The Girl Next Door

incessantly for another glimpse of the face behind the shutter. How was it, they constantly demanded of each other, that a girl of fourteen or fif

er seen going in or out, was forced to take her exercise after nightfall in the dark garden, and was kept const

cia, for the twentieth time. And as Janet could answer i

seeming so delighted, when I played, and then drew in again so

e rest of them. And yet-I can't, somehow, feel that she is lik

this latest phase of their mystery. Finally Marcia, who still cl

uldn't be a bit surprised if she's down in the kitchen this minute, cleaning out the ashes of the stove! Come, Jan, let's g

h of the Benedict brick wall when they were suddenly brought to a halt in front of the closed gate by hearing a sound on the other side of it. It was a sound indicative of

hall I do? I can'

ss Benedict! I know it! I believe it's Cinderella, and

n a little way, and then turn back. We can see w

n turned to approach the gate again. Even as they did

But the face was the one that had appeared in the upper window, and the thick golden curls were surmounted by a black ve

derella would turn. But though they stood so for an appreciable moment, she turned neither way, and only stood, her back to the gate, ga

hurried to her side and read the written address. And when she had read it, she realized that it

n that direction, then turn to your left and down three.

yes strayed to the busy street-crossing near which th

r, "You see, I'm strange in these streets." Her voice was clear and pretty

ve us take you there? We're not going in any s

he girl's face. "Oh, would you be so kind? I'

ely across the busy avenue. Then, in the quiet stretch of the next

n for her errand and her strangeness in the streets. They themselves hesitated to say much, for fear of seeming

"I'm a country girl myself, and I act like a scared rabbit whenever I go

e during which Marcia and Janet both searched frantically in their minds for someth

y," she said, turning to Marcia. "I he

ked it!" cried Marcia.

," she repl

suddenly; "how did you know i

ched you often-th

the watching was not all on their sid

ay-will you-will you tell me what it wa

'Tr?umerei,'" answered Mar

earing it, and yet-somehow I seemed to know it. I can't think

range child this was, who talked of having "dreamed

d it at a concert

ed, much to their amazement. And then,

way off in the country, in ju

nlightenment, though in truth she and

end made her purchases. These she read off slowly from a slip of paper, and the grocer packed them in h

eggs were a shilling?" s

hey were a quarter," h

, and turned questioning

cking out a twenty-five-cent pie

oney," she explained. And Marcia and Janet added a

matters,-the crowded streets, the warm weather, the sights they passed,-she was not to be drawn into the conversation.

ed Marcia. "If so, we will go with you, if you c

hurt her ankle a day or two ago, and she can't get around much, so-so I'm doing this for her. If

d we'll see it. We'll watch for it!" cried Marcia, inventing the

s is Janet McNeil. Won't you tell

lock of the gate, and as the latter swung open, she turned once more to face them, with a little pent-up sob: "I don't kn

f the front door Marcia and Janet turned to each other, a thousand questio

you e