1898.]
Their ring was answered by a servant who, on learning their
errand, hastened away and in a moment returned with the mis
tress, an invalid lady of about fifty. Miss Kingsley gave her
name and soon explained the matter. She then introduced " Mr.
Stratton," who bowed politely. Miss Kingsley now asked if they
could secure a carriage and driver to take them to the hotel that
night. Their hostess, who had by this time ushered them into a
cosy sitting room, told them that her son would soon be home and
that he would drive them over.
Happily for them the eyes of their hostess were weak, thereby
necessitating a very dim light, so that thus far she had no cause
for any unbelief in " Mr. Stratton."
They had not been rested long before a step was heard in the
hall and an instant later a young man stood in the doorway.
" Miss Kingsley, this is my son, John," said the matron. The
old lady had forgotten that everyone was not so well acquainted
With her son as she, and Miss Kingsley was tempted to call him
" Mr. John," but she merely bowed.
• When " Mr. Stratton " was presented John stepped forward
and offered his hand, saying, " My other name is Winters."
" John Winters! •Is it possible?" she exclaimed to herself. The
dim light, his hunting suit, and above all the fact that she did not
suspect him of being within several hundred miles of the Adiron
dacks, had prevented her from recognizing his athletic form when
he entered the room. But now the astonishment at meeting him
here and the unaccountably strange fluttering of her heart which
his sudden advent had produced, almost took her senses.
Her first thought was of her costume. What would Jack say
to see her in bloomers, those bloomers which she had ordered just
on account of his emphatic condemnation of them. Heaven grant
that he will not recognize me! But this was an empty hope.
As he grasped her small, soft hand, he gave a sudden start and
bent upon her a quick, searching glance.
" Helen Stratton!" he exclaimed, not loosening his grasp. She
blushed scarlet and dropped her eyes. Then looking up meekly,
She faltered:
" Yes, I am Helen Stratton."
Then Jack, turning, said, '
Stratton, from Blake Seminary."
" Miss Stratton!" she exclaimed, eyeing her critically from
head to foot; " that's Mr. Stratton."
A Cycling Episode
" Mother, this is my frielid, Miss