The Little Colonel's Knight Comes Riding

sts, straggling up the path below. After the first pleased glance Gay had flown down-stairs to throw open the front door and bid them welcome. It was almost more than she had dared to ho

her violin playing, amused them with her quaint unexpected speeches, and charme

s, started by a "dare" from Allison. Alex Shelby's memory of her dated back only to that morning, but the picture of a

element. As the popular daughter of a popular army officer, she had played gracious hostess ever since she had learned to talk. As for Gay, so anxious was she that her

ze on its hearth acceptable, and Lucy turned the picturesque old kettle, bubbling on the crane, to practical use, making coffee to

ugh, as stretched out on the settle by the fire, he told stories and toasted marsh-mallows with a zest, felt that they had struck

piano, she played one after another of the favourite tunes that were called for in turn, till the fire burned l

ed when Mrs. Sherman made the discov

n the last carriage had driven away, and Lloyd was following her s

re else, but I wasn't so sure of Jameson. Now my mind is completely at rest for the summer. I stopped worrying when I saw him hobnobbing with the Colonel and your father about those Lexington horses he wants to buy. He was so tickled over those letters of introduction they gave him. And he was so

ut in sepulchral tones that echoed thro

, then her brother-in-law who had just come u

month I visited them, before we came here, I adopted that slogan for my war-cry: '"Remember the main" thing in life to be saved from burglars!' It always sends one or the other of them skipping, for they feel the responsibility of preserving such heirlooms for posterity. I used to wish that I were the oldest daughter, so that that pitcher would be handed down to m

hair, to brush and braid it for the night. It was a cosy room, with low ceiling and old-fashioned wall paper. With the curtains drawn and the candles in the quaint p

ouse. Hardly had a word to say, and all the time I was playing,

ll had lumps in our throats. Nothing's the mattah with Betty. It's just the last

g the devoted

voted to her ever since she came to Locust to live; but not-not in the senti

'm wild to have her visit me at Fort Sam Houston next year, and this Frank Percival is the very one of all others for her. He's a banker and as good as gold and-oh well, there's no use wasting time singing his praises to you when I want him for Kitty! But about this Alex Shelby, Kitty told me this very afternoon that i

t The Locusts, and it's you he'll be in love with befoah the summah is ovah. He was the first one reflected in yoah looking glass, for he confessed this evening how he sat and watched you on the laddah, and how he'd thought of you all day; and he even q

ly gazing at them, while Lloyd tied the ribbons which fastened the la

es me feel like a soldier on a battle field-comrades being shot down all around you right and left and you never knowing how soon it'll be your turn to fall. It's awful! Llo

thout the conscious blush that Gay had expected to see.

ou wrote to

g it over a chair, did not see with what kee

ge to reply once in two months or so. It's dreadfully uphill work for me to write to people whom

own all your life, like Malcolm MacIntyre for instan

Malcolm, because I've nevah done it. Now it's my turn to ask questions. Where did you get this new photograph of Ranald Walton on

ith a laugh. "He isn't so afraid of girls a

reams. Then Gay blew out the candles and climbed into the high four-posted bed beside Lloyd, where they lay looking out through the open window into the starligh

ne like a pall," said

swered Lloyd,

lieve I've heard an account of every one else. Where's Rob Moore and

e place, and took charge of all the business mattahs, to spare them every worry. When things were settled up they found there wasn't as much left as they had thought there would be, and Rob wouldn't touch a cent to finish his law course. He was afraid his mothah would have to deny herself some luxury she had always been used to, and he didn't want her to miss a single one she had had in his fathah's lifetime. So he took a position i

smile on Gay's face, but her voice showed that she was w

f he takes a fancy to the place he will probably stay as long as we do, and we are all very anxious for him to stay. He's only three years younger than Jameson, but the two were left alone in the world when they were just little tots, and Jameson has been like

If he's twenty-three yeahs old it seems to me that he might take

anything-just drifts around, here and there, having a good time. It's a pity that he isn't as poor as a church mouse. Then he'd have to do something. He's so bright he easily could make something splendid o

mother's family (they were proud old Spaniards just a generation or so back). He is adventurous and roving and romantic, and has the dolce far niente in the blood. Jameson says that all that Leland needs is to be kept keyed up to the right pitch, for he is so impetuous and head

in anybody like that, even if he is yoah brothah-in-law's brothah. It sounds to me as if he is just plain lazy an

ou'll find him fascinating. Everybody does. And I'm going to be entirely honest with you-I've fairly prayed that you'd like him. You are so strong yourself, the strongest character o

John,'" she said mischievously. "Why don't you take him in hand? You are

gether. I'm just one of the family. But I've showed him your picture and told him what an unapproachable, unattainable creature you are, and whetted his curiosity till it's as keen as a razor. Oh I've played my little game like an expert, and he doesn't suspect i

I'm mistaken, he'll nearly break his neck to put himself on good terms with you. It's just as J

ow and turned a protesting face

. "Where do I come in, pray? You say he always gets what he goes aftah. Did it evah occur to you that I might not want to be taken possession of in th

any farther than this summer. But if you could just shake him up and put him on his mettle that long, that's all I ask of you. And seriously, dear, you might go the world over and not find one who measures up to your ideals in more ways. He's well born and talented an

eliest passages one will begin to slip back-just a trifle, maybe, not more than a hair's breadth, but enough to make it flat and spoil the harmony. Then you stop and tune it up again, and go on for awhile, but back it will slip just when

erience with stringed instruments made it very forcible. It was

er felt the touch of a master-hand. No one has ever controlled him. He has always been petted and spoiled. He has never known a girl

r things, will make even the most frivolous girl draw quicker breath with a sense of power, and to a conscien

ly, after a moment of

w I can let you go to sleep in peace. 'Something accomplished, something do

poor Violet's experience with Ned Bannon had taught her one lesson-how mistaken any girl is who thinks she can accomplish that. But to be the master-hand that could put in tune some really splendid instrum

ut at the stars, the pleasing fancy came to her that each one was a sacred altar-flame, given into the keeping of some unseen vestal virgin. Now she too had joined