While Caroline Was Growing

ll trees; only the breathless nasturtiums flickered like flames along the fences, for the other flowers wilted in the glare. Caroline, hatl

England yielded to August's imperious siesta, and it might have bee

pedals, her brows knitted as the great idea grew. Her lips moved, inaudibly at first,

. And they all marched out, and they closed the city gates...." Slower and slower the pedals moved: Caroline was pushing uphill. "So then the Mayor said: 'No, this sacrifice is too gre

ollision at the bottom with an empty van, crawling through the heat, manned by a somnolent, huddled driver. Its hollow, cumbrous rattling pointed sharply the lonelin

he graceful, slim-necked figures in flowered gowns drooped dread

leman, while the hoarse crowd shouted.... "And I am Mar

denly, asked her where she was going, there is little doubt that she would have told you she was escaping to her palace. And all at once, as she halted a moment opposite a clear space in the shrubbery and thickly planted trees that followed the inside line Of the iron fence, she beheld the palace, high on a terraced knoll. It was of clean-cut gray stone, rising into a square tower at one corner, from which the flag drooped in bright folds of red and

TE PR

passers

he Pre

ease Ring a

e name of her castle, she would undoubtedly have informed you that it was Graystone Tower, a long deserted mansion, too expensive hitherto for any occupants but the children who roamed every inch of it for the first spring flowers and coasted down its terraces in winter.

one had passed that way. Working herself through the screen of leaves, she emerged into a fairly cleared path that her accustomed feet followed to its logical climax-a deep depression scooped out under the sharp, down-pointed iron prongs, worn smooth by the frequent pressure of small bodies. The fence had lost its shiny blackness by now and the grass grew rank and untended around the mouth of the gap. Wriggling through, Caroline straightened

rge, distorted pair of scissors the velvet edge of a flower-bed. He resembled so undeniably

gardeners, I suppos

respectfully, touching hi

id Marie Antoinette, dizzy

u, Miss, I'm sure,"

h, had fought her way through the prickly hedge of every-day appearance and wo

about her small, pale face, and knots of pale blue ribbon, woven in and out of her lacy, trailing gown, repeated the color of her mild, rou

in a high, sweet voice. "How very p

ersons of this little lady's age had such quic

, "I am. I am Queen

tep. Her blue eyes clouded an

he demanded, fretfully, "whe

natural good-humor and the training resulting from many summers with Miss Honey, wh

y Queen of Scots, then-

e lady be

nt," she said, "I trust y

How well the castle is looking this morning! I think

lushed angrily and

s, let me inform you! Here, gardener-" and she waved her little parasol at the man in

litely at them both. For a moment the rival queens confronted each

en, I always am. I shall have to leave your Royal Highness now, for I see one

with a graceful, dipping motion; the white hand that

rying toward her. She was dressed plainly in black, but with a rich plainness that could not

hn! This-this

it is," said the

Surely no children come her

e they do," he said pleasan

ature did not please the handsom

o me in that idiotic way," she said decidedly. "You k

ss," he replie

en come here," she went on, controlling her

tfully and walked away, muttering to

ried, "how did you come here? Are you with friends? Wh

" Caroline stammered, struggling, as th

pale with an emotion that left

child! A child!" she cried.

o herself. Then, forcing a smile,

ice a little husky, but very sweet. "I have read of you often. But surely your

ine answered, a little gru

d how did you come? Not

e gates were locked. I was Marie Antoinette

d, covering her face with

thwell for her. I only thought of Marie Antoinette after the tumbrel went by. I su

the little lady, now far from t

ath in little gasps, as

Marie Antoinette. Where is the hole you go

d it when I was escaping before. I think it was a rabbit-hole first, and then we made it bigger. Isn't that funny-Alice

," she said briefly. "Do you mean that you go in and out of t

ed, vaguely. "Why? Do you want

er. "No, I'm not. I'm-I'm-Oh, I'm Joan of

trying to escape?" she rep

on't tell any one, will you? Don't

red her, "I won't tell.

ed, an excited

tching us. Don't tell him about the hole, will you? Promise me faithfully." S

urse I

ou, could you-oh, could you

e wrigg

d scornfully. "Do yo

nd-and I don't quite do what I intend to do or say just what I mean. I am quite all right now. You see, that garden

" cried Mary of Scots joyf

somberly. "And the first thing he would do wo

spectfully at the garden

chains?" she said,

n't be in this-this fortress if I had to be i

toinette a p

d she has kept me one. I should not be her

Caroline cried, indign

walking out of the little gate. Of course I had to walk sl

d see figures here and there strolling on the upper terraces and sitting on the piaz

vely, though, don't you, J

e," said the girl, in a mu

practically, "if you feel t

l stare

"have you ever been in this pl

gged her shou

"and I live in Scotland. Of course, I've been here b

d go mad if I stayed here much longer," she said, to her

ts," she murmured, very low, wit

friends felt when she was in prison? I'm sure you do. Well I have a-a dear friend who would die for me, if it would help me. He has no idea wher

rite to him?" Ca

laughed

wrote letters to their friends to come and get th

d Caroline gravely.

