Concerning Sally

very well, which was a continual joy and enlivenment. Sally did not count dancing-school among the enlivenments. And the infrequent lessons with Fox and Henrietta

she took more and more of the burden of both upon her own small shoulders. Poor child! She should have known no real an

our to hour. We do not speak of weeks in such cases. But it was just after a spasm that he was apt to make his appearance again at home in a condition of greater or less dilapidation, with nerves on edge and his temper in such a state that Mrs. Ladue had grown accustomed, in those circumstances, to the use of great care when she was forced to address him. Lat

more. Then there was the time late in the winter, after her father had broken down under the strain of Good Behavior for two months; and, again, twice in March. Professor Ladue must have been breaking rapidly during that spring, for there came that awful time when it seemed, even to Sally, as if the bottom were dropping out of everything and as if she had rather die tha

father in his laboratory and to take him for an afternoon's Christmas shopping; very modest shopping. Whether Mrs. Ladue suspected the designs of Sally and was sure of their failure, I do not know. Sally had not told her mother of her complete plans. She was by no means certain of their success herself. In fact, she felt very shaky about it

. The shades were pulled down and the room was rather dark. Sally went to her mother and bent over her and

er, mother, dear?"

ing my dear little girl here

er that, if she carried out her plans, she could not stay. She was torn with conflicting emotions, but

me in when I get back, though, and I'll stay then, if it isn'

oo much of the care of Charlie. I

ppy. It's father. I think I'd better go in

ear child! But how can you, dear, all alone? No, S

Fox to go with me. I know he will. I promise no

, Sally?" Mrs. Lad

ome grown person. That is," she added, "i

plied Mrs. Ladue. "I wish you had a br

t thing is to have him just Fox Sanderson. Will you be s

ied, dear. I can trust you, Sally, and

e I don't." Nevertheless s

other, for she laughed a little tremulo

y and again and again, and turned a

you had better take that, too. I think there is nearly two dollars in it. It is a

mother again. "I shan't

d, with a last good-bye to her mother, she was gone. Mrs.

own gate. "Oh," she cried, "it's lucky, for

looked e

ox said, smiling

usual. She laid her hand on his arm as she spoke. "Tha

what you call a hint

g to ask you if you had just as lief go as not. I've got a ticket and there are-let's see"-she too

e going to town." He looked at his watch. "Train goes in four

hich kept Sally busy and her mind off her errand; which may have been Fox's object or it may not. For Sally had not told her errand yet, and how could Fox Sanderson have kn

rs made such a noise that she would have had to sh

ard half. "Let's get your father, Sally, and take him with us while you do your errands

ured; and she sank back

ox or anybody. She felt very grateful to him, somehow. She felt still more grateful to him when he let

w," he remarked. "Or it may be rain. I

or not. He always kept the door locked after hours; but would they go in? They would and did, but could not find Professor Ladue. Fox fo

. "If we hurry I think we can catch him

Sally, looking at him soberly and with her

d. "You didn't know that I wa

d Sally.

eturned. "Come on,

ere they were going. She wanted to ask Fox, but, evidently, he didn't want to take the time to talk. Henrietta's eyes were brighter than usual

s," said Fo

as no one in sight except Professor Ladue, who was sauntering along with the manner of the care-free. His coat was unbuttoned and blowing slightly, although there was that chill in the air that always precedes snow and the wind was ris

en houses on it. If you don't catch him before he goes into the house in the middle of that block, give it up. Don't try to go in after him, but come back. Henrietta and I

"aren't you going with us? I thoug

ft the college. Now, it might be embar

in a distressed whisper. They had

cents about me. You can make tha

turned that last corner. The professor must have been startled at the unexpectednes

t she did not shrink back

emed to be latent where Sally was concerned. His look was not pleasant to see directed toward his

be presumed, long enough for him to collect his scattered faculties and to be

ast, coldly, "may I a

"I was coming in town, this afternoon,-I

ith you?" the pro

startled than ever; but perhaps Sally was not a

who did come with her. So she went on rapidly. "But I thought I'd come just the same, so I did, and I went to your laboratory, but you'd just gone and I followed on after and I ca

as Sally had of the questions. So he asked none of the questions that one would think a father would ask of

rom what you have left unsaid tha

his voice, but he tried to speak lightly. As ha

be calm. Her eyes burned. "She didn't

the professor observed judicially

ve liked to ask him if he did-if

. "So that course did not commend itself to your judgment? Didn't think it best to mi

the cl

ind me. Very natural. I was not there. And having made up your mind, from internal evidence, I presume, which way I had gone,-but who told you?-oh, never mind. It's quite i

ased with himself, especially as he had chanced to re

; but it was a mirthless laugh. If he had known how empt

e of Sally's efforts to prevent. The tears may not have been wholly on her

now, father?" she asked, as soon as sh

assign the motive which really guided. The professor, himself, was probably una

allenged anybody to say that that was not just what he had meant to do, all along. "I have some presents to buy-for your moth

true that she seldom had the chance. Then she glanced quickly around,

toned? But Sally would have unbuttoned her coat gladly. She would not have felt the chill; and she almost skipped beside him, as they walked rapidly down toward streets which were not des

ial reason for wishing to get in promptly. But I suppose there is always somebody on any train who has a very special reason for wishing to get in promptly. There was on this train. Sally had a bad case of the fidgets, th

wet and snowy things as she ran. She knocked softly and, at the first sound of her mother's voice, she went in and shut the door ge

Ladue cried softly. "You don't kno

whispered. "I got him. But it w