The Story Girl

ur call on Mr. Campbell. We secretly dreaded it. If, as was said, he

known to be "well read" and intelligent. But it was also known that Mr. Campbell was not always in a good humour. If he liked you there was nothing he would not do for you; if he disliked you-well, you were not left in ignorance of it. In sh

said the Story Girl. "He may be rude,

bones," observed Feli

s. I am afraid of Mr. Campb

r give up and go ho

ng to see Mr. Campbell. I know I can manage him. But if I have to go alone,

g to let the Story Girl get ahead

med to be one of his good days, for there was a quizzical smile on his broad, clean-shaven, strongly-featured face. Mr. Campbell was a tall man, with a massive head, well that

Story Girl, leaning back in an arm-chair. She looked like a slender red lily in t

ol deputation?" he inq

ask a favour of you,"

ell, as on all others. He came in, sat down, hooked

s it?"

ibrary, and we have called to ask y

to your school library?

Girl was quite equal to it. Leaning forward, and throwing an

a lady

pbell c

of it, unless I am to receive some benefit from the expenditure. Now, what earthly good could I get from your three by six school library? None whatever. But I shall make you a fair offer. I have heard fro

ettle instantly. She sprang to her feet, an amazing change coming ove

he Sherman girls, and how Betty

erman was Mr. Campbell's own great-grandmother, and that her method of

mpbell chu

that story you must be a wonder. I've heard it so ofte

t, storm, or no storm, Donald meant to go over the bay that evening to see Nancy Sherman. He was thinking of her as he played 'Annie Laurie,' for Nancy was more beautiful than the lady of the song. 'Her face, it is the fairest that e'er the sun shone on,' hummed Donald-and oh, he thought so,

ll, who was Highland Scotch and lived down at Berwick, was courting Nancy Sherman, too; and, what was far worse, Nancy's father favoured him, because he was a richer m

way house was just the thing. Then Donald brought out the whisky. They always did that eighty years ago, you know. If you were a woman, you could gi

itter cold the day. And now tell me the Berwick news. Has Jean McLean made up with her man yet? And is it true that Sandy McQuarrie

nd on, and of course he soon began to tell things it would have been much wiser not to tell. Finally he told Donald that he was going over the bay

expected. Neil hadn't been courting Nancy very long, and D

y. But Donald knew that if Neil proposed first he would have the best chance. Neil was rich and the Shermans were poor, and old Elias Sherman would have the most to say in the matter. If he told Nancy she mus

pretty hard to stick a Scotchman long. Presently a twinkle came into his eyes, for he

the heart in you in the teeth of that wind. Help

persuasion. He took som

bay the night that yo

shook

hod. If I went it must be on Black Dan's back, and he likes a canter over the ice in a snow-storm as little as I

ing eyes, and coaxed him on. At last Neil's head fell forward on his breast, and he

' he said, laughing softly, 'and as for

climbed into Neil's sleigh, and t

u know hangs on your speed. If the Campbell wakes too soon Black Dan cou

king of what he should say to Nancy-and more still of what she

me to the lad if he starts to cross. When he wakes he'll be in such a fine Highland temper that he'll never stop to think of danger. Well, Bess, old girl, here we

aw Donald coming. Oh, she was very beautiful! Her hair was like a skein of golden silk, and her eyes were as blue as the gulf water when the sun breaks out after a storm. D

y I can tell you later maybe. I know well I'm not worthy of you, but if true

im. She just LOOKED it, and Donald

he scene of a quarrel, so he resolved to get away before the Campbell came. He persuaded Nancy to go with him to visit some f

, but he'll not be qu

t Betty Sherman, and Betty was not afraid of him. She was never afraid of anybody. She was very handsome, with hair a

, no less! Was I mistaken in thinking that Donald Fraser said once that his favourite horse should never be ba

his fist. 'It's him I'm seeking, and it's him

ked Nan in the stable yard to marry him. Did a man ask ME to marry him at the cow's side with a milking pail in my hand, it's a cold answer he'd get for his pains. But Nan thought differently, and they sat late together last night, and 'twas a bonny

telling that story that Donald Fraser will be doing, is it? But when I meet him

rit of a wren, Neil Campbell. Were I you, I would show Donald Fraser that I could woo and win a lass as speedily as any Lowlander of them all; that I would! There's many a girl would gladly

ord on the spot; and there was a double wedding soon after. And it is said that Neil and Betty were the

t the floor. Then she flung herself in her chair and

, as she told it; but I can never reproduce the charm and colour and spirit she infused into it. It LIVED for us. Donald and Neil, Nancy and Betty, were there in that room with us. We saw the flashes of expression on their faces, we hear

s wallet, extracted a note therefrom, a

you will make the world realize it. I've been about a bit, and heard some good things, but I've never enj

aid the deligh

cation table for me,

twelve. She repeated it simply, but her voice changed from one tone to another as each in succession grew tired. We had never dreamed that there was so much in the multiplication table. As she announced it, the fact that three t

nodded his

in a book. 'Her voice would have made the multiplication table charming!' I

e let

rl as we went home, "you nee

all Story Girl

Felicity talking to

Girl," she said, "but if I had put on MY best dress as

ty Sherman did, do you supp

ry Girl could," answered F