What Diantha Did

in armies, fleets

mes new count

ng fortune wide

someth

ng maidens cr

her's love, the

and helpless,

s new

and language, l

d all alone

nd helpless, se

keep t

was safety for

er's love and

he Home, and

new th

find it unabated. With condensed disapprobation written on every

ar failed to find the exact words of reproof for a woman of indep

h his usually late and apologetic stepmother would furnish the amusement. They were both surprised to find

miably about the lovely morning-the flowers, the garde

s morning?" asked Madam Weatherst

lied Viva. "I have eng

he old lady was shaken by th

n-law, looking calmly across the

she coming, i

been with her an hour

he had expected. "How extremely alert and businesslike!

ute's notice," said his grandmother. "Or perh

et rid of Mrs. Halsey for some time,

name?" inq

announcing the day of the week, but inwardly dreading the re

't that the girl who set 'em all by the ears yesterday?" asked the you

so-precipitate! This young woman cannot be competent to manage a house like this-to say nothing of her scandalous ideas

breath, as he strolled after her; "u

ile looking after the well-built, well-dressed,

-think-imagine-a good deal. I'm sure I hope not! An

she described to Ross as "a la

ms to have been very unhappy-for ever so long-and to have submitted to her domineering old mother-in-law just because she didn't care enough to resist. Now she's got wake

ning, and I guess I can hold the place. But the old lady is a

I hope you will enjoy your new work," he wrote, "but personally I should prefer that you did not-so you might give it

he money into a ranch-fruit, hens, anything-then we could all live on it; more cheaply, I think; and I could

-pigs and their potential capacities, but she was interested in her lover

woman's business-this letter-writin'," he always held; and George, after one scornful upbraiding

and surroundings; and while she utterly disapproved of Diantha's undertaking, a sense of sisterly duty, to sa

t ever speak of you-but I do just the same. You hear from the Wardens, of course. Mrs. Warden's got neuralgia or something; keeps them all busy. They are much excited over this new place of yours-you ought to hear them go on! It appears that Madam Weatherstone is a connection of theirs-one

far from stimulating. "It's no use arguing with poor Susie!" she decided

d of it yet, but she will

s unhappy-but of course I knew they would. It can't

went t

end most promptly, with a na

h as you thought? Do tell me about it, Vi

laves in housework, and I've seen what we fondly call 'Q

ear me! We do miss her! She trained that Swede for us-and she does pre

d Mrs. Weatherstone. "How selfish we are! That is the kind of wom

ay-food sent in-. He says if she cooked it he wouldn't care if it came all the way from

ption-her coming here, but I think it will be a help-she's not had experience in large manageme

n this morning and told me all about it. Poor Mrs. Ree! The home is church

s that stormy meeti

, standing up for her as you

Unpardonable Sin since that meeting!" And she told her friend of her brief passage at arms with Mrs. Halsey. "I never liked the woman

the sanctities of the home' that she's going about saying all sor

"Mr. and Mrs. Thaddler," and Madam Weathersto

rs. Thaddler to her young hostess. "A very dangerous ex

talked to Mrs. Porne. "I'd like to try that same experiment m

had the chance," she replied. "We thi

agreed. "Gad! How she did set things hu

Porne wished, as she often had before, that Mr. Thad

. "Simply scandalous! Never in my life did I hear such absur

ticks! There was a lot of truth in what that girl said!" Then he looked rather she

g lost between them; and the former gave evidence of more satisfaction than distress at this "dangerous experiment

lready," she said to he

bject of his call-he had hoped to see the Dangero

is ashamed of her daughter-in-law-I can see that! She

oman's good cooking,"

" she replied tartly. "What she is ther

led softly. "I'll

d regime. She had the keys; she explored, studied, inventoried, examined the accounts, worked out careful tables and estim

said, "and I've allowed margins because I'm new to a business of this size. But here's

ssed. "Aren't you a little-

oms, the number of servants, the hours of labor,

check it off each month. If I may do the ordering and keep all

ervants?" asked

al excellence with "incompatibility of temper." Diantha was given a free hand,

for her summer's experiment, gradually adding others, till the household was fairly harm

usehold. Mrs. Weatherstone fully approved of the Girls' Club Diantha had started at Mrs.

