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Show Sally prue has guests m -home "Mr. Montgomery sends kind regards to you." she tolil me, presently. I looked vague. "Mr. Ernest Montgomery,"' she explained. "Oil, the Little Minister!" I cried, enlightened, very much enlightened it sight of the curious expression r.n her face. I noticed, for the first tlnio. .1 solitaire upon her left band. I said 110 more nt the moment. Hut it nil came out later. She nnd the Little Minister Min-ister were to he married In .six months. Of course. It was n dead secret. As far ns I could see, there was no reason for such delay, except that It was customary custom-ary to he engaged that long. Besides, she must have her trousseau. "Fiddlesticks!" I thought, marvelling nt her serene face and that sublime Ignorance of hers of how jealous the gods can he of a liitle human happiness Then I admonished myself severely. "It's just that you, Sally True, have a chronic cast! mcmheivd. had lost for mo that sweet familiarity that clothes the things of everyday Interest. I had grown away from it nil, and apart from them. They did uot really comprehend my life. Mother was proud of what I had -iccompllshcd In my work. Hut she understood Maud's wanting to marry the Little MlnKter. And hecausc she did understand, un-derstand, Ihey could talk together uhout It. She could not discuss my work with me. She did not even understand un-derstand the spirit that prompted me to undertake It. A day or ho he fore they rcre to rot urn a very thin letter. In the familiar hiind. came for Maud, and her face was n study at sight of Its proportions. I'.ut Joy wits soon to follow. The Little Minister was coming to New York that very day! And now .1 telegram announced his arrival, and Jusr at this moment the telephone rang and the Little Minister himself desired to speak to Miss Maud. The upshot was that we were to go out that evening with "Oh, nonsense! What am I thinking nhont. any way? They are In lore and they will marry nud live content and there's an end to it." "Ah. well! We are not nil alike," I thought, and then added wickedly, "Tbank God!" "We've been having a good deal of trouble with the choir since you left. Miss Maud." the Little Mln-'ster Mln-'ster was saying. He called her Miss Maud. Forthwith there ensued an animated discussion of ih church choir (taken Jndlvldtm'jy nnd collectively) and the merits of such service ns they rendered tin church by lending their voices or withholding them. "I suppose J )ot js a great big girl now," I remarked nt length I). it was the youngest of our family. "Why, she Is as tall as you are," Maud Informed me. "she Is nearly seventeen." "Dot had n dreadful -"'old when we left. Is she quite well of JtV" Mother appealed to the HI tie Minister. lie sceni"il strangely confused.. "I think Miss Dorothy s well. That Is, I buvco't teen her In nearly n week now." life tMK NfJ WWi I Took Mother's Sweet. Old-Fashioned Face Between My Two Hands and Looked Deep Into Her Eyes "I'm not going to try," I returned, grimly. "I am going to teach her to manage herself" "Oh! Mumsle." 1 pleaded. "Can't you see can't you understand? The trulnlng time is over for DoX She has to go her own way uow nnd make her ow mistakes If she must. That time comes to home natures sooner thau to others, that'.s all This rebellion re-bellion of Iot's Is the fame spirit that made my brother run away nnd go West. It Is the same spirit that made me come here to New York to fight my own light. We were born with the hunger for freedom free-dom In our souls. The strenru of our Mves D wild and swift moving. Yon can't, you must not. dam it up. or else all that would flow clear and strong and lenntlful in th sunlight will !nrn mu'ddy and stagnant stag-nant and evil You must not, don't yon see" I stopped short at sight of lhr kok of utter bewilderment bewilder-ment upon mother's face. I kissed her. "Ion't you worry, Mumsle, darling. It will all come out right." I telephoned for a messenger Ixvy and wrote out a wire to "Ilss Dot with a bait of mystery therein. I knew that cnrloslty would keep her out of mischief until T arrived. Then I set about preparing for the little Journey, "Sally, honey, are you snre that you can leave your store?" Mother was vaguely fearful. "Oh! I'll manage that all right. Miss Maynnrd, who used to own Jt, is in town. She will tak5 charge for me. I know. T won't be away long, and Just t7 hlnk I will sec father! Why, I'm quite excited ovej going." Mand telephoned that she nnd the Little Minister would dine dwn town, I was relieved. The Chat with Mother. After the small steamer trunk had been parked mother and I snt talking together, and after a short si