Perth Amboy evening news., 1913-02-03

been reading and seeing that her aunt
had not followed me. asked at once as
to my visit TO the inn
81 conveyed your message" an
swercd. but you have seen MIR. Wig
gins since. unless | am greatly mis-
taken"
Eyes: HI called this afternoon. We
had severAi callers at the tea hour. !
had rather expected o Jack"
THE fact Is" / replied. that after
had taken luncheon at the Prescott
Arms | got lost among the hills. and
while In the act OF robbing an apple
upon your sister"
"Hezekiah!"
THE same. And. oddly enough. ]
had met har before. though | didn't
realize It was she until the meeting In
the orchard. II was In the As0laDde
that ! saw her: she was at the cash
ier's wicket the afternoon ! met your
aunt there"
"You have given me information.
Mr.. Ames. ! did not know that Heze'
kiah had ever been connected with the
Asolando."
'Oh. 1t was only that n historic
day. She says the place was nDbear-
able. She Jared the h0l!est chords OF
the divine Tyre by harsh comments on
devotees was 40 shocked that she drop
ped u plate or something and. to put
It coarsely. Hezekiah got the bounce"
My description OF Hezekiab's brief
tenure Of office Mt the Asolando seem
ed to amuSr Cecilia greatly.
'"There IL no one like my sister" she
said There never was and there
ing. Hezekiah IL an original. who
breaks all the rules and yet always
sends the bail over the net. And 1t Is
because she In 40 inexpreSsihly dexr
and precious that l AIN anxious that
nothing shall ever hurt her-nothing
mar the sweet, beautiful child spirit In
her"
II was my turn to laugh now. Ce-
ella 8 manifestation OF maternal sOlici-
tude for Hezekiah seemed absurd. for
Hezekinh In her way was older. HeEe-
kiab bad raced with Diana and pluck
ed arrows from her g1rdie-she had
heard Homer at the roadside singing
Of Achilles shield.
"Hezekinh Is reasonably safe. !
should say. because she is so amazing
ly swift OF foo and eye and "a. nimble
Of speech. She In not to be caught In
q net or tripped with q word"
~ uppose tina is 30" remarked Ce-
ella soberly. You thought her happy
when you met her today? She did not
strike you AS being II girl with a wound
IN her hearth She wasn't particularly
sadT
mot more so han sunlight on rip
pied water or the song Of the lark as
cending.'
"Of course you made 10 reference to
MIR. Virgins? II | had imagined you
would meet her l should have
She ended with an embarrassment
that ! now understood. and l broke IN
cheerfully.
I'VE did mention him. She asked me
II ! had seen him. and 1t was the
thought Of him that evoked her mer-
riest laughter"
She shock her head and sighed. then
her manner changed abruptly.
You delivered my message to Mr..
Wigrins?"
II did. He is badly out of sorts and
sees nothing clearly. He is very bitter
toward your aunt. He thinks she has
treated him outrageously."
Aunt Octnvia has lone nothing of
the kind" she replied with spirit. MIR.
Virgins has no right 10 speak OF Aunt
Octuvia save I'm terms of kindness. If
her wits are sharper than his. 1t is not
her fault. that | can See. Blu there are
matters here that ! do not understand
Mr.. Ames. ] trust you. rs my aunt
evidently does. or | should not he talk.
Ing to you us | am. and | am moved tc
ask a favor of you. II favor OF consid
cradle weight. In view of the fact that
you are a professional man. with
doubtless. many pressing calls upon
your time"
| bowed humhly before this comph-
ment. My time had been lightly mp
pruised by Miss Octavia and again by
Virgins. A long telegram from my
assistant that reached me while | dress
ed for dinner had urged my immediate
attendance upon my office. Some Of
my best clients. now reopening their
houses for the winter were In desIer,
ate straits. hut. Octavia HOLSTERS do
not occur In the life of every young
man. and both Cecilia and Hezekiah
had taken strong hold upon my imapi
nation. Virgins place among the dra
n,atis personHe would IN Itself have
compelled my sympathetic attention
and the nine silk bats that | had seen
bobbing over the stile still danced be
fore my eyes.
Miss Hollister." l said. my time Is
yours TO command. My once IL veil
organized. and | am sure that my as
sista3t is equal to any demands that
may be made uflon him. Pray state In
what | may serve you"
II an goinx far. ! know. Mr.. Ames.
but ! beg that you Will not be in haste
10 leave my aunt's house. She must
have been strongly prejudieed In your
favor or she would not have asked
you here on so short acquaintance.