The Story Girl

l reflectively, "because I can never go barefooted the

big barn; and the bare feet below her print skirt WERE beautiful. They were slender and sha

oft. The Story Girl had

happy, far-

tles lo

on our sweet-smelling couch. Haylofts are delicious places, with just enough of shadow and soft, uncertain noises to give an agreeable tang of mystery. The swallows flew in and out of their nest above our heads, and whe

e swallows. A cat in a hayloft is a beautiful example of the eternal fitness of things. We had

about anything you have yoursel

ly vanity when you get puffed up about them. I am not a bit pretty. My only good points are my hair and eyes and feet. So I think it's real mean that one of them has t

on when you go to the magic lantern show to-n

. I'm thinking of

re not in earnest!" exclaimed Felicit

and me, but the side next the girls changed not a muscle. Sh

d to. Why not? Why not bare feet-if they'

be such a disgrace!" said po

Story Girl. "What is the difference between going to the sch

t-but every one KNOWS there is a difference. You know

ry Girl, who would have died the death before she

ded. Peter went everywhere with us now. He was a regular attendant at church and Sunday School, where his behaviour was as irreproachable as if he had been "raised" in the caste of Vere de Vere. It was a feather in the Story Girl's cap, for she took all the credit of having started Peter on the right road. F

heard of Peter's singular device regarding them on his first Sunday. She had also given

"I've an old Bible of Aunt Jane's at home that I can use.

assured him. "The Bibl

new improvements on it since Aunt

crying," announced Dan, who was peering out of

e she cries a quartful of tears a month. There are times when you can

er tears to be the doleful fact that her mother had forbidden her to go

" said the Story Girl indignantly

of them, and there'll be sure to be some of the Markdale people at the show. S

catching measles," said Felicity. "If t

said Sara defiantly. "Maybe I'd

tory Girl. "Perhaps she'd let you go then. She likes Cecily. She doesn't li

oon-and they're not coming back till to-morrow

st go to the show anyhow? Your mother won't ev

elicity. "You shouldn't put Sa

ted, the Story Girl would probably have listened to her, and proceeded no further in the matter. But Felicity was one of

ded to tempt Sara in right good earnest. The rest of us held

ey're in the spare room, and ma locked the door, for fear somebody would get a

ou some things. You can have my lace collar. That'll make the gin

or stockings. The

thought that since Sara was certain to yield to temptation,

esist its temptation, even if you wanted to. That evening, when we started

atch the measles?"

kdale. The lecturer is going to Markdale next week.

rglow-creamy yellow and a hue that was not so much red as the dream of red, with a young moon swung low in it. The air was sweet with the breath of mown h

elicity and Cecily were void of offence towards all men. The Story Girl walked uprightly like an incarnate flame in her crimson sil

lost patience with her. The Story Girl herself was not altogether at ease

l. Never mind if it is bad. There's no use being naughty if you spoil your fun by wishing all the ti

ested Sara. "I'm only sca

erstanding and sympathy; but fear of her fellow creatures was something u

ne who sees me there w

etter not go. It isn't too late. H

on, a small, miserable testimony that the way of the transgressor i

is jokes to each other all the way home. Sara, who had not enjoyed the exhibition at all, seemed to

s. I wish I'd never egged Sara on to going-but don't tell Felicity I said so. If Sara Ray had really enjoyed the show I wo

eshless melody in the reeds of the brook hollow. The sky was dark and

ne had stocked his mind with a miscellaneous information which sometimes made Felix and me doubt if we knew as much as Peter after all. Felicity was so impressed by his knowledge of astronomy that she dropped back from the other girls and walked beside him. She had not done so bef

. "I read it in a book of Aunt Louisa's in town, and I learned it off by

-same as people?"

ST have. They'd be all m

I ever get to be one-wil

up there," said Cecily gentl

h a funny name for an angel. And what is th

ow better and brighter and more beautiful than newer angels," said the Story Girl, w

an angel to grow into an

en then I don't suppose ALL the angels do. A good m

st to be a plain angel,"

ver everything, we'll never get the story told," said F

and the Story

f the universe, and Zulamith was sent to a star on the other side of the universe; and between them was a fathomless abyss which thought itself could not cross. Only one thing could cross it-and that was love. Zulamith yearned for Zerah with such fidelity and longing that he began to build up a bridge of light from his star; and Zerah, not knowing this,

had been done they flew in fear and anger

of light across the universe, and set Thy decree of separation at naught

hushed. Through the silence so

true love hath builded not even the Almighty

to the sky and her big eyes filled with starlight

y, who had been wooed to a temporary

e fully the wonderful meaning of the legend; but we felt its beauty and its appeal. To us forevermore the Milky Way would be, not Pe

en the Story Girl and I walked up the hill together. Peter and Felicity lagged behind. Cecily and Dan and Felix were walking

take the measles?"

sometime," I said comfortingly, "a