Miss Billy's Decision

day dawned raw and cold. By noon an east wind h

ly's chamber door. She showed a troubled

ed you to go alone to the Carletons' and

cause I always like to have you go to places with m

rning, and taking camphor and sugar to break it up-if i

awls everywhere for Aunt Hannah's shoulders and feet. Bertram had been known to say, indeed, that a room, according to Aunt Hannah, was not fully furnished unless it contained from one to four shawls, assorted as to size and warmth. Shawls,

e for down-stairs, and the blue one for breakfast; so you see I've been very careful. But I have sneezed six times, so I think 'twould be s

ake your cards and explain to M

ed, I don't know her any more than you do; so I

ook for a girl alone with a pink. Of course I'll have mine on, too, and she'll be watching for me. So just run along and take your nap, de

" sighed Aunt Hannah, drawing the gray sha

t time she had appeared at a gathering of any size since the announcement of her engagement; and, as

that the one?'" she declared; "and I know some of t

wer-perfumed rooms. At ten minutes past four she was saying good-b

t a Miss Arkwright, a young cousin of Aunt Hannah's, whom I've never seen before. We're to mee

s gave a s

pink. At least, I have a very vivid recollection of Mr. William Henshaw's going once to meet a boy wi

iled and

rted, backing toward the door. "This young lady's name is 'Mary Jane

Peggy made as quick work of it as the narrow, congested cross streets would allow. In ample

omes in on Track Fourteen

inned the pink now to the outside of her long coat, and it made an attractive dash of white against the dark-blue velvet. Billy

to view far down the long track, Billy's thoughts involuntarily went ba

arly aloud that a man behind her gave her a covert glance from curious eyes.

with absorbed attention the long line of passengers

trig hats and linen collars spelled promptness as well as certainty of aim and accomplishment. To these, also, Billy paid scant attention. Couples came next-the men anxious-eyed,

g alone. One of these wore a bunch of violets. Billy gave her a second glance. Then she saw a pink-but it was on

babies. Couples came, too-dawdling couples, plainly newly married: the men were n

an with a cane, and a young woman with three children. Yet nowhere

ed Mary Jane, and that she would find her now, standing near. But there was no one standing near except the good-lookin

met. Then, to Billy's unbounded amazem

on, but is not t

with just a to

" she m

to see you with Aunt Hannah. I a

nstant Billy

an-Mary Jane?

I do." His l

sly. For one more brief instant she stared; then, sudd

hink that Mary Jane should be a-" She paused and flashed almost angrily suspicious eyes

yes twinkled, but they did not swerve

or in her cheeks deepened. With an odd little gesture she seemed to toss something aside. "Never mind," she laughed a little hysterically.

sed a prote

ly-I couldn't think of trespassing

vited you," s

ok his

ted Miss

led into l

way, and now to have the tables turned like this! What will Aunt Hannah say-what wi

, of course. Later, if you'll be so g

ly to the man at her side. Her eyes still danced, but her voice was mockingly serious. "Really, Mr. Mary Jane, I'm afraid you'll have t

kwright's bag, please, and show him where Peggy is waiting. It will be five minutes, perhaps, before I can come-if you

trying to bring order out of the chaos of her

aid, almost aloud. "And here I am telephoning just like Uncl

ad Aunt Hannah at the

er have believed it, but it's

a muttered "Oh, my grief and con

a man." Billy was enj

ma-

brown beard. He's waiting n

e-he called himself 'Mary Jane.' He hasn't any business to be a big man with a

ughed ro

oice turned suddenly tragic. "For pity's sake take out those curling tongs and hairpins, and

d groan came

e can't s

laughe

inner; there was no other way, under the circumstances. He won't stay. Don't you worry. But good

t were speeding toward Corey Hill. It was during a slight pause in

, Mr. Arkwright. I though

d. What did she s

ment of hesitation b

ane,' and that you hadn't any busines

ght la

but in the first one I quoted a remark of a friend, and in that remark I was addressed as 'Mary Jane.' I did not know but Aunt Hannah knew of the nickname." (Arkwright was speaking a little slowly now, as if weighing his words.) "But when she answered, I saw

laugh, "you see your coming as a masculine 'Mary Jane' was particularly funny-for me; for, though perhaps you didn't know it, I came once to this very same city, wea

he hesitated, and seemed

might almost say-that's why I-let the mist

d with repr

n!" She laughed suddenly. "What sinful joy you

when I saw you were there alone without Aunt Hannah, I came very near not speakin

o forgive you, after all. And here we are at home, Mr. Mary Jane. By the way, wh

g his hostess to alight. A moment later a plainly agitated Aunt Hannah-