Mary Ware in Texas

make the little cottage look as homelike as possible. Even the preparations for their Thanksgiving dinner were all made. They had been simplif

s. Ware sat sewing on the south gallery where Jack had wheeled

all help we get through so fast it makes me dizzy. Then there's nothing left to do but sit in the sun and wait till time to get the next meal ready

tory," suggested Mrs. Ware, after Jack had

objected Mary, "and it would be sort of a

here and introduce himself," said Jack. "You can tell

f persuaded to go and see. "If I thought she

been so good to a family of strangers. I'll bet she's a dear, mothe

sn't look much older than you do, and for all he's so dignified there's some

, "and I shall keep on thinking of her as that kind until it's proved that my guess is wrong

Well, she'll do it herself in a few days. She sent wo

le, looking down the deserted road. Jack's gaze followed her sympathetically, and he said to his mother in a low tone, "Poor little kid, it's going to be a dull winter

down to thread her needle, "Oh, she'll soon adjust herself. She'll find so

the time of the little figure at the gate, and saw her without seeming to notice when she slipped around the corner of the house p

hat she can climb to the top of the tower again.

ht to which she had climbed. Down below scarcely a breath was stirring, but here a fresh breeze blew the hair into her eyes and began to blow the discontent out of her m

nothing to do, when he'd give worlds just to be foot loose-to climb up here and walk about the place. And he was so dear and consider

at the north end of the little hamlet, reminding her of

if he did ask it in a joke. I ought to be willing to do anything in the worl

nd hat, with Mrs. Rochester's basket on her a

ced-"to find out if she is gray-haired and double-c

ack, laughingly. "I'll get

ed Mary gaily. "Good-bye, my friends and kinsmen dear! A

as tall and slim and very young, with the delicate, spirituelle kind of beauty that had always been plump little Mary's greatest admiration and desire. One part of Jack's gue

as insisting on helping with the cake. It seemed a matter of course that Mrs. Rochester should hand her the egg-beater, and before the eggs were whipp

y. "I should have dropped down some place where 'the breaking waves dashed high on a

atisfied to find yourself in one of Scott's novels, in a jumble of knights and tourneys and border wars

s Austen's stories. Why, there's pages and pages taken up with just discussing the weather and each other's health; and they do such trivial, inane things an

them and always will be as long as those books live. And I'll tell you why. You read them to the end because they are true pictures of the lives of average people. The majority of us have to put up with the humdrum, no matter how much

e fact that nothing exciting and important is ever going to happen to me, but I can't break myself of the habit of expecting it. I've felt that way as far back as I c

, nodding to the shelves in the adjoining library, where stood a well thumbed edition of Miss Austen's works. "Take her h

r words, as she left her seat by the table to slip

n having the library in San Antonio to draw on this winter, and this is even better, for

ched into two, for some one drove in from the country with a carriage load of autumn leaves, and Mary stayed to help arrange them in the little church for the Thanksg

itation to attend the service next day. "I want her to come. I've already had my share of Thanksgiving. I

rdially. "I can always find something for

the walk was answered by a flutter of Mrs. Rochester's apron in the do

ochester reported to her husband at noon

ted at home, and quoted her a

bly not call on us she says. But she's coming as soon as she can get around to it. I saw our name on a list she has hanging beside her calendar. But there's nearly a we

it was somewhat of a shock to find that Christmas will be here so soon. One forgets the calendar in this summer-like climate. Whatever we send to Holla

longed to send little remembrances that the length of it was appalling. Then she revised it, putting in one column such people as Madam Chartley and Mrs. Lee, to whom she decided to write letters-the gayest, brightest greetings she could think of. Still there were a goodly number

ldest daughters, but it almost cost him his life to get the one common little white rose that his youngest daughter so modestly asked for. I could do this shopping in a few hours if I did not have to stop to consider pennies, but there are sever

or what you want. Of course you couldn't go to a hotel alone, and it would be too expensive even if you ha

uch a place. She remembered that they were to have guests to dinner. Fortunately for her peace of mind the rector and his wife called for a few moments just before dusk.

plish in the afternoon, in order to be able to start early Monday morning. Several times she left her tubs to run into the house and jot down some small items on her memorandum,

o lest she waken her mother, and afraid not to lest it should slip her mind before morning. Finally she settled the diffi

rring, and then ring will make me think of the little white

nearly ten, so she decided that it would save time to go at once to the largest department store, check her suit-cas

incipal streets and landmarks. The life, the color, the holiday air of the crowds, the fête day atmosphere of the old town itself, exhilarated he

. The shop girls were unusually responsive and helpful, showed her just what she wanted or suggested something better than she had thought of. Only once or twice did

a girl in a brown tailor suit, standing in the next aisle. Her back was turned towards Mary, but there was something familiar looking in the poise of the gr

s hair. Snatching up the proffered change, which the cashier put through the cage window, she pushed her way into the next aisle. The girl turned. The big plumed hat drooped over her face, still Mary recognized the delicate profile, t

s she exclaimed impulsively, "I b

ilence as the eyes of the girl in

cularly," was th

Mary see how dire her mistake had been. There was no resemblance whatever in that to Gay. Wishing that she could drop out of sight through the floor, s

py," Mary thought. "Anybody is

by her own reflection in a mirror in the show window oppo

if she wasn't gay! Gay with a little g!" she ga

g jostled, and walked aimlessly for some distance. It was the sight of a green kettle swinging above a door which she was approaching that brought her to herself with a start. Mrs. Rochester had to

door of the Green Kettle, stood Gay Melville; the real Gay this time. There was no shadow of doubt about it. As she looked

er down town. And the girl in the carriage was Roberta-Roberta of the boyish speech and coquettish eyelashes, whose laughing quest

t was the Warwick Hall pin which only its alumni might wear; those who had kept the four years' tryst with all

e cried breathlessly, "Oh, I know by that that you are Miss Melville. Aren't you!" Gay after one look into the eager gray eyes sa

artel, and she has a beast of a temper which she lets loose if a person is one second late at rehearsal. But I must take time to say one thing if sh

hastily. "I came down on a little shopping exp

nd Gay shrugged her shoulders impatiently. "Do be a long time over it," she begged as she turned to

sure that she was awake. It was a good hard nip, which hurt, and smiling to herself because it proved that she was not dreaming, she s

nt of the music overhead. A chorus of cherubim and seraphim could not have left her more uplifted. Madame de Martel might have the temper of a beast at times, but she had a vo

ccompanists had failed her, that the local ones were satisfactory. It came to an end just as Mary began her

each place, and ask a thousand questions, but I'm due at a luncheon out on Government Hill by the time the next car can put me there. Immediately after that is over we're all going to the polo tournament. All during rehearsal I kept trying

found you at last! You've no idea how often you were quoted the summer I was in the Valley. Lloyd and Betty and the old

ove her claim, when Gay stopped her by a glance at the clock and the question: "Wouldn't you lik

efore her usually ready tongue found a word, and Gay smiled as

est when she visited me last year. I'll pick up Roberta and Lieutenant Boglin to take dinner with us if I can get them. They're

on the shoulder in passing, Gay hurried away to keep her engagement. Smiling blissfully after h