ion op- she glanced nt me shyly, and then, as if mustering her courage, asked abruptly: "Are you happy, Sally?" - I stared In surprise. "I mean," she explained hurriedly, "are you happy living here like this, with no real home life, you . know?" I thought seriously upon her words. "I am satisfied." I said at last. "Hut are you happy, Sally, child? Wouldn't you bt happier if you were married and with your own home ami your husband and (a delicate pink crept Into mother's cheeks) your children, my dear." "I wonder," I mused, smilingly. "I am sure yon would." "Somehow I have never felt free to marry." I rpoko. thoughtfully. Mother gazed at me wide eyed. "Why, Sally! What on earth do yon moan?" "Oh. well, there have been other things that I felt I should do. I wanted to succeed In my work." "Yes, I know, dear," and mother sighed. "But I do believe that you would be happier If you were married, mar-ried, wouldn't you?" I took mother's sweet, old fashioned fare between my two hands and looked deep into her eyes. ".Vow, I have often wondered about it myself." I said. "That's Just the question would 1?" Maud's laugh, light nnd of unthinking Joy, answered liko an echo in the hall outside. I -aler. when the Little Minister had gone and mother and Maud were asleep, I could not persuade myself to retire, but moved about, tormented by a desperate restlessness. The walls of the room seemed to close In ami stltle me. I had n feverl.sh Ion gins to be out In the night out under the quiet stars. I slipped away and went up on the roof of the house. There it was peaceful and calm. The adjoining adjoin-ing roofs looked stilly solemn. I walkesl over to the front parapet nnd looked down. "Iaremont upon th green bvlow with iis glimmering lights. Its kaleidoscopic colors of life, seemed but a bubble blow of vanity. 1 turned from It restlessly. It was not this that I sought. Mother's questioning had started the old fever of restlessnes-s that had occurred so mercilessly of latp. What wus the use of It ail? To wbU end nnd purpose pur-pose my petty success? There was Maud utterly content in her serene love. There was Pot hi the stormy Joy of her first love. UutQvherc was my share of this precious heritage? heri-tage? It was not only ltecausc of the work and my d-sire d-sire to succeed that I had not felt free to marry. It was because of the burning memory of a face whose features I could not wholly recall. A memory of the touch of strange white handa that held me chained. A mau who had known me but a few short hours, vet who had, by the force of his will, set hia seal upon my secret soul lest I forget in his absence. The Man from Mouqaln's, I called him. knowing no other name. He had pone away two years before, to India, and I had never seen him since. I looked to where the river flowed darkly and mysteriously mys-teriously on to the sea, the great wide sea where th wild winds blew, and swept on to distant lands a far. even, as India, maybe, and returned again. The sound of an elevated train went crashing through the night I turned, facing the east, where the stars hung luminous and low. "These very same stars shine In India, too, 1 said. "The very same stars, Little kWIse One!" a low voice replied. I was breathlessly still, like a wild thing startled. Then 1 turned my head slowly, fearfully. There beside be-side me was the Man from Mouquin's. "You!" I breathed. ('In I be flesh. Touch me and see." It was the old mocking voice. But I clung to the parapet, seized with a nervous trembling. My teeth fairly chattered. I bit my lira to keep them still. "You have been away a long time," I said nt last. Yes," he agreed, gravely, "It has been two loug years." Saddenlv I realized the strangeness of the situation situa-tion "How did you come here on this roof?" I asketL "By the aid of two very faithful servants my li-lpleced out with a plank," he replied, comfortably comfort-ably leaning against the low wall. He drew forth bis cigarette case. "Will you permit me?" He -struck a light, shielding It in the cup of bit hands, then flicked the match over the wall. I watched every movement with fascinated gaze. "You see," he explained, "my apartment is in th next house. But 1 have rather been spoiled for such close quarters. I contracted the roof habit iu th Orient. And you" titers refill IP I Cot My Arms Around Her I Nearly Loved Her to Death BY ELISE WILLIAMSON. rCViryrlirht. 1910. tr tbo Now VirU llr.M All rl.M. rfwnfd.) " R " HE ferryboat made a landing and I hurried I to the gateway to be. 011 hand when the train 1 came in. It was due just in half an hour. I Q walked up and down lestlessiy. I bought a magazine, but I could not rend I walked again. 