Contrary Mary

ay, and a Lonely Wayfarer Ascends Anothe

r and less restrained taste had aimed at a castellated effect, and certain peaks and turrets had been added. Three of these turrets were excrescences stuck on, evidently, with an idea of adornment. The fourth tower, however,

ed by golden-lighted windows. Delivery wagons and automobiles came and went, some discharging

at the foot of the terrace which led up to it. He waited until the door was shut before he again advanced. In the glimpse that he thus had of the interior, he was aware of a sort of pin

door again flew open, and he gave a som

for Miss Ballard-

the doorway understood the difference between his busin

ed that the room might have been put to office uses, but to-night the desk was heaped with open boxes, and odd pieces of furniture were crow

ig house. Outside of the closed door the radiant guests were still ascending the stairway on shining wings of light. He could hea

ckly and was shut quickly, and the girl who had e

rgive me-I've ke

er at once for more than that. But, being neither a hero of ballad nor of old romance, he knew only that here was a girl different from the silken ladies who had asc

en, like the inside of a shell. Its draperies were caught up to show slender feet in low-heeled slippers. A quaint cap of si

planation, and as he followed her to the Tower Rooms. But first he had to set himse

could be seen. My sister and I occupy them

ence and the silken ladies. It was the re

assage to a flight of steps leading up into the darkness. "These stair

de an abrupt turn, but, feel

ing, where she stopped him to say, "I must be s

t was clear, and thus they entered the room which h

fortable and of worn red leather. A strong square table held a copper lamp with a l

s which at once caught the

ages. As his eyes swept the shelves, he knew that here was the living, breathing collection of a true book-lover-not a musty, fust

y torn up. But we have just finished dressing Constance. She is down-stairs now in the Sanctum. We'll pack her trunks to-morrow and send them, and then if

e by side in an alcove. Their covers were of pink overlaid with lace, and the chintz of the big couch and chairs reflected the same enchanting hue. With all the color, how

open trunks, filmy fabrics floated from unexpected places, small slippers we

picked up as she passed, and it was over the top of it that she aske

as that from which he had been cut off for five years. Five years in boarding-

the price named in your lett

d a certain amount to my income, so I ask you to pay that," she smiled, and with increasing dif

have no idea that I am doing this. If they knew, they wouldn't want

fling it at

to be accessory

Oh, do you look at it-that way? P

vine and fig tree in this fashion. But then her advertisement had been unusual-it wa

big room, the rows of volumes seemed to

the storms which had beaten him, w

it? His business was with Mary Ballard herself, with her f

I shall consider myself mo

nd to him. "You don't know how you have helped

not answer it. She turned and went into the other room, draw

hts. From east to west the shadowy dimness of the Mall, beyond the shadows, a line of river, silver under the

re were nothing else," he said, "

ower hall came the

y! M

eep you," he

ar

u find your way down alone? I'll go b

ry-

s, it came to him as an amazing revelation that she had taken his coming as a thing to be t