The Somerset reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1868-1909, 1909-01-07

of the sea" And he leaneG back.
with the look of martyr The girl
watched him with tNitchine lips.
There Is the address" sbe sug'
gested you can send 1t when you
reach the city"
But | promised" said Cartwright
wrathfully-"l promised til woman
to see it delivered in person and now
1t Is my fate to go on a still bunt for
this horrible woman. this gorgon. I'm
very much afraid that Maud Cart
wrights dinner viii be ate IL she
waits for me-" He added the last
wrathfully.
oh" said the girl sympathetically
"Still." she continued. "tte poor wom-
an is probably mourning the loss of
her pudding. and you can figure as
the restorer Of happiness. She Is like
ly one of these timid soulE and didn't
dare own up to her namd or-I have
it.-she is probably deaf and didn't
hear the conductor"
The train pulled into the station.
and the passengers gatlfred up their
various belongings.
s "Goodby." said the gin sweetly. II
hope you find her all rEht. May you
enjoy as good a Chriltmas pudding
as Mary Lang's.'
Cartwright watched Iler ruefully as
she disappeared in thu crowd.
I'D like to know ttht girl" was bis
mental ejaculation; shen he walked
into the waiting room, eagerly scan
ming Ne crowd for 4 woman who APP
peared to have lost Smething. At last
refreshing his memtry by a glance at
the address. he toSl an uptown car
and started for 1912 Essex place.
The storm had increased. traffic was
slow, and 1t was SINE time before he
mounted the stepS and rang the bell
at his destinationI He wondered If he
should ask for Mis- or Mrs. Lang. and
when the door otened he slurred the
prefix and laid emphasis upon the
name. Miss Lapg was at home, and
he presently found himself comforta.
bly, seated and Awaiting her advent
He glanced mechanically about the
tastefully Appointed room; then there
was step on lhe stair, and he turned
to behold a till girl in a black lace
dinner gown |and with spray OF
holly caught p her dark hair.
YOU he qied.
She came Forward, a half shamed
wholly miscberous expression on her
face.
II suppose owe you an apology, y
she said "fou see fully intended to
own up .eforc you reached the city
you were o. deliciously funny that
simply cod dn't beforehand then you
mentioned your cousin, Maud Cart
wright. WHO is my best friend. and
knew thbt you must be Bobby's
cousin, d whom I've heard all my
life. And so"-she darted a mirthful
glance nj him from under her dark
lashes-Ihnd So well. the temptation
was too Overwhelming. | have heard
of you h Il variety Of roles, but never
before is a restorer Of buildings" She
held out her hand. please try quite
hard tb forgive me-" she finished in
assumed eontrtion.
They looked at each other, and both
broke into Il merry peal Of laughter.
"You," cried Cartwright when he
could speak-"you led me this wild
goose chase" He tried to summon q
reproachful air.
She raised Que hand and plucked a
tall rose from a vase on the mantel
Her mouth was drawn into demure
lines. but her eyes danced wickedly
Then she held out to him the long
stemmed rose.
a had to punish you for calling me
a gorgon and believing me to be such
a dreadful looking creature. The score
is not so uneven, is it?"
They looked at each other above the
rose and laughed again.
II will even it up. my Christmas
lady" declared Cartwright. Then his
voice fell into a humber tone. "And
with Cousin Maud to introduce me
may come againY
Are you sure that Bobby Cart
wright is your cousin?"
Positive
well, | have invited Bobby and
Maud and the cousin who was expect
ed to Christmas dinner. We are tc
have the pudding, but perhaps II
would not agree with you after what
has happened"
Food for the godsw cried Cart
wright. Give me chance at that
pudding. 1t will afford very excel
lent substitute for humble pie"
1t was showing heavily when Cart
wright reached the street, but be
plunged resolutely into the storm.
Heavenly pudding" he cried with
enthusiasm. II must relinquish you
but | will not give you up so easily