Polly of Lady Gay Cottage

d been afraid to speak to her beautiful benefactor, found herself established in th

school which Polly and David attended, she was almost too joyfully excited for c

which made the little dark face pink with pleasure, and

gushing cordiality, and she was beginning to calm into

irt of her dress was as brief as compatible with fashion, and she swung it with a superior air

r's business?" was

ather," Leonora

re do yo

ewood A

ite Edgew

es

Jocelyn hadn't any ch

pted me," Leonora

O

oss of the head. Then Ilga whirled away

ressfully red, and her s

dazed; but quickly she co

so sweet! Come, Leonora!" She threw her arm around he

Ilga!" she whisper

lly's mind than her lessons, and at recess her indignant thoughts sprang into words. She we

hreatening sparks in her usually gentle eyes. "She is my friend, and

stopped on its polite

to order me round, you're mistaken! I guess I shan't associa

of a tramp than you are!

retorted Ilga, with sarcastic em

ed. She clinched

e to-talk with!" she cried s

et, for she was conscious of walking slowly, missing

udley adopted you; but he isn't anybody! He wouldn't stay at the hospital for that

winked exultingly to her companions as Polly made no attempt at retort, but went straight to her desk and bent her white, drawn little face ove

or David; but this noon she hurried on alone, an

ff and leave a fellow!"

e!" she repli

ngly, but stopped. Her gr

estions. After an ineffectual attempt at talk, they fell back int

gh the house, longing yet dreading to meet her mother. Down

she sighed, and turned to

bering that she had once believed her to be the cause of its mysterious disappearance, and just now it seemed impossible to mee

re soon forgotten. Thus her mother found her, and thanks to the respite from Ilga's haunting w

ly to her relief, was left much to herself. But although she rarely joined in the converse, her thoughts were not allowed to revert to their unpleasant channel, w

with the opening of the door

and then went on talking in low tones, with side glances towards the new-comer. Polly hurried off her coat and ha

's got a sister that's an idiot-a real

tled that she led the way quickly upstairs to the school room, leaving Polly

Stewart, appearing in the outer doorway, at t

!" she stammered, catchi

ound her, distres

ou a drink!" And Lilith Br

aware of neither faintness nor thirst. Presently she went upstair

r in charge was about to reprove her for inattention; but the wide, sorrowful e

hould be alone and could think things out. She found the kitchen door locked and the key in its accustomed hiding-place; so she let herself in, know

ndows opposite came within her vision. The caroling canary, in his little gilded prison, caught a glance, a frolicking squirrel running an endl

d of fun-loving, teasing boys. In a moment they were gone; but the shambling central figure with its vacant face s

ck and forth in her brain, unti

ly! Are yo

of her father's voice. Instead of answering she shrank back

nting the stairs,

e filled the doorway.

ne out-the door was locked-maybe with Mis

wood, and I thought you folks would like the

could not would be nearer the

forward, and tilted h

fforts to smile,

having a quarrel?" h

, we ne

missed a word

r head, with

aphy,

a mistake,"

't worry

oh,

How long are you goin

t his coat. "Don't ask

sent her off in an amused chuckle; now she was miser

ll sit down," and, wheeling about, he took the

wo heads ought to be wiser than one, you know. J

ld make you feel

at school? I prom

-only told Ilga Barron what I th

ther day?-the one that didn't hav

"Why, father," she remonstrated, "she could have her skirt

ghter stirred t

hter wear her frocks as short as she ple

that you-oh, I can't!" She

d for me on your small shoulders, when mine are broad enough to

detected in his voice a note of

you-that you-

r I am neither a man of wealth nor an influential politician. But, This

ng else," she re

m re

uld hear-that-that your sister is-an

nd the slender little figure, an

they were in a

terrible fever, and for days we thought she could not live. Finally she rallied, only for us to discover that we had lost her-her brain was a wreck. The semblance of Ruth stayed with us twelve years longer, until she was eighteen years old; then she w

on her father's should

tell

red to again, you might let her know the truth, as simply as

ent, and Dr.

you can. Should there be an opportunity for any little kindness, do it unobtrusive

ut, father, don't you really ca

fference what people say of us, as long as we keep an honest heart and serve God and our fellow travelers according to our highest knowledge. Life is too brief to spend much thought on taunts or slander. We have too much else to do. I suppose it is scarcely pos

un, get your hat and coat,