The Springfield herald., 1913-05-30

said. This is not = hospitable place.
exactly. to receive . guest"
The stranger laughed gently. Have
you guessed who l am. then7 No?
Well. you SEQ had the advantage Of
you from the nrst. You are Miss Red.
mond. and followed you here from
the house where your servant gave me
the directions. l am Miss Reynier.
Melanie Reynier. and I am staying At
the Hillside. Mr.. Van Camp" and to
her own great surprise. Melanie
blushed crimson at this point-"that
is. we. my aunt and I. were Mr.. Van
Camps guests on board the Sea Gull.
When he heard Of the wreck Of the
Jeanne D'Arc vs put in to Charles
port: though he has probably ex-
planned all this to you. 1t was such
relief and pleasure to Mr.. Van Camp
to ind his cousin. Ill as he was; for
he had feared the worst"
Agatha had not heard Miss Rey-
niers name before. but she knew
vaguely that Mr.. Van Camp had been
with yachting party when he arrived
at Charlesport. Now that she was
face to face with Miss Reynier. keen
liking and interest. quick confidence,
rose in her heart for her.
Then perhaps you know Mr.. Ham,
bleton." said Agatha impulsively.
THE fever turned last night. Were
you told that he is better?"
mo. don't know him." said Me-
lanie. shaking her head. "Neverthe-
less. am heartily glad to hear that
he is better. Much better. they said
at the house."
They had been standing at the place
where Agatha had first discovered her
visitor. but now they turned back into
the clearing.
Come and try the organ pipes
again." she begged. They walked
about the wood. singing first one
strain and then another, testing the
curiously beautiful properties of the
footing of friendliness. 1t was evident
that each was capable of laying aside
formality. when she wished to do SO.
pine dome. They were quickly on a
and each was. at heart, frank and sin
cere. Melanie's talent for song was
not small, yet she recognized In
Agatha superior gift: while. to Aga
tina. Melanie Reynier seemed increas-
ingly mature. polished. full of charm.
They left the wood and wandered
back through the pasture and over the
stile, each learning many things in re-
gard to the other. They spoke of the
place and Its beauty, and Agatha told
Melanie of the childhood memories
which. for the first time. she had re-
vived In their living background.
How our thoughts change!" she
said at last. LAS a child. never felt
this farm to be lonely; it was the
most populous and entertaining place
in all the world. l much preferred
the wood to anything in the city. l
love 1t now, too; but 1t seems the
essence of solitude to me-"
That is because you have been
where the passions and restlessness
of men have centered. One is never
the same after that"
strangely enough, the place now
belongs to me" went on Agatha. Par
son Thayer, the former owner and
resident, was my mothers guardian
and friend, and left the place to me
for her sake"
"Ah, that is well!" cried Melanie.
"It will be your castle of retreat.
your Sans-Souci, for all your life. l
envy you! 1t is charming. Pastor
Parson, do you say?-Parson Thayer
was a man of judgment"
Yes, and a man Of strange and
dominating personality, in his way.
Everything about the house speaks of
him and his tastes. Even Danny here
follows me. l really believe. because
am beginning to appreciate his for
mer master"
Agatha stopped and patted the dogs
head. Youth and health, helped by
the sympathy of friend. were work
ing wonders in Agatha. She beamed
with happiness.
Come into the house." she begged
Melanie, land look at some Of his
books with me. But first we'll find
Sallie and get luncheon. and perhaps
Mr.. Van Camp will appear by that
time. Poor man, he was quite worn
out Then you shall see Parson Thay-
er's books and flowers. II you will"
They strolled over the velvet lawn
toward the front OF the house. where
the door and the long windows stood
open. Down by the road. and close
to the lilac bushes that flanked the
gateway, stood large silver-white
automobile-evidently Miss Reynier's
conveyance. The driver of the ma
chine had disappeared.
IT mustn't trespass on your kindness
for luncheon today. thank you.' Me-
lanie was saying: but I'll come again
soon, II l may" Meantime she was
moving slowly down the walk. But
Agatha would not have 1t So She
clung to this woman friend with an
unwonted eagerness. begging her to
stay.
I'VE are quite alone. and we have
been SO miserable over Mr.. Hamble-
tons Illness" she pleaded quite H.
logically. DO stay and cheer US up!"
And SO Melanie was persuaded; cas-
lily. too. except for her compunctions
about abusing the hospitality of q
household whose first care must neces-
sarily be for the sick.
II want to stay" she said frankly.
"The house breathes the very air of
restfulness itself; and 1 haven't seen
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