Miss Billy's Decision

Aunt Hannah to spend the day with them. This time, however, there w

s of the old-time furnishings. Before the open fire in the den a sleek gray cat-adorned with a huge ribbon bow the exact shade of the roses (Bertram had seen to that!)-winked and blinked sleepy yellow eyes. In Bertram's studio the latest "Face of a Girl" had made way for a group of canvases and plaques, every one of which showed Billy Neilson in one pose or another. Up

te's face the dignity of his high office and the delight of the moment were fighting for mastery. The dignity held firmly through Mrs

you here again," stammered the m

f these days, Pete," smiled the

am, who, in spite of William's quick

me the patter of a m

all come up-stairs and see them after dinner." The voice, apparently, spoke to everybody; but the eyes of the owner of the voice plainly saw only the fa

lained Marie Hawthorn in a low, vibrant tone, when Cy

anced toward the fire, the sleek gray cat rose, stretche

. "Spunkie, when I am your mistress, you'll have to change either your name or your nature. As if I were going

m regarded his namesake w

th a matter-of-course air that was unmistakable-and to Bertram, adorable. Ber

e is-worrying," he sa

y sm

answered. "Only think how dreadfully

ing face grew

she didn't know it; she only

hook he

I think I can discern a few evidences myself-that I was upse

corrected Bertram. "Think o

d Billy's face; but before her lover c

nt to Cyril." Billy had t

at times," retorted that individual, with

were never anything but a comfort in the h

t-when Pete and I disagree about the table decorations, a

wn showed on B

s laughed at her sally, "you needn't have Pet

ed Billy, indignantly.

te is o

y years, while he's been growing old? I wonder if you think I'd let

and arrested her words. She look

nounced the old butler, his

acrity, and gave his

e're ready for di

incemeat, it is doubtful if four at the table would have known the difference: Cyril and Marie at one end were discussing where to put their new sideboard in their dining-room, and Bertram and Billy at the other were talking of the next Thanksgiving, when, according to Bertram, the Strata would have

dinner was over, "suppose

the long flights of stairs then, Billy carrying an extr

m, as she picked up the shawl from the hall stand where s

s," panted Aunt Hannah, as she reached the top of the last flight and dropped breat

hanksgiving dinner just before," laughed Cyril. "Maybe

ersian-a Kirman, you know; and I'm so proud of it," she added, turning to the others. "I

lors of the rug before him. "Honestly, Miss Marie," he added, turning to the little bride elect, "how did you

ay came into Ma

ted rugs," she faltere

everywhere except in my own especial den. You don't suppose I want

turned to the little music teacher. "I hope, Miss Marie, that

d at this, though

t you up here to

ver, was not

d tried adviser. "Just let me give you a pointer. I've lived with your

e still," g

efused to

py nocturne, you may know that all is well. But if on your ears there falls anything like a dirge, or the wail of a lost spirit gone mad,

be still?" cut in C

soups or uses salt for sugar. So maybe I'd better put it to you this way: if you want a new sealskin coat or an extra diamond tiara, tackle him when he plays

hful brother's hand off the piano stool. The next moment the wrathful brother himself sat at the piano, and there burst on

erflowing, as if under the fingers of the player there were-not the keyboard of a piano-b

am, his ecstasy at that for which the rug and curtains stood-the little woman sewing in the radiant circle of a shaded lamp. Billy knew that all this and more were finding voice at Cyri

wound itself in and out of a maze of exquisite harmonies, now hiding, now coming out clear and unafr

ered into silence. It was Bertram wh

it's I that set you going like that, old cha

is shoulders and

of the rug we'll go down-st

er of the beautiful Kirman could find any fault with the quantity or the quality of the attention b

you can play like tha

mand," shrugge

airs they stopped

the black velvet square. "They're fine-and I think she looks like you," he finished, turning to Billy, and hol

d Marie, over Billy's shou

r turned, hi

them. Would you like to see th

y a score or more of round and oval discs of glass, porcelain, and

e again; "but how-how queer!

s glistened. William loved to talk-

to fasten back their curtains," he explained ardently. "Now here's another Batte

hat round one!" exclaimed Marie

h. Did you notice this one, with the bright red and blue and green o

Bertram, mischievously; but

he Batterseas. You see it was at Worcester that they invented that variation of the transfer printing process that they called bat printing, where they used oil instead of ink, and gelatine instead of pap

y time-" interposed Bertram

topped wi

I talked of something el

d Marie. "Besides, there are such a lot of things here t

cabinet where were some beautiful specimens of antique jewelry brooches, necklaces

teapots? Well, we can have tea every day in the year, and not use one of them but five times. I've

eap year?" q

ue' or a 'perfect treasure of a black b

ver to the use of Billy and Aunt Hannah. The rooms were open to-day, and w

t?" remonstrated Billy, as

said the youngest Henshaw brother in a voice t

any one's but Billy's, now," declared Wil

es before the fire," proposed Bertram, a

n your pictures, ye

e a depreca

e door of his studio, and pressing a button that flooded the room with light. The next moment, as they stood before those plaques and

eed!" exclai

vely!" brea

knew you had a good many, but-" Aunt Hannah paused impotent

id you do them?

ur or five years ago," answered Bertram; "like this, for instance." And he pulled into a better light a picture of a laughing, d

little cat!

dryly. "No paint nor painter could imprison that untam

d the studio. She stood now a little apart. Her eyes were wide, and a bit frightened. Her fingers were twisting the

bronze. Again it was still the back of her head with below it the bare, slender neck and the scarf-draped shoulders. In this picture the curve of a half-turned cheek showed plainly, and in the background was visible a hand holding four playing cards, at which the pictur

of this chin is perfect."

ry. Her face whitened

dn't mean the-the tilt of th

urned in

stammered. "Bi

ly. She had seen the dismayed questioning in her lov

lated hurriedly. "It was

eyes were still troubled. "Was it the pi

gain-this time

e of her hands toward the omnipresent Billy. "Why, I feel as if I were in a room with a thousan

ent smile. Cyril actually chuckled. Bertram only still wore

l. It was not a pretty sketch; it was not even a finished one, and Bill

ram, what

nd Aunt Hannah, followed by William and Cyril, were just disappearing behind a huge easel. In another minute the merry chatter of their v

Billy, as a kiss

if they did see? Billy, what was th

Bertram tried to assure himself that it was a

d about-about the tilt of that c

, Bi

Billy turned and began to rev

hibition quite long enough. It is high time she was tur

move to assist her. His ardent gray eyes were

at you're really mine," he said at la

glorified her face. As she stood, she was close to a picture on

e man opposite had taken an eager step toward her. On his face was the look

perfect with those dark shadows beyond, and just your hair and face and throat show