Mrs. Red Pepper

en done if I hadn't found a kind friend among the railroad men, who sent my things

of the Macauley car, which had met her at the station on the last day of July. She looked

d. She noted, with the approval of the suburbanite who cares much to

burning to begin, July weather though it is. How are my hol

or you, but didn't venture to touch so much as a spear, lest we destroy some picturesque effect,"

een so busy. But now that I'm here I'll show you how to make a home out of four chairs, three rugs, a table, a mirror, and an adorable

ou do it," Ellen assured her, and

was at her door she was ready for work. A blue painter's blouse slipped over her travelling dress, her sleeves rolled well up her shapely arms, she had plunged into the labour of se

he lad at work oiling them, demonstrating to him with her own hands, carefully gloved, the way to do it. Every window she flung wide, and Mrs. Kelsey was presently s

show most. Try this hairpin under your cloth,"-she slipped one out from her heavy locks-"you can get into the corners with that, I'm sure. Tom, there's a spot as big as a plate you haven't hit. You can't see it in t

chair in the small kitchen. The house boasted but four rooms, two below and two above, with a small enclosure off the kitchen which h

ractical people in the world. Not one of them but can make a whistle out of a pig's tail, or a q

the whole thing. My purse was rather light when I had bought it, too." She made a funny little grimace, then laughed. "But my most trying purchase was my tin bath! You can't imagine what a hunt I had f

hough, Charlotte. When you are specially tired, and there's luncheon or dinner to get, run over and let us give

a chair for the kitchen. I probably shall not sit down myself, and shall always serve our little meals in the living-room, but I foresee that I shall have guests here in the kitchen, and I'

ssure you that two kitchen chairs will ar

ndid neighbour. Do you want to climb upstairs a

the walls, and gayly led the way. But Ellen excl

le old Madam Chase can climb these

to. Private lift

ou mean? S

t eighty pounds-if she is wearing plenty of clothes. In her little nig

than you ought to carry

d out that a weight you love devotedly is just no weight at all? Now, look here! Aren't these bits of rooms fascinating? Hot, just now, I admit-" She ran to the windows, wrenched them open and propped them up. "Too hot in July, certain

g. I can hardly believe you are the same girl I used to know, brought up to be wai

een rather a pull, but I've had Granny through it all, and as long as she's left to me I won't complain. I used to be an extravagant person, but you've no idea how I've le

. What com

about all there are to go up here, except Granny's dressing-table. I've saved t

up with the fine old linen Charlotte produced, exclaiming over its

nt to get that ready, too," she urged,

later." Charlotte was rubbing away at an ol

bed. Surely you can'

o; mine is a folding c

furniture at al

ocked, Len. We're just camping out for a year, you know, and I brought

nd for them, dear, please. If you are to

y as well know it, but I want you to understand that I don't consider it a hardship at all to live as I intend to live this year. I shall be making money h

r dark eyes glowing, her lips in proud, sweet lines of resolution, her round chin held high. Then she laughed, throwin

be proud! I never believed in the pride which covers up, but in

girl! Where di

nk I shall have the happiest ye

And I shall delight i

nd Charlotte, bidding good-night to her servitors, gave them hearty praise and bade them come

en the room will be ready to show your husband this evening. I'm anxious to have i

e fireplace. Woven rag rugs in dull blues lay on the floor; one great winged chair, Granny's chair, stood by the window. Besides this were the splint-bottomed, high-backed chair, two Sheraton chairs, and a Chippendale mirror,-all relics of a luxurious o

bunch of old-fashioned crimson-and-pink "bleeding-hearts" at her waist, to do the occasion honour. She looked, somehow, already as if she belonged with the place. She sat upon the doorstone and

to be doing something for her. What do you say to every man going for a

ighbourly at such a pace? Cutting thi

ell the front yard had been cropped into at least a semblance of tidiness, and Charlotte was offering her thanks to thr

anny and I will have some sparkling So

d, as the time for departure arrived, and Charlo

Miss Ruston declared, and held to her decision, in spite of the arguments and

g disturbs you, and we'll rush across in

rtrait of her mother, its fine colourings glowing in the mellow light from the lamp. She sat for a long time in this posture, her eyes losing their sparkle and growing dreamy, and-at last-a trifle misty.

re occupants of the little house would return within forty-eight hours. During her absence the three women who were her friends put their heads

eld almost as straight as her own, in at the hedge gate. It was twilight of the August evening. The co

e small ear under the white hair which lay softly over it. "Doesn't it loo

a low and quite toneless voi

strong arm of the taller figure came about the l

rain. I shall be quite comfortable on

e travellers with certain pieces of

queried Red Pepper, in a whisper. "I shall have

xplained. "But as her eyes seem bright as ever I imagine you will have n

lady I ever saw, and looks one of the keenest. We shall

rupulous care for the observances of etiquette-in at the cottage door and placed her in the winged chair. She un

in the small doorway. "I'll find out how tired she

his smiling face beside the old lady's questioning one. His fingers c

stinctly, his lips formin

the train was very warm and very dusty. I shall be glad to feel

ou eat a bit, and d

e glad of tea. I never like the decocti

a minute," and Ellen we

she needs a long rest after it." Then he looked again at Mrs. Rodney Rutherford Chase. "I can see you are a very plucky

tle with observant eyes which showed pleasure when they rested on certain familiar objects, she laid her whi

e honour?" he asked, stooping over t

course with her to have stalwart men offer their services on all occasions. Burns strode up the steep and narrow staircase with her as if she

out waiting for permission kissed the delicate che

aid the old lady. "I think I shall

made her a deeply respectful bow, at

as you women do, therefore it should have the more force when they do make use of it. No other word fit

f, and delight in doing it. She never fails to recognize homage when she receives it, or

descended to his wife. "You hav