The Girls of Friendly Terrace

rned abruptly into another channel at the supper-table. "O, by the way, Pegg

, almost choking over the long word in her eagern

ess that trails." Of all manifestations of feminine vanity a trained

er son's outburst, "that she was at your Bazar

e enough. I was afraid it was too nice. Lots of people come to our Bazar with just about fifty cents to spend, and I was sure

ot," agreed

for it was really the nicest thing there, mother. Just as soon as I could get the cha

why doesn't she wear spec

lly; "I was so glad, especially on Elaine's account. It makes you f

ow ready to listen to other people. "

ght you could tell her. I am very glad," added Mrs. Raymond, "for, of course, she will pay a good price

ushed guiltily and sat down again. "I was going to run over and

. Callers came before supper was over, and by the time they left the lights in the next house were extinguished. When Peggy presented herself at Elaine's door at the close of sch

h assurance of the complete sympathy of one's listeners, would have seemed touching and impressive. But when Peggy had finished, she was aware of a sudden drop i

ind to be so interested. But you see--" She hesitated, and again the thermometer seemed to drop sev

said Mrs. Marshall

ggy, frankly bewildered. "But it's nice

outsider. "O, the money's all right," Elaine admitted with a hard little laugh.

avenues. My daughter has hopes of making a comfortable i

nce was suggested by Mrs. Marshall's manner, rather than her words. To her surprise Elaine

ildhood. A former governess, Miss Brown--Elaine always called her Brownie--was most enthusiastic over

crease of color, "if Brownie didn't say all those flatteri

a young girl. And Miss Brown is so sincere, so unaffected, so different from that disagreeable Miss Collier w

e, apparently at some recollection whose humor increased with distance. "But I

to-day. If you are going to run down poor dear Brownie, and uphold that dreadful Miss Collier, I don't know but my turn will come next.

on of countenance anything but enthusiastic. "What a lot of mail!" exc

ded discontentedly. She slammed the postman's offering do

etting her momentary pique in sympathy. "There is a prejudice again

Very business-like they looked with the row of stamps on the right-hand corner, and even sensible Pegg

e Lost' for a mere song, and I'm sure 'David Harum' was refused by any number of publishers." She looked anxiously at Elaine, who, havi

it carefully. "Why, this is rather encouraging. They s

everybody," Elaine insist

ggy," cried Mrs. Marshall, forgetting formality for once, "and see what she thinks." Peggy echoe

eople would say nice things, anyway, but I believe you'd be honest, Peggy." She looked at her fri

I'm not any critic," she said uncomfortably. "I can

settled herself in a rocking-chair. "The name of this," she announced in a defian

e attention, while Elaine began to read with a rapidi

she was, with lustrous, golden hair, that fell in a profusion of silky ringlets. Deep blue were her eyes. Far and wide had the

mpossible to get any idea of the real excellence of the story when you hurr

she gave one answer 'Wouldst wed me? Then drink with me one cup of w

rising the "Maid of the Haunted Well" strewed the carpet

It chokes me. Peggy, don

mise. "I didn't know just what you were trying to bring out about the haunted well,"

ed on the conclusion of the sentence. E

jolly boys and girls wouldn't take a little bette

arshall, as Elaine preserved an uncompromising sil

to cost her the friendship she had worked so hard to win. But, after a moment, Elaine reached automatically for another envelope, and drew out a second manus

d trembling, her hands flashing with jewels, clasped in appeal. Beautiful as she always was,

found a temporary hiding-place behind one of the couch cushions. Before the scramble was over the bell had rung for the second time, and Elaine,

y aunt

ppeared, wearing an expression of triumph. "To think of all that excitement just fo

stay wi

as still as a little mouse

of the Countess Rosalie had reached their tragic culmination she had grown restless. Slipping from Peggy's arms she started on

Elaine turned a flushed face on her unwilling cri

ortified herself for the ordeal by recalling the character of Elaine's appeal. It was not right that the girl should waste her ti

ything I could write, Elaine. I think you

e who did the prompting. Mrs. M

expected to know much about, love and crime and remorse and all that sort of thing.

dering if I eve

perspiration start on her forehead, "that it would be

Elaine sharply. Then in a changed voice, "O, I see!

editors ever lived through the ordeal of rejecti

rshall witheringly, "that Bryant

id," Peggy ackn

d I'm not Bryant. That's all Peggy means." She smiled with a courage that did not conceal a quiver of pa

er discovery Dorothy had leaned against the basket's frail support, with the result that the stand was overturned and the pictures strewn far and wide. For the second time during her

nversation which bore no relation to literary pursu

"O," she exclaimed, "I didn

on the edge of a small lake. When she had removed all traces of the disorder cau

, Elaine. You've got plenty now

rep

lly cute one, but really you look older in it than you l

ne's face was crimson, and her manner so indicative of pertu

it. I never mean to leave it where people can see it." She took the offending photograph from Peggy

at it was time to go home, and Dorothy pranced with uncomplimentary readiness to take h

"if it isn't too much trouble, I wish you'd t

nk that's just splendid of you." Then, without giving her courage time to cool, she rushed on

I wanted the truth. I've got to do something to earn money, and if I haven't any chance one way, I've got to try another. And, besides," she a

realizing that friendly sincerity may be a costly gift. "And she's such a sensitive girl, too,

n something more than annoyance. Why should Elaine have cared? Unconsciously Peggy laid the matter of the photograp