No. 13 Washington Square
in potency like a swiftly fermenting liquor. It was both fearful and delightful. She was all a-flutter. This was a daring thing that she was doing-th
pricking shivers up and dow
esidence hotel. He sighted the De Peyster carriage, and paused. Mrs. De Peyster's heart s
y bowed, and the carri
covery. None. Almost every one she knew was out of town; she herself was known to be upon the high seas bound for Europe; Matilda's gown and veil were a most unsuspicious disguise; and William, her paragon of a William, so rigidl
al Park. In itself the surprise was the most trifling of events-so slight a matter as a person tw
her to be Matilda, and that the smile was no more than the friendly courtesy that would naturally pass between two fellow-servants. Her indignation subs
other unpeopled stretch of the drive. Again William's ve
da," he remarked i
ter now realized that she had been guilty of a lack of forethought. It had not occurred to her, in working out this plan of hers, that her frigidly proper William could entertain a friendliness
all to escape from Will
er voice behind her hand and veil, and withdra
riage turned again into Washington Square and dr
n a smothered imitation of Matilda
are that William had deserted his horses and was stepping in just behind her. As though it were a
little gasping cry, and
er. "Nobody can see us in here." And he patted
lliam. To do so would reveal her identity. And horrified as she was, she realized that there
Matilda!" He heaved a love-laden sigh. "We've had it mighty hard, haven't we, with only being able to steal a minute wi
yster rema
for you, dear?" Willi
," very
iss Gardner; and wouldn't she have done the same to us, if she'd found us out? To think, dear, that but for her attitude you and me might have been married and happy! I know you are devoted to her, and wouldn't leav
. But she choked it down. William, launched upon the placid sea of his elder
d left just us two here, Matilda dear, we'll have a lot of nice little times together." And urge
ater could be choked no l
ling; and her right hand, striking wildly
w back
matter?" h
d frantically for the k
o take that!" he declared i
!" she
hfully, but with
t I'm not a man that forgive
nd closed it quickly behind her. Gasping, shivering, she groped in the dusky hall until she found a
fulminate. She would discharge William! She would s
shot through her. She co
Atlantic highroad, speeding for Europe, and would not be home for many a month! And during all
ities-for hardly a minute had passed since she had entered-when she heard a key slide into the lock of the front
softly called a voice, and the
denly a new turn. For the voice w
she breat
about Mrs. De Pe
said he, in teasing reproof. "U'm, I saw those te
ter stood a
he got on to this! But I'll never tell on you, Matilda
like Matilda's voice, the difference was unconsciously
you come her
I've got a key to the inside door, but none to the door in the boarding; and as I knew there was nobody in the house I could rouse u
f Jack's explanation that drumm
iced that another shadowy figure had dra
ck's prompt an
that-that M
e. She's Mary
not-not
down close to Mrs. De Peyster's ear. "Don't let Mary know how mother objected to her; I have n't told her, and she doesn't guess it. And oh, Matilda," he bubble
Mary," he called soft
re threw its arms about Mrs. D
voice. "Jack has told me how good you have been to him ever since
're married!" mumb
lda's than it was. "Yes!" he cried. "And wouldn't it surprise mother if she knew! Mother, sailing so unsuspiciously alo
yster did
ng so quietly." Then he added jocosely: "If you tell, there's a thing I might tell her abou
hispered Mrs
s something else that would surpr
organ, in her soft contralto voice, that seemed to efferve
hundred out of my allowance. Monday I'm going to enter the School of Mines at Columbia-am going to study straight through the summer-night and day till the
live close!" exclaimed Mary joyously, as though liv
o live close!" emphasized J
peated Mrs. De Peyste
mpty except for you, Matilda, why pay rent?' So here we are, and here we're going to live all summer-on the 'q t,' of course." He slipped an arm about