Rilla of Ingleside

hemselves and though they continued to pinch her toes and blister her heels that did not interfere with her enjoyment in the least. Ethel Reese gave her a bad ten min

Glen girl of nineteen who seemed to like the society of the younger girls-spiteful friends said because she could queen it over them without rivalry. But Rilla thought Irene quite wonderful and loved her for her patronage. Irene was pretty and stylish; she sang divinely and spent every winter in Charlottetown taking music lessons. She had an aunt in Montreal who sent her wonderful things to

r "Spider" not three weeks ago when he had been at Ingleside one evening. She had cried about it upstairs afterwards and hated him. But her heart skipped a beat when she saw that he was edging his way round the side of the pavilion towards her. Was he coming to her-was he?-was he?-yes, he was! He was looking for her-he was here beside her-he was gazing down at

clever, with the glamour of a far-away city and a big university hanging around him. He had also the reputation of being a bit of a lady-killer. But that probably accrued to him from his po

y-Rilla?" he ask

could throw herself headlong down the lighthous

moment, when she was so especially desirous of appearing grown up and sophisticated, she must go and lisp like a baby! It was too mortifying; she felt as if tears were going to come into her

uggestion of emphasis on the "my." It would have been so nice if she had not made a fool of herself. She dared not look up lest she should see laughter in his eyes. So she looked down; and as her lashes were very long and dark and her lids very thick and creamy, the effect was quite

? Rilla could hard

have a

t. Then she writhed in spirit again. It sounded so bold-so eager-as if she were fairly jumping at him! What wou

her in amon

f mine is good for one hop

s about his ankle. She had heard him say so at Ingleside-heard him tell Di he was going to wear a placard on his breas

with such an adorable kissable dent just above them. Perhaps that was why he answered very patiently t

ng as ever in time, but I'll hav

rotest and then they sat down among the dunes. Kenneth talked to her as he had talked to Nan and Di. Rilla, overcome with a shyness she did not understand, could not talk much, and thought he would think her frightfully stupid; but in spite of this it was al

rmaiden revelry,'" quoted Kenneth

w and again. But perhaps her dreamy eyes and her dented lip and her slender throat talked eloquently for her. At any rate Kenneth seemed in no hurry to suggest going back and when they did go back supper was in progress. He found a seat for her near the window of the lighthouse kitchen and sat on the sill besid

ombrely. It was Jack Elliott from over-harbour-a McGill medical student, a quiet chap not much addicted to social doings. He had been invited to the party but had

to fall in with this clever girl who could talk of world doings and outside events with the zest and vigour of a man. In the pleasure of his society she had forgotten some of her misgivings of the day. Now they suddenly returned to her. What news did Jack Elliott bring? Lines fro

the fiddler had stopped for a rest and there was silence there too. Afar off they heard the low moan of the gulf-the presage of a storm alread

y," said Jack Elliott slowly. "The ne

breath. "My dream-my dream! The first wave has br

rmageddon?

d so," he s

r still realized that it meant anything to them. Before long the dancing was on again and the hum of pleasure was as loud as ever. Gertrude and Alla

heard the

h. I've been trying to get Captain Josiah to hoist the flag but he says it isn't t

ut Mary and Miller were both supremely happy on it. Miller Douglas was a big, strapping, uncouth lad, who thought Mary Vance's tongue uncommonly gifted and Mary Vance's white eyes stars of the first magn

nd had one of his odd

-feel it to your heart's core. You will weep tears of blood over it. The Piper has come-and he will pipe until every corner of the world has heard

she felt uncomfortable. Walter Blythe was always saying odd things. That old Piper of his-she hadn't heard anything about him sin

coming up just then. "This war won't last for years-it'll be over in

Walter passionately. "This isn't a paltry struggle in a Balkan corner, Harvey. It is a death grapple. Germany

"The British navy would have to be licked for one; and for another, Miller here, now, and

down the st

ten that they had a chance for a talk together; Mary was determined that this one shouldn't be spoiled by Walter Blythe's silly blather about Pipers and German

all. Was life like this-something delightful happening and then, just as you were revelling in it, slipping away from you? Rilla told herself pathetically that she felt years older than when she had left home that evening. Perhaps she d

oh, so absently. He really didn't care a bi

"you don't think this war will ma

ows who will be able to take a hand. I won't-thanks

gland's battles," cried Rilla. "She

t's a family affair. We've got to stand by each other. The

volunteer to go if it wasn't for yo

t a cent-Walter won't be strong enough yet, I suppose. And Jerry Mered

y father and Mr. Meredith wouldn't allow it. They weren't through c

yed out on bloodstained fields with empires for stakes-a Game in which womenkind could have no part. Women, thought Rilla miserably, just had to sit and cry at home. But all this was foolishness. Kenneth couldn't go-he admitted that himself-and Walter couldn't-thank goodness for that-and Jem and Jerry would have mo

with some over-harbour friends to the rock-shore where they all lingered as dance after dance went on above them. It was cool and pleasant and they were tired. Rilla sat silent, taking no part in the gay conversation. She was glad when someone called down that the over-harbour boats were leaving. A laughing scramble up the lighthouse rock followed. A f

go," said Mary Vance, who was waving her scarf at a boa

the rest?"

ago. See-they're just going around Birch Point. I didn't go because it's getting rough and I knew I'd be seas

and Mollie Crawford. Oh, w

ust have gone in the other boat. Don't worry. You can stay all

d savagely-she would not let Mary Vance see her crying. But to be forgotten like this! To think nobody had t

xclaimed. "I left

thoughtless kid I ever saw. You'll have to as

didn't like the said Hazel

gged her

ffer pain. It'll teach you to be

t was not pleasant either; her feet were very tender and the pebbles and ruts of the road hurt them. Her blistered heels smarted. But physical pain was almost forgotten in the sting of humiliation. This was a nice predicament! If Kenneth Ford could see her now, limping along like a little girl with a stone bruise! Oh, what a horrid way for her lovely party to end!

n in a hurry I can tell you. It's certainly been something of a party. The Lewisons know how to do things, I'll say that for them, though Hazel Lewison i

said Rilla as defiantly as two

u, it doesn't do to believe all they tell you. Don't let Ken Ford think that all he has to

durable to walk on stony roads with blistered heels and bare feet! And it was une

Kenneth"-sniff-"Ford"-two sniffs

advice from older people. I saw how you slipped over to the sands with Ken an

sped between sniffs. "You sat for hours with Miller Douglas on that lob

retreating to high and lofty ground. "All I say is, you shoul

as spoiled-even that beautiful, dreamy, romantic, moonlit hour with Ken

cried mystified Mary. "

liating to admit crying because of your feet than because-because somebody had been amusi

's a pot of goose-grease in Cornelia's tidy pantry and it beats all the fancy

what your first party and your first bea

despair. Outside, the dawn came greyly in on wings of storm; Captain Josiah, true to his word, ran up the Union Jack