Bridgeton pioneer., 1909-02-04

watched him with twitching lips.
There is the address," she sug.
gested. "You can send it when you
reach the city"
"But l promised" said Cartwright
wrathfully-"I promised the woman
to see it delivered in person, and now
it is my fate to go on a still hunt for
this horrible woman, this gorgon. I'm
very much afraid that Maud Cart
wright's dinner will be late if she
waits for me-" He added the last
wrathfully.
"Oh!" said the girl sympathetically.
"Still," she continued, "the 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 souls and didn't
dare own up to her name, or-I have
it!-she is probably deaf and didn't
hear the conductor"
The train pulled into the station,
and the passengers gathered up their
various belongings.
"Goodby," said the girl sweetly. ct
hope you find her all right May you
enjoy as good a Christmas pudding
as Mary Lang's."
Cartwright watched her ruefully as
she disappeared in the crowd.
"Td like to know that girl" was his
mental ejaculation; then he walked
| into the waiting room, eagerly scan
| ming the crowd for woman who ap-
peared to have lost something. At last.
refreshing his memory by glance at
the address, he took an uptown car
and started for 1919 Essex place.
The storm had increased, traffic was
slow, and it was some time before he
mounted the steps and rang the bell
at his destination. He wondered if he
should ask for Miss or Mrs. Lang, and
when the door opened he slurred the
prefix and laid emphasis upon the
name. Miss Lang 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 the stair, and he turned
to behold a tall girl in a black lace
dinner gown and with spray of
holly caught in her dark hair
"Youp he cried.
She came forward, half shamed,
wholly mischievous expression on her
face.
II suppose I owe you an apology"
she said. you see, fully intended to
own up before you reached the city
you were So deliciously funny that
simply couldn't beforehand then you
mentioned your cousin, Maud Cart
wright, who is my best friend, and
knew that you must be Bobby's
cousin, Of whom I've heard all my
life. And so"-she darted a mirthful
glance at him from under her dark
lashes-"and so, well, the temptation
was too overwhelming. l have heard
of you in a variety of roles, but never
before as restorer of puddings." She
held out her hand. "Please try quite
hard to forgive me-" she finished in
assumed contrition.
They looked at each other, and both
broke into merry peal of laughter.
"You," cried Cartwright when he
could speak-"you led me this wild
goose chase!" He tried to summon
reproachful air.
She raised one hand and plucked
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.
II 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.
81 will even it up, my Christmas
lady" declared Cartwright. Then his
voice fell into a humber tone. "And
with Cousin Maud to introduce me 1
may come again?'
"Are you sure that Bobby Cart
wright is your cousin?"
positive"
"Wen, l have invited Bobby and
Maud and the cousin who was expect
| ed to Christmas dinner. We are to
have the pudding. but perhaps it
would not agree with you after what
has happened"
"Food for the gods" cried Cart
wright. "Give me a 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 he
plunged resolutely into the storm.
Heavenly pudding" he cried with
| enthusiasm, II must relinquish you,
but will not give you up SO easily,
| my Christmas lady"