The star-independent. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1904-1917, 1915-02-01
By j. Hartley Manners

u
minute?''
That's ALL" replied Peg-'just a
| mlnnit."
Were We talking when you came
/ in!"
"Ye were"
Ethel could scarcely conceal her rage
! Did you hear what we said?'
Some of it-not much" said Peg.
What did you hear?'
| "'Please don't-it's so hot this morn
/ in, said Peg, with no attempt at iml-
tation. just as If she we're stating a
J simple, ordinary occurrence.
Ethel flushed scarlet. Brent smiled
You refuse to ray why you're here
or who you are?" Ethel again asked.
1T isn't me that's refuSin' All the
! gentleman said TO me was: 'Ye go to
the place that's written down ON the
card an sit down there an wait. An
| that's all We do"
Ethel again turned to the perplexed
Brent. "Eh?'
Extraordinary And Brent shook
his head.
The position was unbearable. Ethel
decided instantly how to relieve it.
She looked freezingly down at the for
lorn looking little intruder and said:
The servants quarters are at the
back Of the house"
Are they;" asked Peg without mov-
ing and not in any way taking the
statement to refer to her.
And | may save you the trouble of
! waiting by telling you we are quite
provided with servants. We do not
need any further assistance"
| Peg just looked at Ethel and then
| bent down over Michael. Ethel's last
/ shot had struck home. Poor Peg was
/ cut through to her soul. How she
longed Mt that moment to be back
| home with her father in New York
Before she could say anything Ethel
/ continued:
! If you insist on waiting. kindly do
so there
! Peg took Michael up in her arms. col
+ lected once more her packages and
walked to the windows. Again she
heard the cold, hard tones of Ethel's
/ voice speaking to her:
! Follow the path to your right until
/ you come to door. Knock and ask
/ permission TO wait there. and for your
I future guidance go 10 the back door
Of house and ring. Don't walk un-
! announced into n private room"
/ Peg tried to explain:
"Yc see. ma'am. didn't know. All
the gentleman said was, Go there an
watt
That will do
I'm sorry l disturbed ye." And
/ she glanced at the embarrassed Brent.
| THAT will do" said Ethel finally.
POOR Peg nodded and wandered off
through the windows sore at heart.
She went down the path until she
reached the door Ethel mentioned.
| She knocked at it. While she is wait
ing for admission we will return to the
fortunes of the rudely disturbed Low.
| ers (3.
! Ethel turned Indignantly to Brent
as the little figure went or down the
| path.
| Outrageous" she cried.
| Poor little wretch" Brent walked
to the windows and looked after her.
shes quite pretty"
Ethel looked understandingly at him.
"Is she:'
"In a shabby sort Of way. Didn't
you think so:"
Ethel glared coldly at him.
81 never notice the lower orders.
You apparently do"
"Oh, yes-often. They're very inter
esting-at times" He strained to get
last glimpse of the intruder
"Do you know. she's the strangest
little apparition"-
She's only few yards away If you
care to follow her."
Her tone brought Brent up sharply.
He turned away from the window and
found Ethel, arms folded. eyes fash
ing. waiting for him. Something In
her manner alarmed him. He had
gone too far.
w ny. Etuel, ue Sdlu as ue CdLue
! toward her
Suppose my mother had walked in
here-or Alaric-instead of that crea.
ture? Never do such thing again."
II was carried away" he hastened to
explain.
kindly exercise n little more re-
straint You had better so now" There
was finality of dismissal in her tone
as she passed him and crossed to the
great staircase. He followed her:
MAY l call tomorrow"
NO" she answered decidedly; mot
tomorrow
"Tbe following day. then" he urged
Perhaps"
Remember. build on you"
She looked searchingly at him.
Il suppose we are worthy of each
other''
Through the open windows came the
sound of voices.
CO.. she said imperatively. And she
passed on up the stairs Brent went
rapidly to the door. Before either he
could open it or Ethel go out of sight
Alaric burst in through the windows.
Hello. Brent" he cried cheerfully.
"Disturbin' ye?" And he caught Ethel
as she was about to disappear, "Or you,
Ethel?"
Ethel turned and seated herself with
her little white Ian doc claSned I'm hor