Mrs. Red Pepper

ee you, Mrs. Burns." Cy

She took the card in some surprise, for morning calls were not much in vogue in this small town. But when she read th

and saucy air about her somewhere, quite difficult to locate, rose as Ellen came in. Dark eyes flashed, lips smiled happily, and

ed. "Where did you come from? A

didn't know myself till I was here. Oh, do let me look at you! How dear

w glad I am to see you-it seems so long. I hope yo

plans at express speed, and fly back agai

'way up from Charleston? Th

though she's with the Priedieus, who will take the kindest care of her. Hence my haste. Oh, I can't wait a minute till I

d Ellen led the way, Miss Ruston following with a small trave

the stairs. "I should have known that living-room was yours if I hadn't had your Aunt

cteristic fervour of expression. "I remember you

promise of what the face fulfills! Forgive me, Len,-you know when I haven't seen you

ooms, Amy Mathewson the other. She should have to turn Bob out of the bachelor's room, and se

I'm always in such anxiety about Granny when I get her away from her quiet corner. Now let

much rich and youthful bloom can be at a touch of soap and water. She gave her hostess a second em

that all-conquering husband of yours brought you

cture in an ivory-and-silver frame upon the d

etter picture of him than that,-I know it without seeing him in the flesh. What a splendid pair of eyes! Do they look right down into your inmost though

llen with mischief in

Would you have

nd you're happy with him? Yes, I can see it in your face. Well, now, shall we talk about

r guest in a high-backed, cushioned wicker chair by the window

vidence to sustain the hearer. What would you say-to-my coming to this place for a year, renti

otte R

signature to imprint upon the distinguished portraits she is to make. Portraits of the aristocracy who can afford to pay ever so many dollars a dozen for likenesses of themselves in exquisit

secret? I know you do delightful ama

sionally amateur studio work in the world, according to my humble opinion. And the Kendalls do the finest garden and outdoor studies, as you know. Could I have better training? Mr. Brant thinks me fit to start a city studio-a mode

is a beautiful plan. And you've really chosen

s probably as good as another, there was no reason why I shouldn't be near one of my deare

first day. I suppose you haven't look

As I stood on your doorstep I saw my future studio spring, full-fledged, into view, with a 'To r

eet. "Isn't there a little old cottage, back in there somewhere, in a tangle of old-fashioned flowers? It doesn't show from here, I see, but from belo

old ladies have lived there all their lives, and have died there within the year. They would never sell, although, as you

entle ghosts won't trouble us, and Granny will delight in that garden. What a bac

beautiful trees. What a pity it is mostly so modern in the matter of architecture! I wonder if the people in those houses will think me

nes to the house, set so far back from the street that it was nearly concealed by the growth of unt

at her companion. "Even though the roof falls in on my head, and the walls sway as I pass by, I must have this house-if it is dry! Of course I can't bring Granny to a damp house. P

was examined by a future tenant who made light of all the real drawbacks to the place-as the owner secretly considered them-but who demanded absolutely water-tight conditions as the price of her rent. As

he house isn't worth it, and I can't agree to do it,"

o want that fireplace unsealed, and if you will put that and the chimney in order, so I can have fires t

r hands full of June roses, and her spirits high. It was with her vivid personality at its best that sh

," Amy explained to Mrs. Burns, as she came

own to each other, and the three sat down. R.P. Burns, M.D., rushing in the midst of

meet him. The two regarded each other with

n the one on your wife's dressing-table," said she,

hot camera concealed anywhere about you? If so, I

-day," Ellen assured

bject introduced by his wife, and amplified

e crash and fall of decayed old timbers, we'll come to the rescue and pull you out. We don't have much excitement here. The wreck will h

rred. "Those vine-clad old walls will make wonderful backgrounds for my outdoor

intness?" he asked her. "Will our leading citizens want to be pho

n. "Ellen-will you excuse me while I run up

s's chair and laid one before him, another before Amy Mathewson. Ellen, who had a

he, after a minute's steady scrutiny, "tha

s. Flesh and blood children-Rupert and Rodney Trumbull. And it's really the nig

ng, enchanted moment before they should lay hands upon the mysteries before them. The glow of the firelight was upon them, the shadows behind held the small sturdy

his wife's face. "We must have

eplace effects," she explained. Then she gave the Christmas-eve picture to Miss Mathewson, smiling as Amy, returning th

e it," Miss Ru

ng of lovely things as she worked. As in the other picture the shadows were soft and hazy, only the surfaces touched by the fireglow showing with

less porcelain which I guard with all the defences at my command. Tell me, Dr. Burns, I shall n

d he, emphatically, his eyes on the picture again, "you m

t!" cried his wife'

be made fit," said he. "Old ladies like this shall not be risked in doubtful places,

s this what he is like?" said she, i

with me now," said Red Pe

e made perfectly tight. And

a dishpan. And you are at liberty to go back to-night-much as we shall dislike to lo

e as h

n! Will you stay to look at one mor

beside a window, the attitude apparently unstudied, the lighting unusual and p

But it's not in it with the old lady by the fire. I'll r

you," and the guest looked after h

d, glancing from Mrs. Burns to Miss Mathewson, both of whom were smil

more than nine years," said she. "When I have ventured to depart f

venture to dep

look s

you do look-conscientious." Mis

ers had expected. "If I were not consci

e," declared Miss Ruston. "He looks

ect his assistant nurse to be adve

mmonplace type than her words now indicated. "As for my friend, Mrs. Burns-he is her husband, and she must have known what he was like, since I, in

xamination of the possibilities in the old cottage, and by a man-to-man talk with

at to come here and shut herself up in Aunt Selina's old rookery,

ouse. The garden promised better, he thought. He could understand her being caught by the forsaken though powerful charm of that. Doubtless it would f

ion of her project, and to receive her ha

in his left hand as he shook hands with his right, "that you will let

ks behind me, or a 'queer

you except darkness a

the things one looke

ck unknown,' and seeing your face, mus

country we don't know how to give fine, fascinating blarney like that, eh? Good-bye, Miss Ruston, and goo

her camera. The drive, taken in the Macauley car, by Martha's invitation, and in the company of Martha herself, Winifred Chester, and several children, prevented much c

ide to take her to the station. "I should have liked you to meet our guest, Dr. Leaver. He is an old friend of my husband's, who has bee

e veil before Ellen's mirror, her back to

Dr. John Leaver

ed. Do you

Is he ill? I hadn

is home city. "He is improving, and we are keeping him here because it is a place where he can be out of the world, for a time, and not be called upon to go back before he should. So plea

difficult to satisfy in the matter of the veil's adjustment. Though she

u?" Ellen offere

it too tight. I suppose your gues

he is contented to be idle, but it is what he needs. He is going to need diversion, too, and perhaps you

fore I come back-for his own sake. There, I believe this veil's on, at last. What a terrible colour it gives one

the time, too. But it's very becoming, Charlotte, since it seems to have

dear-dearest-for all you have done for me to-day. It's bee

y the drive-embraced her, and hurried down the stairs. She seemed in haste to be off, but it was like h

ll the young women I know she seems to me the most alive. I wish Dr. Leaver had been down to-day. He would surely have liked to see her; I never knew a man who didn't. If he has