him. Why? Well, never mind why. You can have your secrets, can't you? So can I. That's all,' as Jeff Guthrie says"
 So Maurice Bean, like a wise husband was silent and obeyed.
 The next visit of Jeff Guthrie was plan ned for Saturday evening, with express arrangements for stay over Sun "He can't romp with the children on Sun day" Mrs. Bean subtly reflected.
 After church this subtle woman insisted on lingering about the porch until a grey haired lady came out, and, with her, her daughter-the girl who had pouted at the window blind.
 Mrs Perry, let me introduce our parti- cular friend. MT Guthrie And this Is Miss Perry"
 Nothing could have been more properly conventional than this introduction, and that was why Guthrie was so angry with himself for turning red and becoming con- fused Then too, Helen Perry recognizes ed the man wha had witnessed her little ex- hibition of petulance the week before However. as she had been forewarned, she was better prepared for the encounter In fact, Mrs. Bean had unknown to Guthrie expressly invited these two ladies to din- ner beforehand. Helen smiled and carried off what little embarrassment she may have felt by saying with laugh, You are the gentlemen who was so startled when l sprang the roller blind on you, believe "Yes,' said Guthrie, recovering his sang froid. "You took me by surprise. l was in the midle of telling a story
 "Oh, how interesting! You must tell me your story.'
 ''It was a secret"
 "Then I shall insist on your telling it."
 Guthrie shook his head and smiled then but an hour or two later he said to the girl-and very seriously this time-secret?" you really want to hear that-secret?"
 "Of course I do. Am I not woman?"
 "Then tell me- first. Have you any rela- tive-had you, I should say-of the name or Sargent"
 The girls face changed in moment. She was pale and bit her lip.
 "Oh, MT. Guthrie" she said, "You must ask mother that. I don't know about it. l was only a little girl of 10 when poor Mar garet left us and married that"
 She checked herself. Then after an em- barrassed pause went on, lowering her voice to a whisper, and glancing round at her mother Did you know her?-himY'
 'T once knew a Miss Sargent-very slightly
 "Where?"
 'In Pennsylvania-at Brinkville."
 "Oh yes! He treated her so badly, after all. She had to go somewhere and be teacher. Mother would have forgiven everything, but Margaret was too proud to come back to us. She went and called herself Miss, suppose l don't know about it."
 |, The poor girl was struggling to conceal her sobs from her mother and the others who were strolling with them in the little orchard. When she and Guthrie had drawn away to some distance from the others she spoke again.
 eve only heard that she had died in Pennsylvania-nothing more. l was sent to school in Germany soon after"
 q understand said Guthrie. Your mother has seen a great deal of trouble
 "That is why she looks so old at 5O Tell me, please, am I so much like poor sister Margaret"
 50 much that thought I was looking at her for the moment, when you appeared at the window"
 Jeff Guthrie ceased to be the old bache- Tor fried of the Bean family, and it was all owing to the escape of that roller blind from girls fingers. The marriage of her younger daughter at least was not against Mrs. Perry's wishes, neither was it an un- happy one. And Mrs. Bean prided herself upon having brought it about.