Mary-'Gusta

l enough, but the results were important and far-reaching. They led to the second great change in

cepted her orders concerning the daily marketing and he and she audited the monthly bills. The white house by the shore was a different place altogether now and "chicken-pox tablecloths" and tarnished silver were things of the forgotten past. At the store she had become almost a

s well as the selling was done by her. The drummers representing New York and Boston wholesale h

mon sense and discernment-"Say, that girl of yours is a wonder, do you know it? She's the sharpest buyer I ever run across on my trips down here. I don't tak

enthusiasm. "Anybody that gets ahead of our Mary-'Gusta has got to turn out afore

ragging: they're used to it and they like it-but not her. She isn't fishing for boxes of candy or invitations to dances. That line of tal

ver, I hope. What ar

ime and then-good night! She's young yet, but in a couple of years she'll be a queen and then-well, then maybe I'll stand a better chance of unloading those last summer caps the house has got in stock. G

hem. Daniel Higgins, son of Mr. Solomon Higgins, the local lumber dealer and undertaker, was severely smitten. Dan was at work in Boston, where he was engaged in the cheerful and remunerative business of selling coffins for the American Casket Company. He was diligent and active and his future promised to be bright, at least so his proud father boasted. He came home for holidays

t residents of South Harniss also appeared to consider it a pleasant place to visit on Summer afternoons. They came to buy, of course, but they remained to

cle Shad," she said. "A

nt you they wouldn't ask you, 'tain't likely. And I heard that young K

ncle Shad, don't worry about me. I'm having a good time; a v

Keiths? They're as nice folk

rse the

ou're as good as t

lannel suit in hot weather? Mr. Keith, Sam's father,

her. "Why don't I we

. You're as good as M

I'd look like a plain fool tagged out in one of them things: anyway, I'd feel

t Mr. Keith and Edna would feel that I didn't. I

't like anybody else," he said. "

f I tried to BE somebody else. No, Uncle Shad, you'll

her shabby but very comfortable tweed jacket and trousers and a white canvas hat of the kind which Hamilton and Company

an a week at a time and there were intervals of a month or more between them. In Chicago he was the head of a large business and that business demanded close attention. When he l

as busy with the traveling representative of Messrs. Bernstein, Goldberg and Baun, of Providence, wholesale dealers in stationery, cards and novelties. The time was August,

siasm. "Believe me, there's goin' to be some call for that lin

asked Mary-'Gust

y your bureau-see? In the mornin' you can't remember what day it is. All right, there's

ing?" interrup

retiring and he, himself, did not suffer from these failings. Also he prided himself on having a way with the ladies,

appreciation

u! You're some kidder, all right. Are there many more in this burg

he answer. Instead, she turned to th

h," she said. "Was ther

ill and if you don't mind I'll kill it here. I'll sit down and

ron continued his exploitation of th

't handed the go-by on many parties in this neck of the woods-am I right? Well, then, when the time comes, you pull down t

terrupted Mary-'Gusta. "

attention to slang or enthusiasm; the familiarity she ignored utterly. She selected several of the novelties, a rather extensive line of Christmas cards, and in the matters of

dmiration wa

f you've ordered is the cream, that's what it is. You made a mistake in not layin' in a dozen or two of thos

ined. "No, thank

xpects me to hand out little keepsakes like that. I'

k you," s

representative of Messrs. Bernstein, Goldb

il tomorrow. There's a new movie theater just opened over to Orham. They tell me it's all to the mustar

u," said Mary

ut

nk you.

. Kron tried again, but she did not appear to hear him. He grinned, observed "O

e tobacco he had come to buy. Mary-'Gusta gave it to him. Her cheeks were red and Keith was

day," he observed; "I'm not sure that I oughtn't to ha

swered without

guess. He meant to be nice, perhaps. Some gi

you tell him

for us to buy our Christmas things and I

lton or the Capta

ve bought some tha

-boxes, for

. "Why, yes," she

deal for you. Do you have to en

y girl who keeps

th referred to his experience as lis

of those two old chaps who run the place, I believe

ith could repl

"Sam knows about her. He just adores th

ted Sam, turning red. "I

ow about Mary-'Gusta too. He

one. She's got every girl in your set skinned a mile fo

ded, addressing her husband. "I know the girl well. She's pretty and she is sensible. For a girl who has had no opportu

f the conversation between

o see that she felt insulted and angry. It seems a pity that a girl like that should have to put up with that sort of thing. I wonder if her uncle

e Captain idolize Mary-'Gusta and she just worships them. Besides, she isn't really thei

ked what she meant by "independ

uld adopted her and she has lived with them ever since. She has money of her own, though no two of the townspeople agree as to how much. I've heard it estimated all the way from five to fifty thousand. She never speaks of it and those queer

ow many charitable societies. In South Harniss she was active in church and sewing circles. Her enthusiasm was always great, but her tact was som

looked a tri

ese Cape Codders are self-respecting and touchy, you know. Anyone in

pe Codders than you do. You only meet them for a few weeks each summer. I flatter myself that I know them an