wait here till I come back and not let anyone see you if you can help it? And if they do, will you say that you slipped in at the gat

only playing," she said, suddenly. "You aren

ine s

h us. You're just like Marie Antoinette," she added irrita

ned and left her, half runn

ath that led to the arbor and crouched low behind it. Two men, talki

aid one voice, "is she

vidently to blue serge legs, for the speaker leaned to

rough the lattice work, as the first speaker leaned hard on

sed themselves tig

I advise you to ask the doctor. He's boss here, not I-thank God! I obey orders and dr

. I see myself asking the old man. I only asked your p

s only one thing you can ask me in this place tha

in conspiracy, lay quiet, wondering who these

tken," Bluelegs continued, puffing at a fresh cigarette and

the doctor's certificate. She was greatly worried over his death,

interrupte

so. Wouldn't speak to anybody; cried all day; o

tfully, "so am I. But I'd hate

her, if possible, from her brother's fate, decided to

oat. "Was the brother'

n inherited a little too much a little too soon for his best good

now about

e might have saved him if she'

idn't this kind uncle put h

ustee," Bluelegs

oat gently, "how fort

look at it," re

in dreams she chased the French Qu

-besides trusteeshi

arch me," s

ty-one, I take it

again," sai

use, "that this incipient melancholia was likely

the case. The doctor has entire charge of it. He mentioned to me last week that he

ycoat, "why, the boy is

ch but cocaine and morphia, these days. Did you

rowled Graycoat. "He gets a hu

sent a second cigare

ambition to succeed in this business, and succeed right here, you're beginning badly. You were keen enough to g

pped terraces, the floating, flag, the inhabited castle, were only parts of her dream. But even as she peered around

, will you? Then you can escape with me-" she smiled sweetly at Caroline-"a real escape, as they do in

nodded

She had forgotten till that mo

ken! Late for

ltily, for it was th

over Caroline's s

I am," she said. "I was del

usly at them. "Who

line along quickly. "She says

red bl

s to have slipped in with an automobile party-was there one? Children are so secr

Dahls-they came to see

y to imagine the rest," he added with a smile. He had a very attract

children?" said

ond of me, as you see. My dear young lady, did you t

th and walked s

se we can not do for you the one thing that you want; b

led sco

hoed, "no, Dr. Ferris, noth

ntinue to improve as you have-" She flung away impatiently. "Oh, yes, you have improved, you know; you eat better, you sle

d not

en, no doubt, we shall see that careless chauffeur again,"

I wo

ou know," he laughed, glan

r, stood about the steps and terraces; two stood by the door of a large, airy dining-room filled with hurrying waiters. About a long silver-laden table some twenty men and women, cool in lawn and lace and white flannel, were seated, eating and talking gaily. At the head was a large, tall

ttle girl stays by me she w

Miss Aitken, a good thought," he answered in a ric

rounds attractive?

ladies and gentlemen-there were no children-paid the slightest attention to her arrival, even when a place was made for her by Joan and a mug of milk procured. They talked, or,

ered to her friend, who seemed nearer,

an, helping her to chicken and gree

ing recommended some asparagus

he observed, lowering his voice a little, "at this ra

for six months,"

not agree with you there. You will think more kindly of me som

he asked, meeting his

ing him that in my opinion-subject, of course, to circumstances-it would be a matter of a few mo

rill voice interrupted,

, a frail, anemic little creature with p

d appreciatively with fresh, clover-scented butter, "

him. "Mrs. Du Long hasn't seemed so interested for days. In fact, she's

n, the roll at her mouth, "and he

, the back-drawn snarling lips beside her. She did not see the plunging fork above her head, so quickly did Joan's arm intervene between her and it; she did not hear i

omething-yelled, and then a grip of iron caught

head! Don't turn, Miss Aitken-you can do not

full of gardeners; a be

rs-the others

ng with each other or sitting listless, staring idly at four liveried men who fought furiously with one small, snarling creature. Like the cruel witnesses in dreams, they sat, and the

our own, too, if you can. This is one of the unfortunate things that rarely happen, but when they do-Yes, indeed, Mr. Ogden, it was certainly fine asparagus-I am glad you

re they went down, and none were seen in the

not to faint! I never fainted-never. Come and show me tha

oss the sunlit,

Caroline queried fearfu

Don't think about it. Don't run an

her skirt a moment and a white ruffled petticoat slipped around her feet. She adjusted it over her dress and pulled herself with difficulty throug

she said severe

ey crouched through the underbrush to the outer walk. Caroline reached

s so black-they can see it from the hill. Oh, w

the road. An empty station wagon came rapidly tow

lf and raised her hand with

she said, "but are you

driver, "to the statio

side and took out carele

his beautiful building and grounds and I utterly neglected to note the time

young lady's wheel on top. Was it the express you want

isily into the trunk-rack on top, and t

ck gloves from her little bag and put them on. Her lips moved ste

he train Snorted itself in. The girl

" she said calmly.

ing-room car, and sign

y her side, "and I won't tell you my name, because it will

Hund' Twent'-fifth Street!"

and the tension of her feelings was too much for her. As the girl paused a second on the

een of Scots

oan of Arc broke in

hokingly, "I'll find you out yet! You'

n beside the window, waving her