The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1909-06-09


some has run away frae Hill o.
Cairnle?" inquired Sammy Reid, the
Broomferry postman, as he handed
two letters to Miss Caroline Gentles
at her house In the Broad Wynd of
Broomferry.
"What for has she run away from
Cairnie, Sammy" inquired the old
school-mistress with an anxious air.
Her letters were important, but her
attention was diverted from them
to the piece of disquieting news SAM
my had delivered at every house he
had stopped at on the way down.
He scratched his head, and shot
out his underlip, while his one good
eye cleaned under his shaggy brows.
~ should say, Miss Gentles, that
she ran away because she had enough
cd. In a general way that's what
gars folk rim away frae onything IN
this world"
But Miss Gentles was not reas-
sured, nor indeed much enlightened.
"Jenny's no. a'body's money, ye
ken, Miss Gentles, but when she's wi
the RIGHT folk she's dell to work,
and she has wey wi her; oh, yes,
she has a wey. But she needs
guidin'."
Nov these words smote Miss Gen.
ties in vulnerable spot. 1t was
borne in upon her that she might
have done more in the way of guild
ing the orphan girl who had once
been her most brilliant pupil. Had
she but persisted in her desire to
offer her a place in her own quiet
household as companion under the
supervision of her trusted maid,
Susan Bell, Jenny might have gone
forth to the battle of life better
equipped.
But the two elderly women had
shrunk with very natural shrink
Ing from introducing such disturb
Ing element into their quiet lives,
and Miss Gentles had contented her
self with procuring various places
for Jenny, none of which had proved
to be the right niche.
when did it happen, Samuel, and
do they Know where she has gomez"
1T happened yesterday, and they
dinna ken whaur she has gone, and
as far as I could see they dinna care.
But the cook drappit hint. She
said that it was on account of the
Captains nephew that has been STOP
pin at Hill O. Cairnie since Christ
mas"
Thank you, Sammy" said Miss
Gentles. She re-entered the house,
read her letters, which were satisfac-
tory, then after brief colloquy with
Susan Bell she dressed herself in
readiness for walk. 1t was bright
winter morning, with slight pow
dering of snow lying on the frozen
ground, blue sky overhead, and a
brilliant sun which made the exer-
else Of walking ideal. Miss Gentles
had two and half miles in front of
her, but footed It briskly, and reached
her destination between eleven and
twelve, just when the sun was at its
brightest and the day in full glory.
Miss Gentles was conscious of a
sharp sense of discomfort and appre-
hension as she approached the long
bare house on the windy hill of Cair-
ME, and 1t was only strong concep-
ton of duty which gave her courage
to 60 on. Her inquiry for Mrs. Hill
Stoner was met by dubious shake
of the head on the part of the man.
servant.
''She's not downstairs yet, madam,
but If the Captain will do"--
"The Captain will do, thank you.
Please to tell him that Miss Gentles
from Broomferry, would like to
speak to him for few minutes"
The man ushered her into small
study, where Miss Gentles was left to
recover herself. The walk had
heightened her color, and her sweet
cameo-like face was wonderfully at
tractive, with its becoming frame Of
soft, white hair, and its kind illum.
mating eyes.
Miss Gentles, however, was not a!
all concerned with her appearance
and when the Captain, a somewhat
uuu, ucICS-iOuhlu5 luulNluudi, cil'
tered the room, she rose with a little
nervous flutter.
II must apologize, Captain Sto
nor" she said quickly. "It is 6
matter which perhaps concerns Mrs
6tonor more nearly, but am in
formed that she has not yet come
downstairs, and as / have had Iont
walk l ventured to ask you"
Quite right, Miss Gentles. M,
wife is up, but not ready for visitor
yet. Fact is she's had an upset II
her household, and one of them's rul
away"
yet, it is that have come about
Captain Stonor. the little girl Jenn.
Ransome, who came to Mrs. Stono
few months ago as useful help"
The Captain smiled grimly.
Whoever recommended her, Mis-
Gentles, didn't do us good turn
why, 1t was ! who yecommende'
her. Captain. Jenny was the YER
brightest pupil ever had througl