1 iisceri. lined tliif-e times the number of the track that the o:Co train fioin Washington was to come In uu, ami then I frantically searched the crowds from other trains lu the wild fear that the 0:0 from Washington had come lu on I he wrong track. At last the train came in. I wanted to laugh nnd cry at the same time. My eyes devoured the crowd. An endless stream of people passed, but still no familiar face. Oh, it was maddening to he shut out like this! Could it be possible Aud then 1 suw mother fluttering along liko a little bewildered bird. I caught my breath iu a quick sob, the tears streamed down my fate and I did not caro at all, aud when I got my arms around her 1 nearly loved her to death, and then I had to put her down gently and settle the cent little bonnet that 1 had knocked all awry, and then I became conscious of n calm JnncJIko creature, yards taller thau I, whom I discovered to be my little elster Oh! but I was happy a hundred birds were singing sing-ing In my heart. And pray, would not you have been happy If you had been sharing a charming little npartmeni on ltiverslde with a friend whom the dally newspapers declared was the cleverest young actress on the American stage, and If this same friend was now In Philadelphia, for a three weeks' engagement so that there was a vacant bed In tho tiny apartment which was to be occupied that very ulght by two beloved guests? One of these guests a younger sister and the other your own precious mother whom you had not seen in five long, homesick home-sick years (you have not known how bomeskk until that very minute) nnd you a successful young business busi-ness woman, a real money making success, the proud possessor of one of the most exclusive shirt vilst loops in New York city, and with the means to make their visit n pleasurable one? Wouldn't you have had birds singing In your henrt? I Just guess pes. We rode across the ferry and theu I piled them tnto a taxieab and told the chauffeur lo drive up Fifth avenue and then through the park to ltiverslde. I wantod them to see only what was beautiful of the rlty's life. I was terribly excited and so happy I could not think. I chattered like a magpie. But my one time little sister, Maud, was as calm ns an evening in June. Everything was a matter of course to lu'r. Northing surprised her. She did observe that there were an iwful lot of automobiles, but then there were a rood mnDy in Fayettcsville now. So many of her friends had them. Mother wns too busy keeping her seat to observe nuythlng, and when we whizzed past a car, escaping It by four inches, she turned quite pale and closed her lips tightly. I ordered the chauffeur to go more slowly, so that we might enjoy the park. When we reached the Evelyn Court Apartments mother's eyes grew round, but she made no comment. We went up Iu the lift and I ushered them Into our apartment with great show of pride. Maud appeared quite largo In -the tiny room, but mother fitted in nicely "The rooms look awfully small to you, don't they?" I smiled. "Well. yes. they do, rather," mother admitted shyly, "but then Northern i?ople nro so different from us. Of course at home in n houso ns large as this we would hive big rooms" I found the hatpin heads nud relieved her of her bonnet. "Well, some of the apartments in this house have larger rooms," I confessed, "but if all the rooms were hirg-) they could not have seventy families under one roof and there would not be space enough to luck every one away." "Mercy! Sally, there are not seventy families in this house?" mother gasped "Why, where do all the children play?" I leaned over her shoulder nnd put my cheek close to hers. "There isn't any real place for little children in New York. This 1 n grown up town, mumsle deer. Besides, they don't blossom much on Riverside." Aud mother sighed softly. Just then the mail was slipped uncr the door. There was ono letter, a large, fat one thut bore a vaguely familiar handwriting. I was about to open ' It when I discovered that Jt was addressed to "Miss Maud True." Tho postmark was Kycttesvllle. The Word from Home. Maud's fair face flushed slightly as she took It from me. "He did not loae any time," I said, tenslngly. But I I had no idea from whom it had come. She opened her letter. f "Just to think of little old Pot being Miss Dorothy." I mused. "It wns an awful sh'ck o spp Maud so tall. I suppose 1 thought that mother was bringing her up under the sofa. But It does seem trunge." The Little Minister asked me how 1 liked living in New York, but he did not seem desperately iuteresled In hether I did like it or not. The meal wore on to a close. 