The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1911-02-12

iht way DthdNNh AHN p''N' 49,
when this child of mine dropped
from the couds. and | forgo, my
duties as hostess so completely"
We thought il very natural said
Sir Miles, looking at Vernon as he
shook hands, as if he honestly felt
that she nigh. be held a valid eX-
cuse for much absence of mind.
Selma, as usual put his thought into
words.
You see," she said. looking a.
Vernon. Il thought you looked the
right sort. | said to Miles, after
we had gone-T believe that girls
a flyer | asked Jem if you weren't
and he said he didn't know. He
said it was early days yet-yon
know what an old stick-in-the-mud
Jem is"
Selma, from her brother.
He is, Miles; / believe you said
so yourself. He is so cautious and
so close, but | determined to come
and see you again, because tnere
isn't a decent girl round here for
miles and miles
SELMA"
We'll Miss Wilmot knows what
mean. | mean a girl of my sort
with any go in her, SO | made
Miles come again today, though he
said 1t was not manners. But for
tunately he wanted to come himseif
because Jem knows al! there is to
know about cows, and Miles is get
ting to be such a farmer, he will
soon call turnips turmuts,' and tax
about they steers"
Il feel immensely flattered, you
know, to be called a flyer" said
Vernon. 1T is not what ! expected
Yankee or Wild Colonial, or at the
best, Country Cousin was the sum
NIT of my ambition"
"Oh, rot" said Selma anybody
could see that you were the real
thing. And | am the first person who
saw you, so | think We ought to
have first innings, don't you?'
Il cannot control her" Sir Miles
was explaining to Mrs. Bardsley. 81
shall be obliged to say that she pays
no visits with me on horseback, but
only when Miss Frampton her gov
erness, can accompany her. Oh,
don't mind when she Is here wi III
you-I mean | don't so much mind.
But there are houses where such
talk as this would never do"
Don't be silly, Miles," said Sci
ma. You know quite well that in
houses like that | am as good as
gold At Mardrum for instance. The
five Miss Testers and their father,
Colonel Lester. The youngest Of
, them is thirty-nine, and they read
a great deal of solid literature, and
travel every year, and TAX to you
about foreign picture galleries and
the hotels in Vienna. I'm as glum
as Jem when we go to call on
them
"A good thing. too" said Jem
calmly. Aunt Emma. will YOU have
some more tea?"
'1My dear, no; We had what you
might call a tea of three courses at
Mrs. Trents," replied Mrs. Bardsley.
"I have just been there" she ex-
planned. with my niece, to thank
Mrs Trent for befriending her when
she came to her house near mid
night, having lost her way"
"Oh. do tell us the whole story '
pleaded Selma. you know Miles
marched me off the other day with
out hearing it,"
There is not much story in it,
said Vernon. Il acted like per-
feet idiot, sarting to walk miles
of lonely country without map, or
hhOh IhS NhNlt was SplHSs anu
it came on a bad storm and lost
my way. And Mrs. Trent was sit
ting up for her husband. and !
saw the light, so | knocked, and at
first she thought | was "a tramp,
but when she found | was coming to
Carronlea she was very kind, and
fed me, and put me to bed and lent
me dry clothes.
Come then, she must be a good
sort" said Sir Miles, in his grave.
deliberate way. Il feel rather sorry
for her, don't you know. married
to such a fellow as Trent. You go
there a good bit, don't you?" he
asked simply, of Jem
NO, | don't" replied Jem. looking
carefully at the carpet where Selma
had let fall crumbs which he was
picking up and ranging upon her
Zap to her mock disgust.