The Tupelo journal., 1911-03-24
CHAPTER VII. (Contlnued.)

Well, 1t ended by Jim's graciously
permitting Bella to remain-there be-
ing nothing else to do-and by his
magnanimously agreeing to keep her
real identity from Aunt Selma and Mr..
HARRISON, and TO break the Jews OF
her presence to Anne and the rest. 1t
created a sensation beside which
Anne's pearls faded away. although
they came to the front again soon
enough.
Jim broke the news at once, gather
ing everybody but HARRISON and Aunt
Selma in the upper hall. He was
palpitatingly nervous, but he tried to
carry it off with a high hand.
Its unfortunate" he said, looking
around the circle of faces, each one
frozen with amazement, and just a
suspicion. perhaps, of incredulity.
IT'S particularly unfortunate for her.
You all know how high-strung she is,
and If the papers should get hold of 1T
well, we'll all have to make it as
easy as we can for her"
With Jim's eye on them, they all
swallowed the butler story without a
gulp. But Anne was indignant.
ITS like Bella" she snapped. We'll,
she has made her bed and she can lie
OF it. I'm sure ! shan't make 1t for
her. But II you want to know my
opinion, Mr.. HARRISON may be a fool.
but you can't am two Bellas, both nee
Knowles, down Miss Caruthers' throat
with a stick"
We had not thought of that before
and every one looked blank. Finally,
however, Jim said Bella's middle name
was Constantia, and we decided to
call her that. But it turned out after
ward that nobody could remember it
in a hurry, and generally when we
wanted to attract her attention, we
walked across the and touched
her on the shoulder. 1t was quicker
and safer.
The name decided, we went down
stairs in a line to welcome Bella, to
try to make her feel at home, and to
forget her deplorable situation. Leila
had worked herself into a really SYM
pathetic frame of mind.
Poor DEAR" she said, on the way
down. Now don't grin, anybody, just
be cordial and glad to see heS. hope
she doesn't cry: You know the spells
she takes"
We stopped outside the door. and
everybody tried to look cheerful and
sympathetic and not grinny-which
was as hard as looking as if we had
Aal ArD IF ION oD %h@- IT,
threw the door open n we filed in.
Bella was comfortably reading by
the fire. She had her feet up on
a stool and a pillow behind her head.
She did not even look at us for a min
ute; then she merely glanced up as
she turned a page.
Dear me" she said mockingly,
what a lot of frumps you all are! I
had hoped it was some one with my
breakfast
Then she went On reading. AS Leila
said afterward, that kind of person
ought to be divorced.
Aunt Selma came down just then
and I left everybody trying to ex-
plain Bella's presence to her, and fed
to the kitchen. The HARRISON man
appeared while / was sitting hopeless
ly In front of the gas range. and show
ed me about it.
Il don't know that I ever saw one"
he said c%heerfully, but / know the
theory. Likewise. by the same token,
this tea kettle, set on the flame. will
boil. That is not theory, however.
That is early knowledge. Polly, put
the kettle on; we'll all take tea Look
at that, Mrs. Wilson. l didn't fight
bacilli with boiled water at Chicka-
manga for nothing"
And then he let u the policeman
and brought him into the kitchen. He
was a large man, and his face was a
curious mixture of amazement, alarm
and dignity. No doubt we did look
queer, still in parts OF our evening
clothes and ! in the white silk lace
petticoat that belonged under my
gown. with a yellow and black pa
jana coat of Jimmy's as a sort OF
breakfast jacket.
This is Officer Flanagan" Mr..
HARRISON said. Il explained our un-
fortunate position earlier in the morn
ing, and he is prepared to accept our
hospitality. Flanagan. ver person
in this house has got to work, as I
also explained to you. You are ap-
pointed dish-washer and scullery
maid"
The policemanslooked dazed. Then,
slowly, like dawn over q sleeping
lake. q light OF comprehension grew
IN his face.
Sure he said, laying his helmet
% the table. s'rl M slad "a w doing
anything I can " he]p: ~ end Mn