1 told the Little Minister that It was permissible for him to smoke If uiiKher did not mind. But U appeared he hud given up smoking because Maud disapproved of it When we were at home, since mother did not suggest sug-gest leaving them alone together, we all sat stiffly around until tin discreet hour of eleven, when the LlWle Minister departed. Dot and Her Flame. Ue and Maud went out together the next morning. 1 came home lu the early afternoon, to And inothir uloue tfud jn tears. 1 went to her quickly and put my arms about her. She held a letter out to me. "It's from Dot," she sobbed. "Uh, Sally, she has been giving so much trouble. She is so rebellious of restraint. She thinks that she is lu love with Martin Warren. You know old Judge Warren's son, a perfect per-fect baby, and just as wild as he can he. He plays cards until twelve and one o'clock at ulght over Alexson's drug store nnd Dot meets him In the afternoon after-noon and goes driving against her father's strict orders. or-ders. She stayed out one ulght until half-past eight . o'clock, and it wns not even moonlight, and all tb neighbors saw her. I don't know what we are golug to do with her, aud Just read that." I glanced at the letter. The tear stains were not all mother's and It vus wild aud Incoherent. It ran of New Yorkitls. which in plain, bold words means the desire to catch the first car." But speaking of trousseau " You are to come down to the shop in the morning and have your measures taken. I shall design yen the duintlest loves of things you ever saw aud give them UVou myself." The first ray of enthusiasm I bad seen crossed her face. "Oh, Sally, that would be perfectly lovely of you " So it was decided, and the next morning we went down together at ten o'clock. I felt like a bloated bondholder arriving at that hour. Mother was delighted de-lighted with the, shop. After they had examined everything she and Maud went lo look :i the other big shops. At noon we had luueheou together and then I put them on the subway for home nnd speut an awful hour of nnxhty. After ringing up four limes I was finally connected with the apartment. "Why, of course, Sally, we are safe!" It was Maud's cool, calm voice. "Thank God. anywaj !" I murmurotL nnd went back to my work. I took them often to luncheon and left them at a matinee In the nfternoon we drove In the Park or trolled along ltiverslde. Occasionally we went out at night. Once we were at the theatre. Between the acts I became conscious of a disturbance across the aisle and turned wonderlngly, to behold a mau from Fay-eltesrllle Fay-eltesrllle who was trying to attract our attention. The man's name wns Dudd. I remembered him.' lie had always livid there, and he owned a dairy on the edge of town. But one would have thought that v were his sisters, long lost In the desert nnd but Just found. "Hello. Miss Maud! Howdy, Miss Sally? Howdy, Mrs. Pruc? Yawl are bavin" tr line time now, ain't yer. This here beats Fnjettesvllle!" lie called across n row of six heads that turned simultaneously to grin at" Miss Maud. Miss Sally and Mrs. Prue. Mother's face burned nt being made so conspicuous "It's that: foolish Alex ludd." whispered Maud, highly vexed. But I could not help but laugh. It was so absurd As the days went by 'Maud learned her way t;buijt wilh remarkable ease. She used to shop alone, because be-cause the noLso and confusion tired mother, and that blessed little busybody found twenty-two pairs of stockings that 1 had cast away, and darned them per fectly. , She declared she was enjoying herself hugely, bin I fear that she missed father sadly, und the olhir children ami I'ayettesville. For that was where her mind and heart truly were. I realized this more and more as I listened lo Maud and her discussing people and things that were Strang to me. or thai, if re the Little Minister, who would be up in the very shortest space of time. Now, all the sights of New York had not excited Miss Maud like these brec messages. She dressed with exceeding care nud was well worth the trouble bestowed. She had seemed to me too cold for beauty, but now the light iu her face was like sunlight on the snow and she was beautiful. The Little Minister. "She loves him." 1 thoughl, and recalled him ns I had seen him last, distressingly slight, with pale hair that was too thlu. lie wore glasses and was stooped, and he" had thought then that he loved me. which he did not. of course, aud was doubtless devoutly thunk-fu! thunk-fu! for his escape. And so too was I, nud more so after Lie hud arrived. He appeared just exactly as he had five years before. be-fore. 1 thought him nice. Just as I had then, und when he sMik was vaguely disappointed in the quality of his voice, as I had beeu then, and nil nt once I realized that