," said the girl. "You were quite right about t

some of which sh

of club members, she learned their personal stories; what had befallen them

g, meaning the men servants; "they respect an honest girl if she resp

d cook of long standing. "I've worked out for twe

at Mrs. James' seve

in New York; and she's had to leave two good places on account of th

found the weakness of the whole position to lie in the utter ignorance and helplessness of the individual s

nned, for furnishing labor by the day. Mrs. James was an excellent cook, though most unpleasant to work with. She was quite able to see that gettin

in twos and threes as chambermaids and waitresses at 25 cents an hour. Two of them could set in perfect order one of the small beach cottage in an hour's time; and t

. Weatherstone's known interest gave it social backing; and many ladies who heartily disapproved of Diantha's th

ks, in merry pairs and groups, finding the work far more varied and amusing than the endless repetition in one househo

"Exposing a group of silly girls to such danger and temptations! I understand t

ey shall all be in bed at eleven-which is very wise. I'm gl

g!" said the old lady solemnly. "And it grieves me to

erstone buttonholed her daughter-in-law in the hall; and in

f-"there will be a scandal if I'm not mighty care

ower hall, and looking over the railing saw her airily dusti

at it can't do you anything but harm? You can't carry on with a man like that as you can with one of your

illage she was born in. Young men were young men-and they might even-perhaps

y in the door, and kept the room next to it empty; frequently using it herself, unknown to anyone. "I hate to turn the child off," she said to herself, consci

a good deal, and Mrs.

go well, 'Miss Bell?' You s

to tell you about it-but I hate to. Perhaps if

ern California by the sea. Little Ilda, in a fresh black frock and snowy, frilly cap and apron, ra

e was frightened and furious when he suddenly held her fast and kissed her with much satisfaction. As soon as h

er danger at all. I've tried to make her. And now I'm more worried

elf," said Mrs. Weatherstone. "I'

led him on'-you know that. But I have an idea that we could convince her-if you're

Diantha explained. It was melodramatic,

under my roof?" hotly dem

me," Diantha reluctantly assured her. "It's no us

one. "That would save me a deal of trouble and misunderstanding. Se

in-" Diantha explained; and

employer admitted. "We'

perienced advice, Mrs. Weatherstone brought the august lady to the

e communicating doors and the locksmith is coming in the morning.-you see this opens from this side." She turned the oiled key softly

of night, for a thing like this!" said the old lady. "They should

hard finish; pointed out from the window a tall eucalyptus which she thought needed heading; d

xt room-a man's voice dimly heard. Madam W

s this!" she said i

" said she. "Let us make sure!" a

da, huddled in the bedclothes, staring at her door from which the ke

oung lady!" said a c

girl, low and breathlessly. "

said the voice. "Yo

in a soft but frantic

aming's about, that's all. You open the door-if you don't want anybody to

stened with set lips. Diantha looked from one to the other, and at th

he cried in desperation. "O wh

d better keep still about this for your own sake. Stand from under!" Madam Weath

hrough the transom, two legs wildly wriggling, a descending body, and there st

the moonlight, but clasped it warmly to his heart.-"Now I've got you, Ducky!" c

therstone turn

assing position

o cry out because her case would be lost if she did; beggi

ndmother, so overwhelmed with amazement that her trenchant sentences failed her completely; his stepmother, w

nging to Diantha's hand. "If I'd only listened to you!" she said. "

orts with the pass-key. He was red, red to his ears-very red, but the

e and let him pass-

om for the night. Madam Weatherstone an

ged him!" the older la

r her room, as you saw and heard,"

boy!" said hi

rom home, untaught, unprotected," Viva answered swiftly; ad

rted in