The Press. (Stafford Springs, Conn.) 1883-1935, 1907-02-06

yery far from being ln fashion. mere
fore they bred theories. Nobody really
knew more Of Miss Archer than tnar
she had come to the Wray house with
unimpeachablS credentials from two OF
last seasons star boarders. So there
was some excuse for the romances
woven about her. The favorite one
was that she had been either suddenly
bereft of fortune or that she had in
herlted a wardrobe and thriftily chose
to wear 1t out unchanged. The fine fit
made rather against that, so much so
that the bereft heiress notion was
most generally accepted. But Miss
Archer could certainly not have lost
ali her money. She was liberal to
fault in her expenditures and reckless
in the matter Of tips to her caddies-
indeed, to small boys generally, wheth-
er or no they had rendered her q
service.
Althea's special friends were delayed;
therefore she in turn delayed her re-
turn to the choir. She had no doubt
whatever that Benson would take her,
notwithstanding she admitted that she
and Isabella had been foolish. "But
how could wadream things would turn
out soY' Althea asked Of Isabella, who
in turn queried:
"Who would have thought Benson
could do without you? And does he
think he can keep on doing without
you when they have the service Of
thanks?"
"of course he CAN'T" Althea said, al
most teaFfully, ''because the thanks are
mostly for Cousin Rob, and everybody
knows he won't care for anything ex-
cept to hear me sing"
Cousin Rob was, understand, a lieu
tenant In the navy, for whose escape
from typhoon and other perils East
wood felt called upon to give especial
thanks. There were other Eastwood
men, but they had not been mentioned
in dispatches for cool and reckless
bravery. Moreover, they had not been
promoted. So, although they were in
cluded in the roster, it was well under
stood that Lieutenant Robert Startling
was the beginning and the end Of
things
Althea thrilled to think Of herself
singing to him, with the multitude
hanging breathlessly upon her voice,
there in the church, all bedight with
flags and oaken boughs. Flowers were
held out Of place for these hearts Of
oak. She knew she should do her best
She must, with such inspiration.
SO 1t was q thunderbolt to have Ben
son say grimiy;
Miss Evans, there is no place for
you, am sorry to say. Besides, Miss
Her notes are gold, where yours are
scarcely silver. Tommy Bell has the
only voice hers does not make thin and
Hn-panpy He shall sing with her in the
special opening anthem. have myself
arranged It. You might be in q chorus
later on. but you do not know enough.
You would try to drown the rest with
your big notes. There is the difference.
Put Miss Archer in chorus, and she
would sing exactly in key"
"You are an old bear" said Althea
and ran h9me to tell her mother.
Before It came to telling her plan
was all upset, and BY no less q person
than Miss Archer, who came swiftly
to her and said lot, but not In many
words. The result was when the serv-
Ice OF thanks came on there were sew
eral surprises, but, IL truth must be
told, some severe disappointment, for
Althea sang the solo and In the anthem.
and Miss Archer was no more than a
chorister. She subdued her voice ad-
mirably and kept In the background as
much as she might, yet her name ran
all about from lip to lip, so 1t was not
perhaps through occult divination that
Lieutenant Robert Startling waited out
side the choir loft stair, with at least
fifty Of his enthusiastic townsmen
hanging behind, to see the reason Of his
lettering.
Verify, they had their reward, for the
lieutenant caught both Miss Archer's
hands and wrung them as though he
would never let go. He spoke to her
Familiarity, almost entreatipgly, and
went away with her without by your
leave. When they were safe in the
Wray House he said, masterfully, ELI
nor, darling. tell me what is behind this
masquerade"
"Oh. nothing much" Miss Elinor
Archer Wesley, actress and gentlewo-
man, said, with a little laugh II
wanted to rest, and people wouldn't
let me alone, so 1 determined to play
Princess Charming again for just my
self. All the costumes were perfectly
fresh and perfectly beautiful If the
public didn't like them nor me in them,
so I've had the play-the play that fail
ed i've years ago-on again all summer.
You can't think how interesting it's
been, and 1t has helped mech, such
lott Without it never could have
seen just what your people were"
"As If that mattered, as If anything
mattered, except that we love each
other" Lieutenant Startling said. "You
do love me, Nora, darlingY
81 ought not to- 1t will break the
towns heart to have you marry me-"
Elinor responded. But I'm nightly
afraid that do"