Polly of Lady Gay Cottage

start with," began Polly, "and Elsie Meyer an

g down the names, s

ghtfully, "Lilith Brooks and Betty Thurston anyway-oh, and Hilda Breese! I mus

, with you,

. "I can't leave out Aimée Gentil, and I meant

t." Her mother's p

, I ought to invite her. She's Betty's intimate friend, and I'm afra

a Ba

lately, and she'll expect an invitation. Still Mabel and Mary don't have half

athetically, but offere

ake up the boys. Then we can come

he struggle between loyalty to her old hospi

with former patients of the convale

ave a good time for once," Polly unnecessarily explaine

dys and Ilga," she at length dec

less than an hour came Mrs. Jocelyn with a proposal which precluded all

Polly's birthday coming on the eighteenth and Leonora's on the twentieth, and we planning for separate parties, it is strange I didn'

ly smiled appreciat

onsense, this restricting the number of guests to the years; but if it must be so I think we had better combine. Then we can double the list, and nobody will have t

ly awaited Mrs.

ery pleasant," s

tle lady comfortably. "We will have the party at

n birthday party, won't it

just that," agr

r came in, and Polly watched his face anx

ve intended to make Polly's party a very simple little affair, wit

ns. It shall be bread and butter and cookies for tea, if you wish; but you are not going to spoil our good time. J

if she had shown Leonora the new paper dolls that Burton Leonard's mother had sent her.

g to Mrs. Jocelyn's mind, as Le

o her way," she declared, "an

ven when Polly submitted the name of Ilga Barron, to whom Leo

nt her," she conceded. "I only

ed with not a little fear; but she ke

, and I don't want to snub he

me to an early close. It had been arranged for Polly to ride home with Leonora; but as the carriage

white and gold, in front of Mrs. Jocelyn's house. The girls, e

mebody's fairy godmot

d Polly. "It is prett

?" queried Leonora, loitering at

ven a suggestion be

ut!" she cried. And they r

aids, showed plain di

n this room!" she

e mother," ob

a, with unheard-of sever

ovely car? Oh, do tell u

d, looking from

!" coax

hey come in it. But I not tell

e word that the girls could go where they chose. They were quick to

answers to their eager questions, and th

t from Leonora. She ran into the living-room to show them to her father and mother, but stopped just inside the thresho

it? You said you couldn't afford one just

led down into

surprised as you are. Read that!" pointi

ed the bit

and happy birthday wishes th

her f

P. Jo

a long br

lovely!" s

s were racing over the key

ame David with a "Little

rday or not," he laughed; "but I finally thou

admiringly. "Thank you ever and ever so much! I've wanted to know mo

he replied. "I

etly marveling at David's ability to use words wit

ink," he explained; "so I thoug

t deal better than just between.

strument to her full satisfaction, and ended by sitting down and

n white and the other in gray, and the two girls, dressed exactly alike in soft white wool, with pink sashes and ribbon

ly scowl. The children were in a circle, alternate girls and boys, secretly passing a ring from h

ought Polly, and straightway

on't play any more!" she dropped the hands she held, and, with head high,

uths and showed in every face-every face b

in a soft, tense voice; and the

where the yellow-clad figure stood dark against the light. T

end, and, with a furtive look in the direction of

excused hersel

urned

g home,"

ried Polly, adding fa

better go. There's

ga!" gas

known it, she wouldn't have let me come;

hey can be," protested Pol

als. The little Pole over there, he squeezed my fingers so they 'most ache

so brave! I'm sure Otto didn't mea

t I guess I'll go home. I thought the

rds the stairca

t," Polly replied simply. "

I'm g

head, and too

dy should overhear, for Ilga's

school boys and girls," the

ate them," Polly p

Ilga decided, and wen

eturned, having given over to her mot

her. "What is the ma

crowd. I had to hear what she said about me. Say

I want you, Cornelius-I want you all! I wouldn't have you go for an

few minutes the interest of the players flagged; then, having seen Ilga whirled out of

as high, when Elsie Meyer, out

my! the fairi

e glimpse of a white-and-gold automobile d

ight little woman were given small attention, for in the car were two of the tiniest, dearest midgets that anybo

eal fairies?" questioned

e creatures as they passed the curtained doorway increased the children's curiosity, and, during the brief time devoted to the removal of wraps, tongues ran lively. The wild surm

ique performance in song, dance, and pantomime, until

served in Mrs. Jocelyn's happiest style, with eleven little candle-g

nce and Princess remained for an hour to play with the othe

a jardiniere. Then the girls and boys bade good-bye to their royal companions, and the guests were all sent home in the beautiful Jocelyn carriage. The stately grays had to make a good many t

from beginning to e

n was quit