A cousin of hers, a maiden lady of sixty or thereabouts, wealthy and a semi-invalid who cherished her ill-health, wa

eans so certain. He r

other for thirty years. None of them has stayed with her very long. She requires a sort of combination friend and lady's maid

ater," she declared. "Clara is-well, cranky, and particular and all that, but

move their wr

ncy to her she might leave her a

sn't the girl herself you should try to influence, but her uncles, or guardians, or whatever they are. If I know her, and I've been making some inquiries, she won't leave them. She will consider that they need her

jump at the opportunity. I shall te

accept; I'l

id not consider herself, nor was she, a subject of charity. And the position of combination friend and servant would not

Mrs. Keith, that evening

ed. "That girl didn't know her place at all. I'

polite?" inq

rough. She said she had no thought of leaving South Harniss. She was quite satisfied and contented where she was. One

she s

she snubbed me just the same. I'm disgusted. I'm through-a

But a day or two afterwards he called at the store. Zoeth and Captain Shadrach were alo

e was a "summer man" and rich. When he talked with them it was of things they understood, local affairs, the cranberry crop, fishing, and the doings of the Board of Se

lived up a tree and chucked coconuts at folks. I don't wonder some of the South Sea Islands heathen eat missionaries. If I ATE th

s. He and his opinions were liked and respected. When he came into the store, therefore, on this occasion, Zoeth and Shad welcomed him, asked him to sit

ers could have told-however, drift there it did, and they found themse

alize it she will be a young woman. Are you planning that she shall keep

lanned much about it so fur. Those things sort of take care of themse

re of her before many years, or I miss my guess," he said. "She is likely

nd did not like even to think about. The remark of the hat and cap drumm

n South Harniss are nothin' BUT promise; they ain't so strong on makin' good. 'Tain't like 'twas w

o school, or college? Didn't I hear that Christoph

in't done anything but brag about their Irene's goin' off to what they call 'finishin' school.' Judas! I see HER finish. She ain't got-I swan tha

t say such unlikely things about

ritable to that Mullet girl I'd be talkin' yet

a fine thing. It teaches them to meet and judge people of all kinds, and that fine feathers don't always make fine birds. Then, too, a girl at a good school of that s

at traveling salesman the other day, the fellow selling Christmas noveltie

n with Mr. Kron. The partners l

r I'd been here. There'd have been one mighty sick patient ready for the doctor and he wouldn't have been a South

business, I know that; you can tell me to shut up and clear out any time you like, of course; but do you think it is just fair to a girl like your niece to condemn her to a life of stor

t him open-mouthed. Shadr

eated. "Condemn Mary-

th ain't done yet. He's goin' to tell us what

ound the water not so chilly as he

e my daughter I should be very proud of her. I know you are. She should have, it seems to me, the opportunity to make the most of her qualities and personality. I've been thinking about her a great deal ever since my call at the store here t

arers listened, Zoeth silently and Shadrach

for your niece. It has done worlds for other girls I have known. It is rather expensive, of course, but, as I understand it, Mary

looked at the Captain and

uired Mr. Keith. "I have been told she was

ief. It was no one's business but theirs and their respect and affection for Marcellus Hall had prevented the disclosure of the latter's poverty. That secret not

inted question Zoeth looked at Sha

But-but look here, Mr. Keith. Do I understand you to advise us to send Mary-'Gusta away-to

for you here in th

er could mean more to us than that girl does, and if Zoeth and me was her own-er-mother and father we couldn't think mo

e's worth a pretty big sac

e arrival of occasional customers but resumed as soon as e

school you're talkin' about," he aske

listen to my suggestion at all, to suggest that Mary attend as a day pupil. She

ive somewheres, and I for one would want to be mi

s. Wyeth is her name-is a widow and she hasn't too much money. She doesn't keep a boarding house exactly, but she has been known to take a few of what she calls 'paying guests.' She's very Bostonian and very particular co

ld need only a hint from him to give Mary-'Gusta the care and attention of a parent, a very particular, Boston first-family pare

ow that you're sartin this goin' away to school would do Mary-'Gusta a sight of good

ust think it over and we'l