The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1901-01-09
THE BEGINNING
or
A LOVE STORY.
Queer miStaFe Which Brought About
HaoPy ResuLts.

ly down stairs and out at the side door.
She stood for a moment on the broad
stone step and took a long, free
breath. then she went down the gravel
walk into the street She turned away
from the village, and, as If with n
definite object in view, walked swift
ly toward the fields and hills to the
north.
1t was only since April that Elm
vile had taken a lively interest in
birds. II had known vaguely that
there were birds within its borders
English sparrows, an oriole or two,
and out in the country crows perhaps
a few jays. This limited ornitholog-
ical knowledge had satisfied ELM
vile, and when it heard that in Bos-
ton it was the thing to rise early,
take ones opera glasses and go
birding" 1t had smiled indulgently
That, however. was two years ago and
Elmville was 200 miles from Boston
A hundred miles n year was quite
fast enough for n fad to travel toward
Elmville, but when it finally arrived
1t was received with enthusiasm.
The little village suddenly awoke
to the fact that there were birds in
its trees of which it had never
dreamed, and birds in its fields and
! pastures whose very names it had
never heard. 1t began to talk wisely
of vireos and warbers, red-starts and
flickers. Quiet folk who had known
of birds all their lives suddenly found
themselves in great demand. This
popularity might have turned their
heads had it lasted long enough, but
when it was discovered that there
were questions which they could not
answer they were promptly made to
know tlieir proper place and to feel
like impostors who have been found
out.
The newly aroused interest in birds
took different forms. There were
some who made up parties and took
long walks in the woods, where they
talked and laughed so loudly that all
the birds fled before them. This class
enjoyed the bird walks greatly and
went every week. Then there was
young Mrs. Goodnow who had seen
| lis
but who could not tell the song of
rose-breasted grosbeck from that OF
a cuckoo, declaring naively that she
did not care anything about the noises
the birds made. Others wondered
how she could know so many birds
when she did not have her ears to
help her, but she had a very fine pair
of field glasses and unlimited time.
There were the two elder Misses
Steele, who contented themselves
with looking from windows into the
tops of the elm and maple trees which
grew about their home, and there was
their sister Clarissa. who on this
beautiful June morning, was out in
the country at little after 4.
1t was Z when she walked up the
path to the side door. She was tired
and very hungry, but she was also
happy and had quantity of bird
news to tell her sisters. Breakfast
was ready and delicious odor of hot
coffee came out to her through the
screen door. and she went in eagerly.
She hung her hat in the entry, then
passed on to the dining room.
Usually she greeted her sisters
with Ii CHEEKY good morning, but this
time she had hardly crossed the
threshold before she was aware that
something was wrong. A quick
glance at Elinor and Caroline showed
her that it must be something very
wrong indeed. Her heart began to
beat faster and all the happiness
seemed suddenly TO have gone out of
the morning. She looked timidly at
her sisters and they stared at her in
stony silence.
what is the matter?" she asked,
tremulously.
81 should not think you would need
to ask that question, Clarissa Maria,
Elinor said in hollow voice.
'No, l should not think so,' echoed
Caroline.
Now 1t was only about once In three
years that she did anything bad
enough for them to call her Clarissa
Maria, and at that moment she felt
that life was too full of bitterness to
be borne. She sank weakly down in
chair and waited.
"To think" began Caroline, in a
tone OF sadness and reproof. ito think
that you should disgrace us, and not
only us. but the good name of our
family, by making your pretended
interest in birds an excuse for going
out mornings and carrying ON a
flirtation-"
"A scandalous fiirtation." inter-
rupted Elinor.
Eyes, a scandalous filtration with
Deacon Upton"
Clarissa started to her feet with a
little cry. Il never did" she gasped,
while the color rose in her face.
"You saw him this morning. You
don't deny that. ! suppose. though I
don't know" and Caroline shuddered.
EYES," said Clarissa. eagerly. II did
see him. 1t was down in Mr. Ames'