The Luckiest Girl in the School

Har

e, a determined mouth, and iron gray hair. In her youth she must have been handsome, and even now her erect figure and dark, well-marked eyebrows gave her a certain air of distinction. She was a most thoroughly capable woman, reliable, and strongly philanthropic: not in a sentimental way, however; she disapproved of indiscriminate almsgiving, and would have considered it a crime to bestow a penny on a beggar without making a proper investigation of his case. She was a tower of strength to most of the charitable institutions in

st upon the waters returns to us. She prided herself on her candor and lack of "humbug." Unfortunately, people who "speak their minds" generally treat their hearers to a sample of their worst instead of their best, and their excessive truthfulness scarcely meets with the gratitude they consider it deserves. Miss Beach's many estimable qualities, however, overbal

hildren-little rogues!-discovered at a remarkably early age that they could do pretty much as they liked. The Woodwards always dreaded the advent of Aunt Harriet, her disapproval of their general conduct was so manifest. By dint of urging from their mother they made extra attempts at good behavior before the august visitor, but they were subject to awful relapses. Mrs. Woodward, on her side, considered she had her trials, for her aunt had a habit of arriving suddenly, giving only a few hours' notice by telegram, and she could not forbear the suspicion that her revered godparent wished to surprise her housekeeping and catch her unprepared. On one occasion, indeed, when the family came down-rather late-for

monuments. To some people the array of tombstones would have proved a dismal prospect, but she declared it never distressed her in the least. She prided herself greatly on the fact that she had been born in the house where her father, grandfather a

the cinema with which their aunt invariably entertained them. The fine old Chippendale furniture had to be treated with a respect not meted out to the chairs and tables at h

g to wander round somebody else's house and feel bored, and quite another to hang up your hat, realize you are part and parcel of the establishment, and occupy yourself with your own business. Once she had fallen into the swing of work at school Winona began to appreciate the orderliness of her aunt's arrangements. It had never seemed to matter at home if the breakfast were late and she arrived at Miss Harmon's when the clock had struck nine, but at "The High" it was an affair of

o Seaton 'High'! It would do those youngsters good to have a drilling! I wish they could have been in the Preparatory. No, I don't! Be

her out upon school matters. This, however, was a dead failure. Winona, most unfortunately, could not overcome her awe for her aunt, and refused to expand. To all the questions about her Form, her companions, teachers, lessons or new experiences, she replied in monosyllables. It was a sad pity, for Miss Beach had really hoped to win the girl's confidence and prove a temporary mother to her, but finding her advances repulsed she also shrank back into her shell, and the intimacy which might have existed between them was postponed to future years. Young

ground that even the earliest train from Ashbourne on Monday mornings did not reach Seaton till 9.30, so that Winona would lose the first hour's lesson of her school week. She might have added that she considered such frequent h

nduct of family affairs. The children were still attending

chievement to be proud of. "He locked the piano and threw the key in the garden, and we could none of us practi

very strictly carried out. She strongly suspected that the patient did not wish to recover too quickly. Whether or not that had been the case, Percy was now convalescent, and was to set off for school on the following Friday. Longworth College was not a great distance, and as Percy would have to pass through Seaton

She wanted to tell Percy about the Symposium, and her friendship for Garnet, and the chemistry class, and the gymnasium practice, and to show him her hockey jersey which had just arrived. She had so long

evening alone together. They had never expected such luck. As it was Friday Winona had no lessons to prepare for the next day, and could feel free for a delig

me to a pause. "Though please don't for a moment compare your blessed old High School to Longw

as I expected. In fact

ood biz. You went off as tragic as Iphigenia, her

original attitude of martyr. Three weeks

good. Shouldn't care to live here myself though. It's a dull ho

e chance of living here!" retorted Winona,

e to leave her property to somebody, I suppose, when she shuffles off this mortal coil. I

t," said Winona gravely. "I think i

uture all the same," was the airy response. "D'you remember Jack Cassidy

can. Mary James told me. Her father's guardian of pa

ay sometime to Hartleburn, when the races are on. Now don

oynson

d by an old fogey like Joynson. He has the mater far too much under his fi

air of a year ago. She had hoped he had forgotten it. His escapades at the time, in comp

an air almost of future proprietorship. "If that's so these things of Aunt Harriet's are a little gold mine. There was an account of a sale in the newspa

ns of oak, as well as rare Chippendale. Winona was too young to be a connoisseur of antiquities, but s

got it home, with some old rubbish inside, and there was a lawsuit as to who owned these. He claimed he'd bought the lot with the cupboard, but the judge made him turn them up to the family of the original o

nona would certainly never have thought of its existence, nor would Percy

! Absolutely nothing at all,

has never found it o

ediately. He was reading

much opinion of me, but I call this the limit! It's going where it deserves!

ed. She made a snatch at it with the tongs, but a flame sprang up and forestalled her. She had just time to read the words

ever burnt Aunt

ous act the boy nevertheless

each after her too! I wouldn't have believed

d wh

ou must promise on your honor that yo

t Harriet ou

e isn't a chargeable offense-I believe they call it a felony. You wouldn't like to see me put i

g her little finger nail in orthodox fashion a

probable that burning a will was a punishable crime. Suppose Aunt Harriet's rigid conscience obliged her to communicate with the police and deliver Percy into the hands of justice. Such a horrible possibility must be avoided at all costs. The sound of a latch-key in the door made her start. In a panic she rushed to the old cupboard and pushed back the secret drawer into its place. When Miss Beach entered the dining-room her nephew and niece were

's been jawing me no end about responsibility, and looking after the kids and supporting the mater and

Percy's act weighed heavily on her mind. It seemed such a base return for all Aunt Harriet was doing on their behalf. She longed to thank her for her kindness and say how much she appreciated going to the High School, but she

talk fast enough with friends of her own age. Well, I suppose an old

er face, however, and propping up the newspaper beside her