Morris tribune., 1911-09-08
into the FIRST cross street that prom"
tsed a hee line for home and fire and


ised bee line for home and fire and
at some future time-a dinner.
It was in the darkest, most forbid
ding part of a lonely. wind driven
street that he came upon small form
struggling with refractory umbrella.
The umbrella. acting as sail. was
bearing its unfortunate owner In a d-
rection opposite to the one In which
she wished to go, and Ransom came
upon her at moment when she lost
hold of the handle, and the flying um-
brella drove straight at the young
man, and the ferrule punched a hole
in the covering of his own protector
before it wrenched itself from his
grasp and bowled down the street.
LET it go. l hope you're not hurt!'
gasped the small form, and then 1t
scurried on ahead of Ransom. as If
afraid of him. He FASTENED on to
offer her the protection of his umbrel-
la, for the voice had been that Of
girl, and Ransom was quite sure that
he could get home without much DAM
age to his rough tweed cap, but
girls hat was usually most delicate
and destructible creation.
Ransom hurried after the girl, not
ing something familiar in the way she
fitted along the wet pavements ahead
Of him. She turned into the very
street in which he had decided to
turn, and he followed after. AS he
drew nearer he could see that she was
almost running, and it suddenly dawn
ed upon him that she was afraid OF
him and that she was running away
from him.
With one or two quick, silent bounds
he reached her side and at the same
instant recognized the little gray fit
ting figure be had so often seen at
twilight.
"Miss Flittermouser he exclaimed
involuntarily. do take my umbrella.
You'll spoil your hat" He thrust his
umbrella into her hand and strode on
ahead to reassure her.
"Oh. thank you!" painted the girl.
And she said nothing more. Ransom
could hear her pattering along behind
him, and now and then he turned for
a glimpse of her. All be could see
was a small form in long gray cloak
with gray veil tied about small hat
At the foot of the steps leading to
Mrs. Beek's boarding house Ransom
paused for moment until the little
gray form pattered up to him. To his
surprise, she stopped also, and when
ch 10 in
tones.
"I'll send your umbrella around
some time this evening. Mr.. Holbrook,"
she said and then vanished, leaving
Ransom standing open mouthed in the
pelting rain
"She knew my name" he pondered,
as he thrust his latchkey in the door.
Later, after he had worried through
a dinner which by a series Of unheard
Of calamities had been deprived of its
constituent parts, be sat before his
CRATE fire thinking about-Miss Filter
mouse. She really seemed like a
friend now that he had spoken to her
and had been able to render her
service. He wondered where she
worked so steadily and why it was
that be never saw her pass in the
morning. The door opened; and Mrs.
Beck entered. bearing his umbrella.
"a messenger boy brought it with
thanks" wheezed Mrs. Beck as she
set the umbrella on the hearth and left
the room.
The next day Ransom was the as
tonished recipient Of an invitation to
dine informally with Mr.. Laidlaw at
that gentleman's home that very even
ing.
Ransom was we'll within the draw
ing room and had shaken hands with
his host and hostess and was being in
troduced to my only daughter. Hol-
gazing into the eyes of the girl in
the gray hat he had seen at church.
When she smiled and spoke to him
it was with the voice of Miss Filter
mouse of the twilight, and he walked
into the dining room with bewildered
sense that everything was topsy turvy
and everybody was somebody else.
After dinner, when he had a moment
alone with Miss Laidlaw. she drew the
skirts of her soft gray Grape gown
aside and made room for him on the
sofa.
''Tell me, Mr.. Holbrook, why you
called me Miss Flittermouse' last
night" Her eyes were dancing mirth-
fully.
did l call you that2 / spoke my
thoughts aloud" he stammered, and
then. because he couldn't help telling
her anything she wanted to know, he
explained all about Miss Flittermouse.
who scurried past his house at twi-
light every night and who had awak-
ened such interest in his heart. II
supposed you were some little working
girl be ended. Il did not know you
were the beautiful and much to be
envied Miss Laidlaw, of whom have
heard so much"