Otherwise Phyllis

dom in a cautious banker; and he was distressed when checks that were not self-explanatory passed through the receiving-teller's wi

five- and ten- and even fifty-dollar drafts from Eastern periodicals, and he had touched these with reverent hands: but two thousand dollars in a lump from one of the best-known publishers in the country staggered Amzi. To add to his mystification, half the amount

r his niece, that flower of the Montgomery flock. His spirits rose when Phil hailed him one morning as he stood baring his head to the November air on the bank steps, and told him that her occupation was gone. She made the confession ruefully; it was unfa

ng earnestly. To avoid passing them, Amzi turned off at the first cross-street, but stood for a moment staring after them. Then the next evening he had gone to call at the Bartletts' and all his intervening speculations were overthrown when he found Kirkwood there alone with Rose, Nan being, it seemed, in Indianapolis on a visit. Rose and Kirkwood had evidently been deeply en

dy who had the slightest title to consideration received an invitation. He was glad his sisters had suggested that the Holtons be invited. It gave him an excuse for opening the doors wide. He heard much from his kinsfolk about the

hen this was accomplished and her Aunt Fanny's housemaid, lent for the

you Phil,"

. A cigar, gripped firmly in his teeth, was not proving of much assistance in the operation.

I told that fellow in Indianapolis to give me the ready-made kind that buckles behind, but he wouldn't

white crêpe gown the firm clean lines of her shoulders and throat were revealed and for the first time he fully realized that the Phil who had gladdened his days by her pranks-Phil the romp and hoyden-had gone, and that she would neve

mphasized her height. She lifted her arms and, whistling softly, pirouetted about the room. H

eeling absently of his co

y. What do you think of the gladn

grown about six inches since

a slipper for

ct when there's a neck to show like yours. Most of 'em look like the neck of a picked

ly wore me out; but they were so busy consulting each other that they didn't n

e 'em. You certa

one of the chif

placed a fresh tie round his white-wing collar and loosely crossed the ends. "

m used to doing daddy's o

ook form, moved and thrilled him. No one in the world had ever been so dear to him as Phil! When she rested her hands on his shoulders and til

le, Phil; I ought to h

ith a pendant of pearls, which he had chosen with th

ok at y

he remarked, "I guess it don't make you look much worse, Phil. B

muss you up!" she c

u touch me; do

the idea of mussing him to make sure his tie didn't crawl up ove

her cheek against his. "Don't you ever think I don'

d, and turned round to the chiffonier an

ddy's gone

omewhere and we'd better go down and start

ng to listen to the advice of his sisters that he shut off part of it. Amzi liked space, and he was not in the least dismayed by problems of housekeeping

a party at the Montgomery homestead since the marriage of the last of the Montgomery girls. It was not surprising that to-night many people thought a little mournfully of the marriage o

hese essential elements of provincial distinction, but she had been the wife of a United States Senator in the great days of the Civil War. She had known Lincoln and all the host of wartime heroes. Lincoln, Grant, and Sherman had been her guests right there in Montgomery-at the big plac

cle that included Amzi and his sisters

back yard and broke your arm and came into the house to get a sand tart as usual before going home, just

because I hadn't sense eno

Don't you let all these relations of yours spoil you; I've known all the Montgomerys ever since your great-grandfa

de, for Mrs. King was the great lady of the community and her opinion

hundred dollars a year if they lived forever, received the special consideration to which they were entitled; and Judge Walters might be hated by most of the lawyers at the bar for his sharp admonitions from the bench, but they all respected him for his sound attainments and unquestioned probity. Among others who were presented to Phil (as though they hadn't known her all her

the Army of the Tennessee, "and we're the best people of the best state on ear

that accorded to other guests. Every one said that Charles Holton was a handsome fellow, and his sister Ethel a very "nice" though rather an insipid and colorless young woman. It was generally understood that Amzi's sisters had forced his hand. The conservatives were disposed to excuse Amz

er hand with a good deal of manner, "I really did give up that New Y

r and piano-thumper usually considered adequate in Montgomery fo

dances," begged Charles

one!" rep

tyrant; you should be merci

y of the humility

s quite likely that the hostess would herself cook and serve the food; and the Fortnightly Assembly, a club of married folk that met to dance in Masonic Hall, was to him the tamest, the dullest of organizations, and the fact that his brother-in-law Waterman, who waltzed like a tipsy barrel, enjoyed those harmless entertainments had done much to embitter Hastings's life. Hastings imagined himself in love frequently; the Dramatic Club afforded opportunities for the intense flirtations in which his nat

music ceased, leaving them at the end of the l

; "but here comes my next partner. You mu

hed her, with his gloomiest Hamlet-like air, until his wife, noting this familiar symptom, interr

s Holton; and he danced well. There was a grace in the Holtons, and Charles was endowed with the family friendliness. He made a point of speaking to ev

ed he would when she asked him at her uncle's farm, and the f

mzi in the hall door, and as she swept by him in the dance she caught his eye. Fred had come

her-set his pulses throbbing. Phil in her simple white gown-this glowing, joyous woman was no longer of his world. For the first time in his life his heart was shot through with jealousy. He had always felt Charles's superiority, but with a younger brother's loyal admiration he had not resented it. He resented it now. Fred had resurrected a cutaway coat for this adventure, and he was acutely aware that there were more dress-coats in evidence than he had imagined were available in Montgomery. Amzi, who had greeted him kindly, introduced him to a visiting girl whose name he did not catch, and he was doing his best to present an app

glimpses of her, his dejection increased. He was meditating an escape when, as his eyes sought her, she stood suddenly breathless beside him. A divinity had no right thus to appear unheralded before mortal eyes. Fred blushed furiously and put out h

speak to me?" demanded

or a chance. I didn't

t night when you live so far." She sat down in the window-seat and bade him do likewise. "You did see Uncle Amy, didn't you? I saw you talking to him; but you ought to have c

lizing the absurdity of his fervor in consenti

ell anybody I'm a little bit scared myself, jus

hman year-came to say that it was his dance. She told him that she was tired and would have to b

