The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1911-05-01
BY
MRS. BAILLIE REYNOLDS

ders. He liked them to make their
| own rules, to do their own policing
He and Jem, it appeared, had seats
on the committee, but the chairman,
treasurer and secretary were all
brickmakers.
There had been trouble over a case
of a member coming drunk, and be-
ing very promptly expelled by his
ow-members. A special commit
tee had sat upon his case, and Evelyn
was anxious to know what the result
had been. She was glad they had
decided by narrow majority upon
which both Father Conroy and Jem
had figured. to give him another
chance.
The Vernon with whom Jem rode
back, was a very different person
from the silent, pensive damsel of
the early afternoon. Her tongue was
loosed, with Evelyn for theme, and
she said she had never known there
was such people in the world, but
now she knew, she could only thank
God for it. Then, edging away from
that subject, they discussed the de-
tails of the morrow's picnic. Jem
thought fine weather practically GER
tain. She said she was looking for
ward to it, like a child to a school,
treat-her first picnic! Her first
English outdoor entertainment!
Jem asked, rather hesitatingly, how
SO well that she never intended to
leave it.
Il shall take care of Aunt Emma,
when you marry and go away" she
daringly replied. "Oh, I don't mean
that I shall GUST you, because, of
course, you would live quite near. But
you wouldn't want to leave her alone,
would you? And your wife wouldn't
care to be ledger, would she?''
81 haven't asked her yet said
Jem, a. reply which Vernon seemed
to find humorous
who is the lady cyclist coming
to meet us?" she cried in minute
cit looks like Selma" said Jem.
Selma it was and Vernon was
much pleased. She flashed UP like
a whirlwind, circled round in the road
behind them, and joined their line,
riding in between them.
"Oh, I am so glad I've met you,
I've waited more than half-an-hour
on this beastly road" she said, land
I shall be late for dinner, and Franz
pie will storm. But I felt I had to
tell you both how angry I was yes
terday, and how perfectly rotten it
was for Niles not to let me ride with
you. 1 can't think what he has got
into his head, but he will have to
learn that I am going to stick to my
friends, and not behave like a cad to
please his silly ideas. I am sure he
need not be SO proper, for he goes
pretty we'll every day to see Mrs.
Trent, so very soon people will talk
about him a great deal more than
they do about me-"
1--WE were very disappointed that
you could not come" said Vernon
warmly. She showed the utmost cor
diality to the young girl, hoping that
Jem was duly grateful for her help.
She kept tossing the talk over to
those two, and Selma laughed and
sparkled; and as they rode to the
lower gate of Carronlea-the gate at
the foot of the hill,-said she never
had enjoyed a ride so much before.
You'll see her home, of course"
said Vernon to Jem.
"Of course" he replied and Selma
and he cycled off together. leaving
Vernon to push her machine up the
hill, with a heart full of warning
ideas. Her brain still rang with the
story she had heard that afternoon
the record of Evelyn's martyrdom.
Next to that, her own and LionePs
future throbbed and palpitated: and
floating over all was her sympathy for
Jem and Selma. Had Miles discover
ed that they loved each other, and
did he wish to discourage the match !?
If so, why. She could form no con-
lecture