The herald., 1898-02-20

urally enough, he mentioned the fact
that she resembled a friend of his.
such a nice. whole-souled girl. Miss
Raynor," he said eagerly they have
been neighbors of ours for years. and
as I've never had a sister. Margaret
/ has been so much to me. 1T Is curious
| isn't 1T, that you should have the same
name. and features so strikingiy simil-
ar? I must show you her picture TO-
morrow. You didn't mind, I hope, my
wanting to know you? 1t Is like BIZ
of home, and haven't felt so contented
since / came to Italy. 1t is awfully for
lorn at times to be travelling about
by ones self"
Margaret could not resent his boyish
frendliness; and later, after she had
danced once or twice with young Fair
bairn and had gone to Mrs. Ives COR
ner to rest, she told her friend, without
shade of self-consciousness all that
had passed, and of her instant liking
for the young man.
"I think 1t is principally because
can turn my profile unfiinchlngly to-
ward him, and be sure that he is not
finding fault with it," she laughingly
affirmed.
But Mrs. Ives shook her head. Mar
garet, of all girls in the world, was
least apt to care about the impression
she produced. While she could not be
called handsome, strictly speaking, few
girls had received more attention,
either at home or on a European trip.
Brown-eyed. with fair wavy hair and
clear. pale skin. Margaret was decided
Iy pleasant to look upon; but her chief
charm was a certain rare quality, a
stamp of character, sweet and good
and true. There was no mistakng 1t in
hc- face, and this it was that brought
friends about her everywhere she went.
The days sped on, and in March,
Margaret and her friend began to
think of moving northward. No one
was surprised when Kenneth calmly
announced that he was tired of Rome,
, and would. with their permission ac-
company the two ladies to Florence.
Established on the Lung Arno, the
quiet life was resumed. full to overflow
ing of color and life and beauty. the
enjoyment of pictures and music, books
and flowers Mrs Ives teased no long
er; such reverent. unselfish devotion rs
Kenneths impressed her as something
sweeter and finer than she had ever
was like a joyous child. unquestlon-
ing. confident. serene. The three wan
dered through the Flower City in the
sunshine, thence between rose-hedges
out into fields carpeted with anemones.
And there were long afternoons when
two only strolled under the bluest of
skies, sometimes talking, oftener silent.
The other Margaret was O frequent
topic of conversation; and the happy,
light-hearted girl often felt vaguely
grateful to her unknown namesake. for
was it not the resemblance between
them that had been the means of bring
ing Kenneth to her? The young man 8
perfectly candid expressions Of friend
ship regarding his neghbor left no
doubt in MargaTet's mind as to the ut
ter absence of sentimental fancy in
that direction, but he often uncon-
sciously revealed to her the other girls
genuine affection, in telling what she
had done for him, and of her loyalty to
his house. Little belongings of his,
dainti1y embroidered and marked, he
had shown Margaret with real brother
ly pride in the skill of his small sis
ter" as he sometimes called her And
Margaret's heart ached as she won
dered and hoped; for while she guessed
how 1t would be, there was nothing she
could do.
The warm weather came suddenly
that year, and before Mrs Ives could
even plan an itinerary which should
carry them into higher and cooler re-
gions, Margaret had succumbed to the
languorous, oppressive heat. For days