Master of the Vineyard

er and

pected

violet-scented envelope into the old lady's

tinised the address, sniffed at the fragrance the missive carried, noted the postmark, which was th

t idea whom it's from,

ith kindly sarcasm. His assumed carelessne

open rudely, but Madame searched through her old mahogany desk until she found a tarn

not read the handwriting, which was angular an

an's

"Your eyes are b

ective powers are not. The m's and n's are all alike, and so are most of the other letters

om a wom

guish the end from the beginning? In the nature of things, you'd expect her to commence at the top of a s

, after a silence. "It was jus

in trouble, I should go to you-that you would stand in her place to me. I write to ask if I may come

lmate's

was Louise Lane before her marr

come, if only for a day. Believe me, no woman e

s unha

Archer

te! I didn't even know that she had a daughter, or that she was

Alden, enc

a thick, creamy skin that someway reminded you of white rose-petals, and the most glorious red hair you eve

aid Alde

ouise Lane having a daughter old enough to be married! And yet-my Vi

Tro

essly about his gilt cage, and the last light of the sweet Spring afternoon, searching

" Alden reminded her. "W

reverie. "Do? Why, she

objected, gloomily. "I

, my son," she returned, in gentle reproof. "She is

, they usually want either

they only n

they can get it. Advice is as

om, and put her hands upon his shoulde

y should strange women invade the peace of a man's hom

or her handwriting

r. A woman who can take a plain pen, and plain ink, and do such dazzling

nvit

ve asked her to come to-morrow on the six o'clock train. I've told her that you will meet her at the station, and that we won't have dinner

ondered how he would recognise the "strange woman" when she arrived on the morrow,

shoe and hold it in her left hand, or something of that sort. No, that isn't necessary. I'll

e time he had posted his mother's note, he had fo

g for t

the folds, selected her finest towels and dresser-covers, ransacked three or four trunks in the attic for an old picture of Louise Lane, found a frame to fit it,

with housewifely pride in her well-stocked shelves. That evening, while Alden read the paper, she planned a feast for the

ed Alden, without look

't compan

know three are sa

hospitabl

te the approaching evil with

ourselves into a rut. Everyone we meet may give us

ngs for

"that the Lady Mother is going to be dre

cheeks. At the moment she looked like a faded

t?" she

world, yet you wouldn't put on that lavender gown twice a year, just for me alone. The strange woman may feast her eyes upon it the moment she enters the house. She'l

nd the woman you loved." Then, after a long pause

ore weeks or months or years, as the case may be, won't hurt it. Besides, I don't expect to h

d

been welcomed gladly, especially as she had her mother's eyes, but the day the second Alden Marsh was born, the young father's j

or the boy. He's to open it the day he

elf upon her immaculate housekeeping. It grieved her inexpressibly because Alden cared so little about it, and had for it, apparently, no sentiment at all.

ur father at all?" ask

n the child's sensitive mind. One moment stood out quite clearly, but he forebore to say so. It was when his mother, with the t

ing of t

ed, in childish terror, then she had strained him to her heart, crying out: "Just

did after that, he went away quietly, knowing that she longed for "Father," who had gone away and never returned. Later, he used to sit on

g hand upon her knee, saying: "Mother, if you will tell me where Father is, I will go and bring him back." But, instead of acc

g, now, at some old memory that had come mysteriously out of the shadow, leaving all bitterness behind.

and

"and plain black or grey silk for me, though I am

t fuss and frills. For those who do not know us, we must put our best foot

mediately comma

ppose

ar to the train

u'll have plenty of time t

drive,

'll be tired. Unhappy w

they're tired? And do they get unhappier when they get mor

Ar

drums to-night. I'm going to

a great many, judgi

"Good-night, my dear. Think of some other pleasan

n farewell. "If all the distressed daughters of all mother's old schoolmates are coming here, to cry on her should

the station fully ten minutes before six o'clock. As it happened, onl

ked, taking her s

Mr.

is way,

ook her place in the worn coupé that had been

ing," he laughed,

ag and

nt around the corners of h

woman who got off the train, and we were expect

e man to have m

, helplessly. "Why, n

y quality in her voice, like a muted violin or 'cello. "Don't be so frightened, please, for I'm not going to

't that," h

tell me polite fibs, you know.

g all his forces for one supreme effo

cold, the delicate lines of her profile conveyed a certain aloofness of spirit, and her mouth drooped at the corners. Her hat and veil co

d of t

er face away from him and was looking out of the window. "How lovely the country i

ave to?"

touch of earth occasionally to renew my strength, but a very brief contact

, chiefly because he could t

e younger woman offered her. In the instant of feminine appraisement, she had noted the perfectly tailored black gown, the immaculate shirtwaist and linen collar, and the di

the trunk, and Mrs. Lee smiled-a little, wan

st

red," she suggested, kindly, "though w

s fastened at the waist with an amethyst pin and at her throat she wore a string of silver beads. Her white hair was beau

soon as my trunk comes. That is," she added

r. "I'll leave you now to res

ired soul. "How lovely she is," she said to herself, as she noted the ma

wondering who it might be. The hair and gown were old-fashioned, and the fac

comer i

to have placed it there-this little young mother, just budding into womanhood! It h

ay a few foolish tears. She did not stop to unpack

ng man forgot his manners and stared-stared like the veriest schoolboy at the tall, stately figure, clad in shimmering pale green satin that rippled about her feet as she walked, brought out a bit