The Little Colonel's Chum: Mary Ware

deposited one lone passenger upon the steps. As it was several days before the opening of the Fall term, no pupils were expected so soon, and but few of the teachers had returned. There was no

ning the man who attended the door had

gs. That she was over-awed by the magnificence of her surroundings he readily guessed, for she made no movement towards the knocker, only stood and looked

d by the grandeur of this aristocratic old manor-house, now used as a boarding-school. It was a personal affront when they were not. Needless to say his dignity had s

id under his breath. "She can just cool 'er 'eels on the d

k on the door as if she repented coming, and, satchel in hand, stood hesitating on the top step rea

e nose. But it was a lovable face, happy and eager, with a sweet mouth and alert gray eyes that seemed to se

nthusiastic descriptions of old pupils. There was the long flight of marble steps leading down the stately terraces to the river-the beautiful willow-fringed Potomac. There was the pergola overhung with Abbotsford ivy, and the wonderful old garden with the sun-dial, a

she been in her surroundings, that she almost toppled down the steps. But the next instant it was Hawkins who was having the start. Unabashed by his pompous manner, her keen gray eyes swept him one quick look from his sphinx-like

ne of these new-fangled mind-readers he had been hearing so much about. It was also upsetting to find that he had been mistaken about her delay

but she had been rehearsing this entrance mentally for days, and sh

a long mirror opposite, she wilted into an attitude of abject despair. A loop of milliner's wire, from which the ribbon had slipped, stood up s

always look so dishevelled and Mary Annish outside! Here's my hat cocked over one eye

ling out the name on the card he carri

Then his mind reverted to the several detective tales that made up his kno

ceived before the fifteenth of September, and this was only the twelfth. She had the best of reasons for coming ahead of time, and was sure that Madam Chartley would make an exception in her case when once the matter was properly explained. The friends in whose care she had travelled from Ph?nix had expected to

n over the whole establishment, a sound of carpenters in the background and a smell of fresh paint and furnitur

as beating so fast and her throat was so dry she knew the words would stick at the very time she needed them most. Feeling as if she were about to have a tooth pulled, she sank into a large upho

ne of Madam's grand ancestors she conjectured. A glance into the tell-tale mirror made her sigh despairingly again. She was not buil

that she made these changes, realizing that she could not appear at her best unless she felt at ease. But the humour of the situation was not lost on her. An amused smile dim

he winding stairway be seen from where she sat, but the entire interior of the reception room must be equally visible to any one coming down the steps.

s fears. It was unthinkable that such a mortifying situation should go unexplained, yet for a moment

ive minutes! Then you'd know how it feels to always pu

hlessly explained backward, as to why she had arrived at this inopportune time. The explanation was so characteristic of her, so heart-felt and utterly honest, that it revealed far more than she intended and opened a wide door into Madam's sympathies. As she stood looking down at the g

erfectly regal entrance, till I looked into the mirror and saw how dilapidated I was after my long journey. It took all the heart out of me and made me dreadfully nervous about meeting you. I was trying to get into an easy attitude that would make me feel more self-possessed when you came down. That is why I was experimenting

showed a thorough enjoyment of the situation.

t mistaken! You're exactly as they described you, only they didn't tell me how-how

ked herself, afraid it would sound too gushing on first

ime you must have been the same kind of girl that I am. But of course I know you were not. You were Lloyd Sherman's kind. She just naturall

her girls could think her cold and unapproachable. It seemed to her that Madam was one of the most r

us for me to try to do things the way she does. He is always quoting Epictetus to me: 'Were I a nightingale I would act the part of a n

by appearances. She saw at a glance the possibilities of the material that lay here at her hand. Out of it might be wrought a strong, helpful character such as the world always needs, and suc

when you applied for admission to the school, and I had a highly satisfactory letter from her about you in reply to

of an age. (Joyce is my sister. She's an artist now in New York City, and we think she's going to be famous some day. She does such beautiful designing.) Lloyd has been my model ever since I was eleven years old. I'd rather be like her than anybody I ever knew or read of, s

lattering attention. Not realizing she was being studied she fel

have come a step if it hadn't been for him, and there wouldn't have been the faintest shadow of a hope of coming if he hadn't been promoted to the position of as

spoke of him wanted to hear more. She was sure that in these na?ve confessions she would find the key-note to Mary's character. So with a few well chosen questions she encouraged her to go

the desert, when Mrs. Ware's quest of health led them to Arizona. But it was a life that had been lifted out of the ordinary by the brave spirit which made a jest of poverty, and held on to the refining i

n the good old Vicar of Wakefield for an example, and adopted one of his sayings as

peated disappointments and troubles. It had turned for all of them. Joyce, after several years of work and worry with her bees, had realized enough from them to start on her career as an artist. Holland was at Annapolis in training for the navy. Within the last six weeks J

hartley led the way to the office she felt a desire to add still more to her pleasure. It was refreshing to see some one who could enjoy even little thi

oyd's old room. If that is so I'll gladly make the change, although I do not know whether the other girl assigned to that room wil

a chance to stay inside the four walls that held the Princess all her school-days. You don

lthiest homes in the suburbs of Chicago, and has had every advantage that civilization can offer. She's been

things that I have. Oh, you've no idea how hard I'm going to work to deserve all this! I wrote to Jack last

e effect the two girls might have on each other. At any rate it was an experiment worth trying. It migh

nd time to attend to it. In the meantime you may t