The Southern herald., 1899-02-24

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What is il now" said Chrissie. with
thar deep smile more in evidence than
ever.
Wont you tell me?" said Minnie.
"Did be? | don't want him 10 know
that | cared"
"Oh, but he does know"
Minnie flushed scarlet.
You might have spared yourself the
trouble of trying to keep it from him.
my DEAR" Chrissie went on, laughing
outright.
Then tell me at once. Oh, ! don,
care-l didn't. Therel" and Miss Sax
by cut the interview short.
Charlie Cantels sister really had very
little information 10 so upon, il you
look at it from the detective point OF
view; but from the point of view OF
a quiek-witted girl, who was also an
inquisitive sister, she had abundes, ms.
terial ior further research.
Il saw Minnie Saxby. to-day" she
said to her brother that evening.
"How is she?" said Charlie.
"0h, very well; only rather-rather
anxious"
What is she anxious about?" said
Charlie. himself still wondering why
Miss Saxby had acted so strangely
about the simple matter of opening q
garden gate.
Well" said Chrissie. with an air Of
extreme discretion. II think-oi
course, it's only an opinion--I think
she's anxious about you"
about me?"
Chrissie only nodded wisely.
ibid she tell you about my meeting
her?' Charlie went on, beginning Ia
feel tlattered, at the anxiety about him
of young lady whom he had long ad.
mired at distance and regarded as
somewhat unapproachable by nature
"My dear Charlie" said his sister
you don't expect a girl to tell every
thing. do you-even to an intimate
friend?"
Charlie was more puzzled than ever
But once more be baffled his willy sister
by simply holding his tongue when he
had nothing to say.
Chrissie had her way of getting al q
mystery, and her brother had his. Hi
was less subtle, but he was just as per
severing as his sister. and the thought
that Minnie Ssxby was anxious abon,
him spurred him to exert himself &c
find out why she should be anxious
That was why he sat for over an honI
in Miss Saxby's parlor that evening
waiting for third person to take him.
self out of the way. Curiously enough,
Miss SaXby seemed TO use all her arts
chiefly muslcal-to induce the third
person TO prolong his visit.
But at last this third person did 90,
and Minnie began to be noticeably III
at ease in the presence Of her remaining
visitor.
II was waiting for him to CO." said
Charlie.
Minnie smiled forced, nervou.
smile.
"I wanted TO ask you something
Chrissie says you are anxious"
At this Miss Saxby suddenly looked
more than anxious-she looked fright.
ened.
What did she tell you?"
"She said she met you, and"
"And you had told her all about NEE f.
ing me, and I-Oh. Mr.. Cantel, I'm
afraid you'll think me a very silly girl
but didn't want her TO know about
that"
why not? You had just come out oil
the house, and couldn't open the gate
What about it?"
"But hadn't been TO the house.
told you co."
"You hadn't? Look here. Miss Sax
by. my sister is trying to mystify both
of us. never told her about meeting
you"
"You didn't? Then what did you tel
her?"
when went into the house onl,
asked her what was the matter with
you, and then | thought-it suddenly
struck me as rather a queer sort ot
thing TO say, and turned it off some
how. Now, let's understand each other
just tell me how you got mixed uE
with that gate last night"
II wanted to speak 10 Chrissie about
something. And the gate was unfas.
tened and | went in without ringing
Then, before got to the house
changed my mind and turned back, and
while was bungliug with the latch il
slipped and locked me i'm
but what made you turn back"
81 thought better of it-what had
meant TO ask her,"
'Was it anything to do with me?"
A silence followed, Minnie looking
extremely embarrassed.
Come, now," said Charlie, to relieve
the awkwardness, 1--WE might as well
understand each other and fool Chris.
sic, migbtn't we?"
1t suddenly struck Minnie in the same
way.
"It was awfully foolish of me, she
said. Il was going TO ask her If you
had really given that book to Jessie
Kirke."
"Book?"
''The one ] gave you at Easter. And
IL seemed such a foolish question that
turned back without going into the
house"
"0f course, i didn't give your book %
Miss Kirke. Did you care SO much?'
"She has one just like it, you know.
didn't look inside II"
but YOU would have cared"
After that matters moved fast
But. although Chrissie did not find
out the truth about that meeting at the