Seven Miles to Arden

it was-the back of a fast-retreating man in a Balmacaan coat of Scotch tweed and a round, plush hat, turning the corner to Madison Avenue. Patsy groaned inwardly

sy. "He may be a man, for all his cloth

s her mental comment, and she looked north for the next car following; there was none. As far as eye coul

d Patsy's inner consciousness, and she

nd found one. "Grand Centra

two-shilling jumps like that I'll be bankrupt afore I've my hand on the tails of that coat." And with a tir

rners with a stout, indeterminate old gentleman who blocked her way and insisted on wavering in her direction each time she tried to dodge him. In her haste to make up for those precious lost seconds she upset a pair of twins belonging to an already overburdened mother. These she righted and went dashing

lady; train

foolish and the ignorant can sometimes achieve the impossible. She confronted the guard with a look of unconq

and accompanied by a shove. In some miraculous fashion this accomplished it. The gate clanged at Patsy's back instead o

ar platform of the last car as it drew out. That saved the day

held out in proffered fellowship. "That's the kinde

e y

ame as y

id ye

wits and his heart working at the same time?"

ere. She passed through to the next car, and a second, and a third. Still th

the conductor, who barred her way. "Smoking-car ahe

n the tongue's edge. She turned obediently back, re-entering the car and taking the first seat by the door. For this her memory was responsible. It had spun the day's events before her like a

atic success; Patsy felt this all too keenly. He was decidedly not of her world or the men and wo

of tangoing, tea-drinking, and tennis-playing; after which, if I ask his permis

cke

t? Wha

his is a joy ride?" The c

was to-meet my-aunt-who had the tick

are you

the tickets. How would I know wher

ductor

er to her summer place. I-I can't remember the name." Her mouth drooped for the fraction of a second, then she brightened all over. "I know what I can do-very probably she missed the train because she expects to be at the s

. He eyed her scornfully. "

ng forth in a contagious laugh. "I do-of course. I'll

Forestview, Hainsville, Dartmouth, Hudson,

She said it after the same fashion she might have used in orderin

till disgruntled, Patsy allowed herself what she

would be thinking of ye if he were topside o' green earth to hear." Whereupon she gripped one vagabond glove

rlough from a mission which was fast growing appalling. She had long since ceased to be interested in Billy Burgeman as an individual. He had shrunk into an abstract sense of duty, and as such faile

had already satisfied herself that he was not among the leaving passengers. But suddenly something familiar in a solitary figure standing at the far end of the gravel embankmen

quoth Patsy. "Well, there's naught for it but

raveling alone. Her departure cleared him of all uneasiness and obligation and he settled down to his business with an unburdened mind. Not so Patsy. She blink

ed a perambulator as well." She gave a tired little stretch to her body and rubbed her eyes. "I feel as if this was all a silly play and I wa

ttered wits. As the train slowed up she stepped into the shadows, and her eye fell on the open baggage

to be standing in the doorway, was somewhat startled to see a small figure com

d disgust, and then, as he helped her to her

"I want ye to understand I've paid my fare on the train out, which entitled me to one continuous passage-

," and the man grinned broadly. "I'm sorry

nly please don't argue. Sure,

r, hypnotized with curiosity and wonder. At the next station he helped her to drop thro

ng off every day. They generally went to the Inn-Brambleside Inn. The season was just open and society people were beginning to come. No, there

round the corner of the station and came to a dead stop i

in a questioning, hesitating manner. "Is th

, realizing even as she spoke the absurdity of inqui

ught because your box came from town you'd be coming that way. It wasn't until your manager, Mr. Travis, telephoned half an

r with a rug-for early June evenings can be rather sharp-and the next moment Patsy found h

tarred me in it," she mused, dreamily, "but

keep on whirling into an eternity of darkness-with a destination so remote, and a mission so obscure, as not to be of the slightest disturbance to her immediate co

rder every minute. If Miriam St. Regis is coming here, it means, like as not, she's filling in between seasons, entertaining. Well, until she comes, they're all hearty

ped her in. He led the way across a broad veranda to the main entrance,

asters? Did Miss

sir; she's

r appearance-the shabbiness of her brown Norfolk suit, the rakishness of her boyish brown beaver hat, and the vagabond gloves. But of what value is the precedent of having been found hanging on the thorn of a Kil

ed to the blue of Killarney, sparkling as when the sun goes a-dancing. She smiled-a fresh, radiant, witching

ple as one might expect. My room, please." And with an air of a grand duchess Patsy O'Connell, late of the Irish National Players, Dubl

lond, persevering mustache, a rather thin, esthetic, melancholy face, and a myo

bell-boy. "Did that

s; I took

is name-do

s. I'll find ou

ow it myself." And under her breath sh