It wasn't my funeral anyway, nnd In all prob-blllty prob-blllty he would make a perfectly agreeable brother-in-law, since we should dwell several thousand miles apart. We went across to Claremont to dine. Clareruout is always a delight to me. Lesplte the very modern waiters, bearing steaming delicacies, aromatic thiugs mysteriously hidden under silver covers; despite the individual tables set upon the enclosed veranda; despite de-spite tho very modern hats that arrive In very modern mod-ern motors, there Is nbout the place an air of the long ago. There nrc no lighted apartments across the way, and no scattered lights on the Jersey shore, only the deep, sileut, swift flowing river, and the night. But here in the rose garden, to the light, the flowers open sleepily wondering eyes nt the sudden flare of 1 he flambeau's light, mistaking Jt for the sun. There is the half suspected rhythm of lightly dancing fit to n mylody thut drifts upon the uir and falters; for now 1 he iery modern waiter presents the mysterious dLsh arid lifts the slh cr cover for mine host's careless lu-sped lu-sped ion. Most careless if the host chances to W newly betrothed. be-trothed. Many admiring eyes were cast Um.u Maud's classic face. Bui she saw only the Little Minister and whenever when-ever he spoke her face flushed delicately like n lily with the dawn light faint upou it. And jet 1 could not feel a deep sympathy for theii loe a ft nil. "It is just because circumstances have thrown them together." I thought, "lie c.uld have loved some other girl und she could have loved some olhef inuii just as much if he had been culled to anothej town. There is nothing real and deep aud big about it." He broke off suddenly, Do you often come hen alone?" "No, oh, no! I came to-night because 1 I don't know why I came. 1 was so terribly restless." "Oh, I say! I have been n beast to annoy you sf lately, but it was the only way 1 had of finding you I had no name, and you had left the boarding house. Tin-re was nothing for It but to send jou a wire every ulght." "Send rac a wire?" I cried In amazement "Where to?" "Just to you," he said, smilingly. "Mental wire. It Is the Yogi way. I have never known it to fail; but 1 did uot expect to find you here." He laughed sjftly. "1 hought Jf was Just another dream, like 1 used 10 have on the sea, when I saw you standing there, in the starlight." I trembled with sudden nappincss. He put out his hand suddenly and took mlue. "Oh, please!" 1 pleaded. "1 cannot stay here I'm going away away from New York, I mean tomorrow." to-morrow." He was silent for a moment. "It will uot be for long," he said. "You will come back soon." Then he rejeased my hand, threw away hLs cigarette and stood up straight and tall. "It might be well for you lo know my name. It Is Sigunl Sigiuiindson." "My name is Sally Prue." "Sally Prue," he repeatr-d. "Now, that's a queer little name. 1 am afraid I could never bring myself lo call you Sally," I laughed and moved toward the little door that led below. "Co-mI night. Little Wise One!" "Good night, Sigurd Slgmuudson," I said. I something like this: "Oh! mother darling, I know you will hear It nnd (hate me. but I can't help It. 1 tried to run away aud r marry Martin nnd father found It out and stopped me, and everybody's talking ubout it and I don't care. I love him better than all the world and I am going to marry him in spite of futher ami overybody else. Nobody understands. It's all very well to sny, 'Wall, wait, wall.' Yes. and in three years he might bo dead and I might. I want to be happy now while 1 in young. Can't you understand, mother, how I love him?" 1 had read enough. Swift across the distance came the call tif kind to kin. Tho rail that Is of the spirit and Js heard only by hearts' that are attuned to It. That cry had gone forth to mother, but it was my heart that answered. Because 1 understood; I understood! under-stood! A sweet exaltation lifted me. I had found something that was of my same blood nnd mine. Some ono who could feel the things tnut I felt aud could know and understand My own little sister, who was there struggling and fighting dehporately for tho right to live her owu life; tlw right to grow und develop. They had never trained her to think for herself, never reasoned wlih her. but only just said, "you shall" nud "you shall not," and now this wns the Inevitable In-evitable outcome for such n nature as hers rebellion, and Its attendant misery. Uh! how well I did understand. under-stand. I rose suddenly to my feel. "1 am going home tomorrow with you nnd Maud and bring Dot bark with mc. It is the only way." Mother looked start lid. "Oh, Sally, could you manage her, do you think?" |