Elsie at Home

s her mother and Harold drove up. She

lded to a most urgent invitation to stay to

who I knew would be sadly disappointed if her mother failed to keep her promise not to remain long away from her to-

d incloses a little note from his mother-such a nice, kind, affectionate one-saying she is gla

iven his horse into the care of a stable boy, no

? I know mother may be intrusted with secrets wh

you may listen if you care to," returned Rosie with a light l

ot want an invitation to pa

idence, and to say that she would like to be in his care for at least a time; so if we can recommend a good boarding place somewhere

or quite recovered her health while in Europe a few years ago. You know at th

ain within the last year or two-so Will has told me. I do hope she may come here-in

y liberal treatment of him in acknowledgment of his service to their son. They feel that they owe that son

has told me that he feels he owes his life to Doctor Art

rprised if they would be willing to take the Crolys in at Roselands for a time. There is a good deal of unoccupied room in the ho

Rosie. "Though perhaps it would make too muc

r wishes-Mrs. Croly's, I mean-and let him give his opinion in regard t

h! it wants but five minutes of the dinner hour. I must go at

eranda that evening, and the different boarding places in the vicinity were considered. It was feared none of them could furnish quite such accommodations as might be des

refer the question to Cousin Arthur himself. And here he comes

cordiality and speedily instal

ong away from my wife and boy, I felt an irresistible incl

it is just exactly what we are all

lking of you and wanting your opinion

n, telling of the desire of Mrs. Croly to put herself under his care for at lea

know I feel under great obligation to Mr. Croly, her husband; besides, it would make it much easier for me to tak

randma Elsie, giving him a look of affectionate appreciation; "but are you

I will do so, and you shall hear from me early to-morrow or possibly to-night," he added. "Marian, I am sure, will feel very much as I do about it," he we

aid Rosie. "But I will wait to hear from you

at an early ho

r a long visit afterward," remarked Grandma Elsie, "but you hav

, how widely scattered they are," he continued half musingly-"my sisters Isadore and Virginia in Louisiana-Molly and Dick Percival there too, with Betty and Bob Johnson; my br

sked his cousin Elsie in a cheery tone and

I with my sweet Marian and a baby boy of whom any father might well be proud and fond. And I must b

turned in at the gates, the one bringing Mr. and Mrs. Ronald Lilburn, t

ut for a drive, met and exchanged salutations, had then decided to c

empted to do so by the beauty of the evening and the prospect of the pleasure of a chat with the very near and dear dwellers in the

conveyances of various sorts, it could be traversed with such ease, expedition, and comfort that it seemed little or no inconvenience; the short

ial than had been that of the others, and presently

tions for it, was the principal theme of their talk. Rosie, not caring to have secrets from these very ne

ucilla. "The Crolys were very generous to him, to

isn't everyone who would have done so, and I have always thought well of

oly to health, that will not be a very smal

earthly blessings," said Grace. "One can

perience, you poor

o! not

the wedding day yet,

middle of June; or perhaps a little later. I want to make sure of having Walter

ave time to get well, too

at least she seems altogether likely to be. Ma

s saying?" exclaimed Lucilla, and t

time as possible, to celebrate the third birthday of my little namesake grandson. We talked the thing over at

r party in this region of country," remarked Mrs. Dinsmo

" said he

"And I!" added t

of the mansion before the marriage of the old gentleman and Annis, and so continued to be, with Annis' full consent, but there was no jarring between them; they were congenial spirits, and

ty, I suppose?" remarked Mrs.

the guests of our bit laddie. We will have an early supper for their sakes, and after

olks may stay as late as they

"each and every guest m

busy to come, Rosie?" sa

Ronald's birthday party," returned Rosie in a sprightly tone, "and you

e to be as his father and

. By the way, I hope your nephew, Cousin Donald Keith, will be able to get a furlough, so that he ca

may be able to come. I should enjoy showing

aptain Raymond. "I shall want him as my gu

is. "No doubt he will want to b

l want him we will have to divide the pleasur

nald," said Violet, "and often wondered th

suppose, my dear," the captain said with a smile.

to miss securing an excellent

d nephews seem to me to be admirable husbands. I hope, Elsie, tha

"and if they fail to come you may be assure

r cousins from that region wi

he telephon

I presume," said Edward Travill

to the company, "It was Arthur. He says all is right, and Rosie may send as warm an invita

"Now I shall be able to send my

kindly prompt; as indeed he

in that, feeling that it is very necessary in a physician to be ready,

he doctor. The life of a faithfu' medical mon is one of toil and self-denial; a fact that has made me won

having and using the ability to relieve suffering, and surely one who professes to be a follower

turned the old gentleman with a smile. "The dear

feelingly, "that is what we

ght and took their departure; the Lilburns going

the family connexion and had a very pleasant afternoon, mostly taken up with sports su

ere were fruits and flowers, and some few toys; among these last, animals which ventriloquism c

othsome viands, not too rich for their powers of digestion. After that they were allowed to sport upon the verandas and the gras

ed a sudden hush of expectancy. Glances were sent here and there in search of the musician, yet no one was greatly surprise

bedtime of the little ones, all presently bade good-bye, with truthful as