The daily banner. (Cambridge, Md.) 1897-2008, 1913-09-18

almost at once he lifted his head from
his fists and went around the path to
the front porch, the sun shining warm
ly down on his untidy thatch Of hair.
"Oh. dear. l wish they would come!
The dinner will be spoiled" At that
instant came the distant foot Of a mo-
tor horn. and Nell fed back to the
kitchen and prepared the coffee and
broied the steak.
Between whites she laid another
place at the table for the unexpected
guest who was undoubtedly some
friend of Mrs. Beekman's.
At the end of another fifteen minutes
Nell went out and looked up and down
the road. but there was no sign OF mo-
torcar or the expected party.
"I'm hungry as bear" sighed Nell
at last Its after o'clock, and I've
simply got to eat!"
Back in the kitchen she found the
strange young man filing the doorway
into the hall.
EXCUSE my sudden appearance" he
said diffidently, but I've been in the
woods all morning. and I'm about
starved Can't we have something to
eat without waiting for Mrs. Beekman
and the rest of 'emT"
"Why. Of course" said Nell slowly,
and with charming smile she admit
ted: I'm hungry as a bear myself.
That's very small steak for nine peo-
pie, isn't it?' she asked anxiously.
81 could eat every scrap myself" he
announced as he neatly slipped the
steak to a hot platter and carried 1t
into the dining room.
81 forgot to introduce myself" he
said pleasantly II am Delbridge Ellis. y
"And am Eleanor Gaines" said
Nell. acknowledging his introduction
with simple courtesy. will you have
q cupful of coffee now. Mr.. Ellis"
= eff you please" he said, passing her
q plate containing the choicest portion
of the steak.
''This is great" he said as he attack
ed the mealy baked potatoes. ~ tell
you keeping bachelors hall isn't all it's
cracked up to be. Why, I've eaten SO
many sardines that the junkman has
to call once week for the empty
tins That's almost fact"
'Then you live around here. too?''
asked Nell. with interest
"Why. yes" he answered, with q
puzzled glance at her. After that be
was silent for long time. but they
fell to chatting on Indifferent subjects,
and by the time they had discussed the
sliced peaches and the thick, yellow
cream the time had passed so swiftly
that 1t was O'Clock. =
"Oh, dear! | am afraid something
has happened!" cried Nell anxiously as
they arose from the table
Pardon my asking the question,
Miss Gaines. but will you please tell
me who is Mrs. BeekmanT" -
Nell stared. who is Mrs. Beck.
MANI she repeated. why. don't you
known"
He shook his head. smiling In the
particularly winning way that was
very attractive to Nell Gaines. Il new.
CT ucdIu VI Hci Uc1ofS, uuu = ob WIZ
dering why she has honored me by
holding a sert Of glorifed picnic here
In my bachelor quarters
..In your bachelor quartersI'' echoed
Nell hlaAisl :syzzl q stsrol1
you are mistaken This Il Mrs Beck.
mans place. isn't it-Happy Day Cot
tage2s why. 4 read the sign over the
porch.
ITO be sure you didr' he exclaimed
after moment. II see it all now. II
was very natural mistake to make
Miss Gaines. and I'm in perfectly
glorious dinner. but I'm afraid you
have missed delightful time with
your friends. Please come around to
the front porch with me-"
A very bewildered Nell followed him
around. and together they gazed at the
little white painted sign nailed ovel
the porch.
Happy Day Cottage" it read. sure
enough. s
you see. Miss Gaines, the village
boys run down here out of season and
amuse themselves by transferring the
signs from one cottage to another
much to the indignation and confusion
Of the owners. This Happy Day sign
has been on my cottage for a week
and let it stay. This is really Pine
Cottage. and saw that sign down
on the big red cottage at the end OF
the row. Very likely your friends are
down there feasting and wondering
where you are. Shall we go down
there now and explainY ,i..
"Oh. let me think for a momentr'
cried Nell
The result OF her cogitations, togeth-
er with the sage advice Of her host,
was that she alone should drive up to
the real Happy Day Cottage and say
nothing of her odd adventure.
"Y0u must let me clear away this
wreckage," insisted Ellis as he helped
Nell into her cloak. II don't mind in
the least. and shall never forget my
surprise at finding you here and the
pleasant hours we have spent. Indeed,
this shall always be to me Happy Day
Cottage. for it marks a very happy
day"
So Nell allowed him to put her into
the runabout and gave him permission
to call upon her some day. and she
rolled slowly up to the real Happy Day
Cottage. where the astounded motorists
brought her remains Of their cold din
ner and marveled at her lack OF ap-
petite.
And the next year, after Nell had
married Delbridge Ellis. they spent the
summer at Silver Lake, and Ellis al.
ways called the place Honeymoon
Cottage" though the name over the
door plainly said "Pine Cottage"