The Lucky Piece

rs until she had made a definite place for herself, either as a recognized authority or by some startling discovery, in mycological annals-in fact, to become in some measure a benefactor of man

nfided something of her intention to Frank, who had at least assumed to take it seriously, following her in her wanderings-pushing through tangle and thicket and clambering over slippery logs into uncertain places for possible treasures of discovery. His reluctance to scale Mc

ad settled the matter in her own mind, "I have a

himself from under a rather low-ly

have done, n

hat you haven't done. You're so sat

thy hands and soiled g

table just now, rooting and pawing about in the lea

very special exertion, though sometimes I think you don't enjoy them very much. I know you would much rather drift about in a boat on the lake, or sit under a tree, and hav

le before replying.

ealize and believe in it all, just as I did long ago, when I was a boy and read it for the first time. These are the very woods of romance, and I am expecting any day we shall come upon King Arthur's castle. When we do I shall join the Ro

ent circumstances still rankled. S

to find my reality as bes

xactly cover the specimen? Now, here I'm told that I'm hopeless, which means that I'm a failure, when even at this moment I bear the marks of my devotion." He pointed at the knees of his trousers, damp from his recent experience. "I've done battle with nature," he went on, "a

usual, respond to h

n known to scale dizzy heights for a single flower. I have never known of one who refused to accompany a

otable day, for y

no

he humiliation of the second, and that, too"-she smiled in spite of herself-"in t

s voice. The humorous phase was coming

right about it's being foggy up there

would have spared me and all of us what followed. As it is, Edith Morrison thinks I wanted to deprive h

for me as you always show for Robin,"

way to recognition and respect and knowledge? Oh, you don't know how he has struggled-you who have had everything from birth-who have never known what it is not to gratify every wish, nor what it feels like to go hungry and cold that some one else might be warm and fed." Miss Deane's cheeks were aglow, and her eyes were filled

ly to the end. Then

ou should not love him-if you want to. I am sure Robin Farnham is a very worthy fellow.

t to break in, bu

ad been born with my advantages and I with his, it might have made a difference, don't you think, in your very frank and just estimate of us to-day? I have often thought that it is a misfortune to have been born with money,

ked him

n't know what you are saying. You don't know, as I do, how he has gone out in the bitter cold to work, without his breakfast, because there

There was something in her eyes which made them very brig

d you all about it,"

rned u

ne! I found it out-oh, long ago-but I

and sister-what

steadied itself

was taken by some kind people. He

ed in the quiet of the gold-lit greenery about them, and as they wandered on there grew about them a peace which needed no outward establishment. They held their course by a little

said, "there

rom a natural avenue just ahead. They had followed a different way and wer

n to Miss Deane. "A curious shut-in place where mushrooms grow a

ht of summer never penetrated there. Such light as came through seemed dim and sorrowful, and there was about the spot a sinister aspect that may have been due to the black pool in the center and the fungi which grew about it. Pale, livid growths were there, shading to sickly yellow, and in every form and size. So thick were they the

all deadly-every o

Devil's Garden. I thi

ps the life among the hills had

grew near her foot. "They seem to be all Amanitas," she added, "the most deadly of toadstools. Those paler ones are Amanita Phalloides. There is no cure for their poison. These are called the Fly Amanita becau

seemed to depress them all. They spoke but little, and in hushed voices. When they emerged from the woods the sun had slipped beh

sure Mr. Weatherby will be glad to surrender the privilege. I want t

to Edith and Frank the matter seemed ominously important. They spoke their adieus pleasantly enough, but a curious spark glittered a little in the girl's eyes and the young man's face was grave as they two watche

air of fools. You may not know it-perhaps even they do

her eyes suddenly flood with tears. The words did not come easily either to deny or a

ed out at the little boat, now rapidly blending into the shadows of the other shore, and added-to himsel

had always dabbled in that-and his fellow-students had hailed him not only as their leader in athletic but literary pursuits. As editor-in-chief of the college paper and valedictorian of his class, he had left them at last, followed by prophecies of a career in the world of letters. Well, that was more than two years ago, and he had never picked up his pen since that day. There had been so many other things-so many places to go-so many pleasant people-so much to do that was easier than to sit down at a remote desk w

the dining-room was nearly empty. Inadvertently he approached the group gathered about the wide hall fireplace as he passed out. Miss C

few conundrums. My Charlie that I raised and is now in the electric works at Haverford used to say it helped digestion. N

k started to back out, silently, but Miss Carroway had ob

n the evening and not go poking off alone. I am just about to ask the first conundrum. Mebbe you'll get the next. This is one that Charlie

elf strong for the ordeal. Dutifully he considered the problem and passed it on to the little woman in black,

er's a queen of the sun. Of course," she added, "a fountain isn't really

arded her with so

on, "it might be, but it ain

nteered an irreverent young person outside the circl

ame," commented Miss Carroway

the young lady from Utica, who was a school-mistress, "or 'e

red a definition and the problem came back to its proposer. She sat

ncing judgment. "I don't think this is much of a conundrum crowd. My Charlie would have g

another. Was it, after all, too late? If he should begin now to do and dare and conquer, could he regain the lost ground? And how should he begin? Half confused with approaching sleep, his thoughts intermingled with strange fancies, that one moment led him to the mountain top where in the mist he groped for mushrooms, while the next, as in a picture, he was achieving some splendid triumph and laying the laurels at her feet. Then he was wide awake again, listening to the whisper of the trees that came through his open window and the murmur of voices from below. Presently he found himself muttering, "What is the difference between a fountain and the Prince of Wales?"-a quest