. Holton; and I can see

-coat and the tallest collar he could buy, and it was humiliating to be called Walter and sent away by a girl w

that he was the only person she had personally asked to the party. And it was just like Phil, for years the loyal protector of all the discards among the cats

ofessor Kirkwood. His joy to-night lay in Phil's happiness; his heart warmed to the terms of praise in which every one spoke of her. It touched his humor that his daughter was in some degree a public character. Her escapades in childhood and youth had endeared her to the community. In her battles with the aunts public sympathy

everything himself. The cakes were according to the best recipes known at 98 Buckeye Lane, and Rose and Nan were there, assisting, by Amzi's special command. During the evening he consulted

of them had already gone or were now taking leave, and the

ng to Fred in the hall. Fred had been wondering just what his own responsibilities were in the matter. Charles had greeted him affably; but Fred's diffidence deepened in his

le! But I think"-and she turned gravely to Fred-"I think, as long as you came too late for a dance with me, I

bring the salad for which she declared she was perishin

ty fine of you to be so ni

fro

ak of your brot

I speak

ere somebody to

to him. Fred would never have thought of asking you to sit on the stairs

O

ke Phil away from him. He intended to see a great deal of her hereafter, and he believed that in the opening skirmishes of a flirtation a bold shot counts double. Phil waved her hand in the direction of the table where the Bartlett

To see you like this is to know for the first time what beauty is. And I know-I appreciate the beautiful soul there is in you-that shines out of your eyes!" His voice was low, and a little tremulous. "I want the chance to fight for you!

e that yielded perhaps to fear, and then her head bent and she looked down at her fan whic

have such a memory! Let me see, what is that from-'The Prisoner of Zenda' or 'How Lulu Came to Logansport'? Oh!" (with sudden animation as Fred came bearing two

hrough yet. She called him back, one foot on the stair, and said in a confidential tone, "That nice little Orbison girl,-the blonde

and cozy," she remarked to Fred as they di

t it was based upon the dinginess of Fred's clothes and prospects. Their new broad tolerance of the Holtons did not cover the tragic implications of Fred's raiment. They meant to protect Phil in every way, and yet there was ground for despair when she chose

hunder!" And then, after he had picked up his fallen napkin, he tu

of course and his timidity and restraint vanished. Nothing in his experience had ever been so agreeable and stimulating as this. That Phil, of al

rchard slope where he had experienced similar agitations. When she laughed he noticed an irregularity in one of her white teeth; and there was a tiny mole on her neck, just below her left ear. He did not know why he saw these things, or why seeing them increased his awe. It seemed wonderful that she could so easily slip her hands out of her gloves without drawing the long gauntlets from her arms. Farther and farther receded the Phil of the kitchen apro

assured, "the likes of me could take cold. What

to get it; and this afternoon I brought the wood I had chopped to the woodshed; and then I went out to look at my wheatfield, a

ard to get ready," said Phil, "

our or so before I came in," and he smi

pretty well," said

ed the cake Phil caught Rose Bartlett's eye and expressed ecstasy and gratitud

by yourself all winter?" she remarked to Fred

ity in January to hear lectures-farming and stock-raising and things like that. Perry has put me up to it. And then in between times I

job. They took my kitchen away from me just as I was getting s

w, and you'll be going to rece

hink I'm crazy, but I'd like to go out right now and run a mile. But there will be skating afterwhile; and snowstorms

gon and just keep camping. Camping out is the most fun there is in this world. There's a nice wooziness in waking up at night and hearing an owl right over your head; and there are the weather changes, when you go to sleep with the stars shining and wake up and hear the rain slapping the tent. And when you've gone for a long tramp and come back t

f the Bartlett cake into

going to cover it, and that with any kind of good luck it's going to live right through the cold and come to harvest next summer. And it gives me a queer feeling, and always did, the way it all goes on-and has always gone on since the beginning of the world. When I was a little boy here in Montgomery and went to Center Church Sunday-School, the most interesting things in the Bible were about

"is what poetry is-

it is," Fre

ables, and there was a stir through the house as the musicians took their plac

's been fine to be here. And I've enjoyed talking to you. It was mi

down upon the hall through which the gue

to leave his wraps. The stranger shook his head protestingly. It was quite evident that he was intoxicated. He wore a long overcoat spattered with mud, and there was a dent in the derby hat he removed with elaborate care and then swung at arm's length. The doorways filled. Something not down in the programme was occurring. A sudden hush fell upon the house; whispered inquiries as to the identity of the stranger, wh

ens now. Bes' ole fam'lies in town. 'Pologize for coming s' late; no time change my clothes; disgraceful-puf-puf-perfectly disgraceful, that's wh

re stranger, so long had been his exile; but to Amzi, to Tom Kirkwood, to Rose and Nan Bartlett there came at the instant of identification a thronging weight of memories. Some one h

your Aunt Nellie gets home," he said; and people spoke admiri

d the uninvited guest an

t I want you to know that I couldn't have

lty, through the hall to the dining-room and into the kitchen,

asked, looking at the tall figure

to see Will. Got prodigal on zands, Will has. Seems t'ave come back mos' 'no-mos' 'nopportune 'casion. All right, ole man: jus' g

opened by mistake the door that led to a little den where Amzi liked to read and smoke. There quite alone stood Tom Kirkwoo

the strains of a waltz,