The Carter Girls' Mysterious Neighbors

some order out of the chaos of trunks that had been brought from the station and systematically put in the

ave the upstairs room in the new house; Mr. and Mrs. Carter the lower room; the shed room was to serve as guest chamber when needed; the dining-room was in the basement. Over the outside kitchen was another

ch as they hated to part with them, had determined to have a country girl, accustomed to less wages than Susan, and to do without a manservant in place of the faithful, if high-priced,

as Helen shook out a pretty little old-rose dinner gown, a leftover from the time when

is well enough for me to wear silk stockings this evening," she said a little wistfully. We all remember that in the first throes of ago

have on, I can tell you that. There is a lot to do to get the beds made up and the house ready to sleep in, and

you and find your stockings and everything," begged Helen. "I don't think

stesses you are thinking

should I

out the

an," declared Helen frankly. "Do you fancy he is young or

nt of. I hope he is not German. I must say I'd hate to p

utral, I don't think it is fair for us to take such a stand. I'd rather dress up

ss up for anybody, but if I m

ing to wear her pearls. She is trying to persuade

never have to dress in this out

ieve people deteriorate when they stay in the same old clothes year in and year out. I could wish my old-rose had anot

ndency to overrate the importance of clothes had been fostered in her by her frivolous mother. Douglas, on the othe

essed in what Mrs. Carter and Helen considered suitable garments, with

overseer's cottage could possibly call for formal dressing. Of course, you women know best

inly do nachelly hate clean clothes. When I gits to be growed up, I'm gonter be a barefoot tramp an' ain't never gonter wash nor nothin'." Bobby was

cut off. Folks weren't near so 'ticular 'bout

a count you must be very carefully dressed," explain

to dine with any count living. That's the way Douglas and I feel. We wouldn'

your mother sees fit, but don't, for goodness' sake, think a man, because he is a count o

of glory but already the great October moon was doing her best to take his place. There was a hint of frost in t

't quarrel all the time," whispered Hele

uglas: "bound to sizzle when you mix 'em. They are so mild and g

were dressed in rustling black silk with old lace berthas and cuffs, and the gentleman who sprang to his fee

was also not poor. That cut of dress suit did not go with poverty, nor did the exquisite fineness of his linen. Douglas's question of his

ouglas said to herself. "He

a German, count or no count. When she saw that the Misses Grant evidently considered their

at the skirt did not flare quite enough. Helen had a way of wearing her clothes and of arrang

whose natural place was in society. Her gift was social and it did seem a great waste that such a talent should have to be buried under the bushel of an overseer's cott

o quarrelsome old sisters farming on a dwindling estate did not lessen their importance in their own e

gs left from the frozen custard would be well to use in a silver cake, the other simultaneously determined to have apple float, requiring whites of eggs, and then the yolks must be converted into golden cake. The consequence was that their supper table groaned with opposing dishes. Each one pressed upon the guests her own sp

. He had done much traveling for a man under thirty and had lived in so many places that it made him a real citizen of the world. Evidently he had the Misses Grant charmed. From the moment that he bought Weston, a fine old estate in the neighborhood, and came into their county to settle, the o

out him: Who was he? What was his nationality? Why had he se

tractive. Douglas was the most beautiful with her titian hair and clear complexion, not ruined by the summer out-of-doors as her mother had feared. But Helen-there was a piquancy about Helen that was certainly very fetching; her brown hair was so beautifully arranged at exactly the right and becoming angle; her little head was so gracefully set on her athletic shoulders; her bearing was so gallan

ther, not forgetting to give the hostesses a full share of attention. Mr. Carter, who since his illness had been inclined to be very quiet, was drawn into the convers

and had bought the estate of Weston with

sian!" exclaimed Dougl

ed for a moment. Then he looked a

" and Douglas blushed. "Who would wan

like them s

ate

oo?" turnin

president has asked us to. I don't fee

minds of everybody. Count de Lestis rather surprised Mr. Carter

the Central Powers if I had not commi

ow was

no right to dictate to the universe. I was requested to leave the country. I was then living in Vienna, making short trips to

can come into your own again," asserted Dougl

to be whipped?" his

" said Doug

hy of

eaven,'" whispered Nan,

ut whos

Justice an

t the God

and this time Douglas'

y their cigars. The older man was enjoying his talk with this young foreigner. He looked forward with pleasure to seeing much of him, sin

to visit him at his earliest convenience at Weston to advise with him

hed Mr. Carter, "but I might look it over and tell you what I th

Louise on the subject of a country gi

e, "but this creature we have has a sister who could come to you. I beg of you not to

on learning that it was only seven dollars a month, the girls fe

is wonderful sup

ok everything we eat and this Tem

cook. Do you think I m

er seen it done," laughed the fat old lady. "Come with m

s. Not in the least abashed at being caught napping, she waked up and told Helen that

what the Misses Grant

h. I done started at six and wucked up ter seben, an' if Chloe gits now what I gits,