The Holly chieftain., 1914-07-10
CHAPTER n.

"I am afraid have been a long
time" he said apologetically. as he
closed the door OF the carriage. after
giving Mrs. Parker Bowman's ad.
dress to the driver. In the uncertain
light of the distant arc-lamp. the girl
looked small and appealing. He felt
strong desire to lift her burdens
and carry them on his own broad
shoulders.
I've brought some things that I
thought might help" he said. Would
you like to put on this coat? 1t may
not be just what you would have Sc
lected, but 1t was the best could
find that would not be recognized.
The air is growing chilly"
He shook out the coat and threw it
around her.
"oh. thank you." she murmured
gratefully. slipping her arms into the
sleeves.
And this box has some kind of a
hat. hope" he went on. Il ought
to have looked, but there really
wasn't time" He unknotted the
strings AMI produced large picture
hat with long black plumes. He was
relieved to find it black While he
united the strings. there had been a
growing uneasiness lest the hat be
one of those wild, queer combinations
OF color that Cornelia frequently pur-
chased and called artistic"
The girl received the hat with a
grateful relief that was entirely sat
isfactory to the young man.
And now." said he, as he pulled
out the gloves and laid them gravely
In her lap. we're invited out to din
ner."
Invited out to dinner!" gasped the
girl.
Yes. It's rather providential
thing to have happened, think. The
telephone was ringing as opened the
door. and Mrs. Parker Bowman. to
whose house was invited. was ask
ing for my sister to fill the place of
an absent guest. My sister is away,
and tried to beg on l told her l
had accidentally met-I hope you will
pardon mel called you friend"
"oh!" she said. THAT was kind
OF you"
Il iaid you were stranger in
town, and as l was your only ac-
quaintance, felt that l should show
you the courtesy of taking you to a
hotel. and assisting to get you of on
the night train: and asked her to
excuse me, as that would give her an
even number. But 1t seems she had
invited some one especially to meet
me. and was greatly distressed not
to have her full quota of guests, SO
she sent you most cordial invitation
to come to her at once. promising to
take dinner with you some time II
you would help her out now. Some
how. she gathered from my talk that
you were travelling. had Just returned
from abroad. and were Temporarily
separated from your friends. She is
also sure that you are musical and
means to ask you to help her out in
that way this evening told her I
was not sure whether you could be
persuaded or not. and she mercifully
refrained from asking whether you
sang or played. l tell you all this so
that you will be prepared for any.
thing. OF course l didn't tell her all
these things. merely kept still
when she inferred them. Your name.
by the way. is Miss Remington-Mary
Remington. She was greatly elated
for moment when she thought you
might be Carolyn Remington-who-
ever she may be. suppose she will
speak of 1t. The name was the first
one that my eye lit upon in the tele-
phone-book. II you object to bearing
1t for the evening, 1t is easy to see
how name could be misunderstood
over the phone. But perhaps you
would better give me few pointers.
for I've never tried acting a part, and
can't be sure how well shall do It,"
The girl had been silent from as
tonishment while the man talked.
But cannot possibly go there to
dinner she gasped, her hand going
to her throat again, as II to pluck
away the delicate lace about 1t and
give more room for breathing. II
must get away somewhere at once
cannot trouble you In this way. /
have already imposed upon your kind.
ness. With this hat and coat and
gloves. shall be able to manage
quite well. and thank you so much!