Belding banner. (Belding, Mich.) 1889-1918, 1901-11-07

shoulders. Elsie is the drone OF this
hive "
And straightway Fairleigh, who had
an old-fashioned feeling that the
domestic woman was the kind he want
ed for wife, ignored, except 10 30 far
as court, sy went, the existence Of the
little cousin, and devoted mself to
Isabel. who. IL past her youth, WAS
still IN imposing and stately young
woman.
| A recollection OF their conversation
flashed upon him as he stood and
stared at the round young form in tie
blue bingham gown How brisk sh E,
was and how busy! With the deftness
which evidenced practise she chopped
and stirred, and rolled and cut, ana
LAID the little round disks in even
rows on the buttered pans. The win
dow near the table was open. Fair
leigh could hear the lifting lines.
Ny love is like "a red. red rose
That's newly sprung in June,
My love is like melody
That sweetly PLAY ed in tune"
A high, rasping voice cut the song
short.
"Well, have you the chicken salad
made? And did you frost the cake?
The biscuits are IMP Then, do make
haste and set the table. l cant for
the life OF me see what makes you so
pokyl Mr. Fairleigh will be here be-
fore you get everything done. Now,
mind, don't want you coming to
supper. You can wait on the table.
He won't notice you, anyhow"
Then Miss Burns, who had evident
ly been taking nap, judging by her
tousled hair, and looking singularly
Invested of her stateliness in the loose
light blue cashmere she wore, yawned
and took herself away.
Elsie stood a moment tense and
still. She lifted her eyes an instant
as though in mute appeal for pa
thence. Then she went on with her
work. But Fairleigh noticed with a
queer sense of indignant pain at his
heart, that the flush was gone, leaving
her looking white, and she sang no
more.
1t was with much effusion that Miss
Burns received her caller. She had
been hoping that he would come ear
lier Although, indeed, she could
hardly have given him much OF her
time had he done so. They we're with
out a maid, and she had been compelled
to prepare supper. Not that she real
ly disliked cooking, as so many wom-
en- averred they did. She had studied
the science, believing it to be more
essential to the making and the main.
tenance OF happy home than knowl-
edge OF language. To be sure, to-
night they had asked him to only their
ordinary family supper Her parents
had always insisted on dining earlier
in the day. She was sure he would
make allowances.
Certainly. They were going to let
him come informally! And all that
time he was wondering at the trans.
formation well-brushed hair and a
properly fitting gown had effected In
the unattractive person who had in
structed Elsie. Elsie, minus her cook
ing cap, and wearing a soft little lawn
gown, came and went, serving them.
Just at first Elsie had gived Fairleigh
M nj oh
quickly glanced away, she had seen a
new look In his eyes-a look Of ques.
tioning admiration that brought the
roses blossoming out on her cheeks.
Once, durieg Elsie's absence from the
room, Isabel made some laughing apol-
ogy for having Elsie walt on table.
"But whenever have cooked the
supper-What? A delicious supper
oh, I'm so glad you like it. was say
ing, when / cooked the supper, think
1t is only fair that Elsie should wait at
table. Have another biscuit, Mr..
Fairleigh, II only to fatter me! Yes,
I am triHe proud OF my biscuits"
The elder people were talking to-.
gether and paid no attention, but
Fairleigh, looking up at that instant,
saw the swinging door was held back,
and Elsie, another plate OF golden
brown biscuits In her hand, stood
there. Her eyes met those OF Fair
leigh full. A flashing look passed be-
tween them. She had heard them
Whether 1t was the speech, or Bob
Fairleigh's amused and radiant glance
OF intelligence that disturbed her, Elsie
did not know. but at that moment the