Talbot's Angles

Miss Ri, whimsically, one morning a litt

ed, in the yellow chrysanthemums by the window, and in the deep tones of the furniture. Linda looked frailer and thinner than when her life at the farm admitted of more open-air employment and less indoor. She did her work conscientiously,

known. I think I'll go up by train, and then you will be alone but one night. Bertie enjoyed herself so much last time, that I am sure she will

his time?" asked Linda, making little spira

and another the parts of some machine whose other belonging had evidently gone elsewhere. I shall try to avoid such things. I wish you

liday, and I mustn't play truant. Good luck to you, Aunt Ri."

"I must make such an early start, that I think I'll go

nda answered, turning over her paper

ht, child. I'll be off before you are up. Just order anything you like, and don't bother about anyth

s and red embers. The old clock in the hall struck eleven slowly and solemnly. Miss Ri's quick tread on the floor above had ceased long before. The tick-tock of the clock and the crackle of the consuming wood were the only sounds. Linda returned to the table, picked up a bit of paper and began to write, at first rapidly, then with pauses for thought, frequent re-readings and many erasures. She occupied her

"I wondered how it would sound by daylight," she said to herself. "I think it isn't so bad, and it was such a joy to do it after those stupid papers. I wonder, I wonder if it is worth while." She tucked the paper away in her desk, feeling more blithe and content than for many a day. How blue the river was, how

ar come mah honey chile. I knows her by dat little song o' hers, same as I knows de bees by dere hummin' an' de robin by he whistle.' Come along, chile, fo' yo' breakfus spile." She bustled back to the kitchen, and

I'm hungry,

ill I fetches in dem hot rolls. Dey pipin' hot right out o' de oben. I

ertie was off to a birthday dance in the country, which meant she would not be back till the next morning. She was "s

ng alone, if it comes t

oo much alo

unded all day by suc

ls of your own age. How are you g

ver, and I am afraid I shall really never love teaching. Even though you may succeed in an undertaking, if you

. Well, Linda, I hope you w

" responded

and would go around more with the gir

"That is very nice for you to

stay by yourself to-nig

om her porch, called to her as she went by. "When's Ri coming back?" she

to-morro

sleep," Miss Parthy advised her.

e? No, I think I'd better not, Miss Part

ered Miss Parthy quite seriously. "

arp bark, or Flora's plaintive whine, decided her. "I think I'd rather have a human girl, thank you, Miss Parth

this she could not allow another to propose. After all, it would not be bad, though Mammy should drop to sleep early, for there would be the cheerful fire and another bit of paper to cover with the lines which had been haunting her all day. She turned toward home again, with thoughtful tread, traversing the

, who joined her. "Bound for a wal

epted his escort, and they went on down the street toward the river, where the red and y

ey had wandered to where houses were few a

r a reticent person, though courteous and not

n claim kinship with the Talbot family. My great-grandfather

t will come back to me after a while. That

married against his wishes, and then he married a second time-a Scotch-Irish girl of his neighborhood-and the families seem to have known litt

sted in the old Talbot place. Why-" she paused, hesitated, flushed

which it is, and without proof I can

" she said. "Some of it was sold before my father's time, and he parted with more, so now all we have is the old homestead farm. I should like to know

, for I don't

now it would have made a difference to me-to us all, if

ances. For a time I was in a position to be looked upon with suspicion, to be considered a mere adventurer. I may be

we are quite sure you are genui

ord. You don't know

me he was Cha

tence. "I thought it was due you to k

lad to

Do you mind if I ask that you do not

en to M

Matthews, too, perhaps. I will tell them and ask them to respect my secret for the present. When I can come among y

OT CALL ME COUS

been respectably commonplace. I had a fair education, partly in Europe; but I am not college-bred. My father was a gentleman, but not over-successful in busin

ned softly. "I can understand just how lonely you must be. But you know y

me feel much less of an alien. I am afraid an outsid

secret public property, and that will never do." Her sweet eyes were v

unresponsive, I thought she lacked animation; but when one sees-I beg your pardon," he was roused by L

g at Miss Ri's gate. "Good-night, cousi

mantic interest in her companion, and the same song which Phebe

. "Ain't nobody comin' to eat

don't need anyone, Mammy. You and I have been alone ma

holy is beginnin' to git some roses in

ittle, and then I too

dat come to de

e you could see even around the

iss Parthy an' f

is the

young lady around town? But she knew better than to follow up her express

into the fire when pleasant thoughts possessed her. At the end of the evening, there was a carefully-copied contribution, which was ready to go to a weekly paper; but so

he raised the sash and looked out. "I'm making the rounds," said a voice from below. "Good-night."

I hope he does recognize that I don't mean to be offish.