, 1913-01-02

ieVen1ng
Miss Letftia received me. as usua, :,
.he pack parlor. Miss Fleming wa,
.nere also, sewing by a window. ant
10 her straight white dress, with no,
mar ORA wn back and braided around
her head. she looked even -vounge,
.nan Defore. There was no time TO,
conversation Miss Letitia launched
at once into the extravaganza of botb
moinsses and butter on the colored
orphans bread.
fou have had no news at all p Miss
fieming sail cautiously. her bead hon,
lover her work.
"None," l returned. under cover y,
the table linen to which Miss I~etitia,s
mina had veered. g" have a good man
WORKING on It," As she glanced at
me questioningly. TT needed a detec.
i've Miss Fleming" With every
movement of the girl l could see the
,sleaming OF a diamond on her engage.
ment finger.
III didn't watch her, Jane would
ruin them" said Miss Letitia. .sbe
gives 'em apples when they keep their
faces clean. and the bills for soap have
'sohe up double Soap once a days
enough FOR a colored child. Do you
smell anything burning. Knox?"
! smiled and lied. w%hereupon Miss
i.etit1a swept her black silk, her caor.
ed orphans and her majestic presence
OUT OF the room. As the door closed.
Miss Fleming put down her sewing.
= do not dare to tell them. MIR.
Knox" she said. They are old. and
they hate him anyhow. l couldp,,
lS'eep last night. I have hemmed tea
towels for Aunt Letitia today until ]
am frantic. and all day l have been
wondering over something you said
yesterday. You said. you remember.
mat you were not a detective, thai
come men could take nineteen from
hirty-fiv and leave nothing. What
I'd you mean?"
was speechless for a moment
The fact is-I-you see." blum.
rred. ut was a-merely a figure of
""rh. a-speecb of figures is NOR,
'uiate." And then dinner was an
Inced.
MSS Letitia presided In garrulous
JJ"sty. The two old ladies' picked al
rhr food. and Miss Jane had a spot
pink in each withered cheek. Mar
~ Fleming made a brave pretense
I left her plate almost untouched
: for me. ! ate a substantial mascu
te meal and half a~pologiZed for my
petite. but Letitia did not hear. She
Te the board of managers to shreds
/ Hlfh fha roast and donnrroal tAo-,
18th the salad.
! Please do eat your dinner" Jans
whispered. Il made the salad myself
And | know what it takes to keep q
Zig man going. Harry eats more than
.rtitia and l together. Doesn't he,
iargery?"
"Harry?" l asked.
Miss lane leaned forward to me aft
fer a smiling glance at her niece across
| Harry Wardrop. a cousins son,
and"-she patted Margery's hand with
Hts ring-"soon to be something closer
I The girls face colored. but she re.
turned Miss James gentle pressure.
They put up an iron fence" Miss
Hetitia reverted somberly to her griev.
lance. when a wooden one would have
done. 1t was extravaganza. ruinous
extravaganza"
Harry stays with us when he is in
Manchester" Miss Jane went on. nod
ding brightly across at Letitia. as II
she. too. were damning the executive
board. Lately he has been almost all
the time In Plattsburg. BE is secre-
tary to Margery's father. It is a posi-
ton of considerable responsibility, and
we are very proud of him."
had expected something of the sort
but the remainder Of the meal had
somehow lost its SAVIOR. There was o
lull in the conversation while dessert
was being brought in. Miss Fleming
sat, one hand on the table. staring alb
sently at her engagement ring.
You look like a fool in that cap,
Jane" volunteered Letitia. while the
plates were being brought In. whats
for dessertT'
: "Ice cream" called Miss Jane ovei
the table.
swell. you needn't" snapped Letitia,
81 a hear you well enough. You
told me 1t was junket."
bhiu iCt Creunu, uuu you buiu u
would be all right" poor Jane shrek.
ed. "If you drink a cup of hot water
after 1t. it won't hurt you"
Fiddle" Letitia snapped unpleas'
antly. I'm not going to freeze my
stomach and then thaw 1t ont like a
drain pipe. Tell Heppie to put my ice
cream on the, stove"
So we waited until Miss Letitia's had
been heated and was brought In. sick
lied over with pale hues. not OF
thought. but Of confectioner's dyes
Miss Letitia ate It resignedly. Like
as not I'll break out, ! did the last
time" she said gloomily. 81 only hope
don't break out In colors."
The meal was over finally, but II