The Mystery Girl

here, but I'm noways

doorknob, as she looked doubtful

in astonishment, and Pinky

e her out. She's been here more'n a week now, and I do say she gets queerer every day. Won't make friends with anybody,-won't speak at al

old i

's concerned. Then again, she'll pet the cat or smile up at Mr. Adams like a child. I can't make her out at all. The bo

ke her,

uestion, and she stares at you and walks off. Not really rude,-but j

nt's consent to make this call, and, being Sunday afternoon, the recognized at-home d

Adams tapped at

uld seem, grudgingly,-and A

ss Austin," the land

I know

Mrs. Bates, and her nephew, Pinky

ink I want to see

o see you,-and-oh, pshaw, now, be a

no desire to form new acquaintances, a

going to marry Doctor Waring, the new President. An

pression of wavering on the girl's fa

ce chap and just about y

, briefly, and Mrs. Adams indulg

e thought to herself. "Young folk

dams ushered Anita i

said, "and Mr. P

ams had strict notions of her dut

said, going to her

in,-I am very g

yes. Such a depth of sorrow was there, such unmistakable tragedy and

es said,-almost involuntarily, for the girl's

g her poise steadily but sl

that I'm here as well as my more celebrated aunt! Don't you remember the morning I

were very scarlet, but it was unmistakably Nature's own red, and as they parted

Payne thenceforward made it his earnest end

d Mrs. Bates, "don't pay any a

declared, but Miss Austin vaguely ignored him,

tea," Mrs. Bates said, after an interval of aimless chat. "It would

r voice low and tense, as if the idea

e Doctor is my fiance,-we ar

such a sharp intonation t

interest. "They're as blissful as two young turtle-doves. Come on, Miss Austin, let's go over there. It's a duck of a house

me," was the

his terrestrial globe than the picture by the Waring study

ious and Anita smiled again as

entered the Waring home they found a cheery

apanese second man, was willing enough, his training was incomplete, and his blunders frequent. He was a new servant, and though old Ito had hopes of educating him, Mrs. Peyton was doub

regretful at the comi

e would ever marry. Now, she declared, he was marrying only because he thought

g had begun to take a personal interest in the attractive Mrs. Ba

nt, and Mrs. Peyton had received due notice

epressed and disconsolate. Also, a little r

Austin with a cold smile, and

et the newcomer with full intent

riend and admirer, Robert Tyler, who, however, did no

told of Mrs. Bates' arrival Doctor Waring and his secr

reeted his fiancee, and then Mrs. Bat

et me present Doctor Waring

cup of tea, and he was in the act of taking it f

and those nearest saw the Doctor's face blanch su

himself together, and gave a little laugh, as

ce," he ordered, pointing to the small rug on which t

urning to smile at the girl, but even as he did s

d Emily Bates, going to

at foolish teacup upset my nerves. I'l

left the room and we

. Bates heard him lock

octor Waring. He is under so much strain at present, and a foolish ac

ympathetically. "He must b

glance wandered and she bit her red lower lip, as if nervous herself. Yet she was exceedingly quie

followed his chief and tap

the knock. "I don't want you now. I'll re

hoping to have a chance for c

y with Helen Peyton,

was really gay and merry and quite h

closely, his quick perception

t uncanny, and he truly believed the girl was making m

He wo

htest excitement or even interest. This habit, acquired purposely at first, had grown upon him until it was second nature. He would not admit anything could move him, c

rsonality, so responsive and receptive his real nature beneath his

He was more than a secretary to his emplo

, and rated Lockwood high i

pleased if he could fall a victim to the charms of the fair Helen. Nor could he evade the conviction that Mrs. Peyton hers

lf-evident facts, and affected

t regard for both, and that ended the

, but each understood, and when the Doctor's marriage took

ced to admit an unreasonable, inexplicable interest in a slip of a girl

luded, watching her narrowly, yet unobserved, she was laughing immoderately. She was laughin

g people, and in his quiet

y for the moment, Miss Au

ok her hand and led her to a daven

e arranged a pillow or

id, and lapse

acancy, and Lockwood studie

o bad, i

then suddenly; "what do y

blue eyes met her own, but there was no sign

aid, rising quic

Pinky, overhearing. "Why

y. "Good afternoon, Mrs. Bates, and thank you

rewell, the strange girl went to the front door

waited until Miss Austin had buttoned her gloves and had given an a

n obsequious air, and closed i

en again by Pinky Payne, who ra

tin. How fast you walk!

d, indifferently, sca

and you might be kidnapped. Ne

was the surprising and

t get wrathy-don't 'ee, don't 'ee-now

gh she allowed him to fall into step besi

the Doctor?" Pinky asked, h

cely sa

him. Perfect old brick, but a little on edge of late. Approac

't seem to su

own class,-I mean his graduating class, but long after they graduated, and he had to pro

aid Miss

at liberty to go in and see the other members of the household, or to go home, for Miss Au

aring home, wondering what it was about the disagreeable

topic of discussi

s. Peyton declared, "she

ldn't make her out at all. And

. "I call her very pretty,-a

fed Helen; "I

she made her adieux most politely. Why should she have stayed longer?

doesn't like us,-I'm sure of that. Well,

superior,-I can't bear her. She acts as if she owned the

hould we inquire into her identity or histor

ked Doctor Waring, returni

rmed Mrs. Bates. "Are

like that. The awkward accident touched my

hty schoolboy, and Emily Bates took his ha

John?" she said, with a

id, "I don't know, Emily; I suppose it was a sudden physical c

she did not pursue the subject. Then

looks, Doctor Waring

was the quiet reply. "

nswered; "I do, for one. Did y

g stared at

ared. "How could

rs. Bates laughed. "I just

the girl before in my l

lky, silly and supercilious. She's a mystery, they say, but I say she merely wan

ife to be jealous and envious of, without adding another to the list. Also, she especially wan

ual way of summing up a discussion and announcing his own opinion as

n Tyler, "and sh

bbed me," said

turned Tyler, and then laughed im