IT was In the summer time that Bradley Hudson decided that he loved Trixle Twining. To be exact, It was In a rowboat at Bar Harbor. He lay back against the cushions ■nd regarded with admiration the graceful attitudes of her lithe figure and began to build castles In Spain wherein Beatrice Twining formed a most charming mistress. That he did not more than hint his love was due to his Indolence. Billy Twining used to say that the only thing that kept Bradley from being a tramp was the money his father had left him. | His llstlessness was proverbial, I and the summer season came to an end without his having put his love Into words. He had fully meant to do so, but the days passed by so l'apldly and tomorrow always came. Tomorrow would be time, he ar gued, anu So, when the Twinlngs took their departure the momentous question was still unasked. Bradley comfortably argued that they would eee each other in the season in town. Mrs. Marchmopt's conservatory, between the dances, was an ideal place for proposals. He shrugged his Bhoulders half regretfully and went off on Ned Champne.v's yacht. They had intended only a short cruise, but the crowd was more than ordinarily congenial, and it was six *ve«ks before the cruise ended. When Bradley went up to town he stopped at a florist's and ordered some flowers eent to Miss Twining. That night Billy met him in the club. "The cook says she's much obliged for those flowers," he laughed. "I didn't send any flowers to your cook," frowned Hudson. "I sent them to your sister." "And the cook got them," ex plained Billy. "You see, the mater and els shut up the house and went to England. The cook got married and ehe Is spending her honeymoon as the caretaker of the house. Dad and I sleep there, but ,ve live around, mostly. When the flowers came the cook corralled them. She said shp •was going to the theater tonight, and It was very nice to have them." For a moment he was minded to run across and test his fate before the peerage had its chance, but an auto party through New Hampshire put an end to that plan, and it was not until the end of November that he was moved to action. It was the first time he had ever had a marked impulse, and that night he sat down and wrote her a ###### A WRONG IMPRESSION /r sy OME along, Emily, we prom- I ised to go over early and help Kate fix the tables for the club meeting this aft ernoon, and you know how she al ways leaves everything for the last minute." I 11 be down in a jiffy. Flora, but such luck as I am having. One side of my hair is as straight as a poker and the other I have burned off with the curling irons. This talk about 1,8 being a woman's duty to make herself as beautiful as possible does n't go In the summer time." Emily appeared in a few minutes, adding the finishing touches to her toilet. "You see this skirt? Well, it does n't meet by four inches. I have been taking that obesity cure for the past month and I'll wager I've gained a pound a day—that's why I've tied this pink ribbon around my 05-inch waistline. But what do I care for that crowd? Come, let's hurry along." They hurried down the dusty country road, and soon came to a lit tle cottage with rose bushes rambling over every shutter on the lower floor. They turned into the path 'hat led to the house, but no sign of life was seen or heard. "Looks more like a funeral to me than a party," remarked Emily. Where do you suppose Kate is?" They, rang the bell, rang It again, and still no answer. They looked at each other and then rang again a third time. "I'll go round to the back door," said Floro; "they must all be in the kitchen." And then in a few moments THERE are you going?" called Sackett If as Alma, looking par ticularly dainty in a most becoming dress, stepped out on (he piazza. "I'm going nutting," she said, with a dimpling smile as she indicated the tiny basket thnt swung on her arm. "Would you like to come?" "Not on any such fool's errand as that," said Leonard, loftily. "Don't you know that It is too early for nuts? They are no good until after the first frost." "There are different sorts of nuts," she reminded. Leonard ignored the mischievous twinkle in her eye. "Stuff and nonsense," he declared. "All nuts require frost in this lati tude. You nre simply wasting your time. Sit down here and have a chat Jlke an obliging child." "I'd rather go nutting," she de clared, with a saucy tilt to her chin. "It's lots more pleasant than sitting on the piazza and being lectured on natural history and other thrilling topics. ' "Hut you cun't. go nutting when titer* are no auta ripe," he reiterated IJ long letter. "I know that you don't think much of me," he confessed. "You think I'm an Idle and useless sort of chap, but If you will take me I'll brace up. I don't mean to be lary, but I've never had to hustle and' I've sort of gotten into the habit of taking things easy. Won't you say 'yes,' Trixle, and give me something to work for?" Then one night he came in to find a telegraph envelope on the hall ta ble. His eye caught the word "Cable gram." and he tore It open with trembling hands. "Will say yes,' " it ran. "At the Carleton as the clock strikes the new year." It was not signed. It needed no sig nature, but he flung into the library. He rang for a messenger and sent a cablegram to the effect that he was coming. Then he turned In and In his troubled sleep crossed and re crossed the ocean a hundred times. The next night he was in New York and his steamer ticket rested in his pocketbook. while a suspicious bulge in his vest pocket betrayed the ring. Off the banks they encountered a heavy fog, and the speed was slowed. Bradley watched for the day's run and scowled when It showed 100 miles less than the previous run. Still there was plenty of time, and they might make that up once they passed out of the foggy area. The next day's run was better, and that night, at the table, all spoke of the marvelous burst of speed that had made up the 100 and a little more. They were still around the table, laughing and joking, when there came a muffled roar that blanched every face. The stewards jumped to the heads' of their tables to prevent a panic if necessary, and one or two of the officers slipped quietly from their seats and vanished from the salon. Presently the captain stumped in. "There has been'an accident to the port propeller shaft," he said, quiet ly "There is absolutely no danger whatever, but we shall have to go ahead rather slowly until both screws are in commission again." The next few days were a torment. It was apparent that there was some delay in repairing the shaft, and finally the captain admitted that it had been found impossible to make repairs, though twice the ship had lain to for a couple of hours while the machinists sought to mend the break. Flora's voice could be heard calling: "Emily Emily, come on around —here she is." "O, girls," exclaimed Kate, "I'm so glad you came. I'm fussed to death. Mother's gone to the mission ary meeting, and the hired man cut his toe off last night and has not been able to do a single chore for me. Here, Flora, you take this duster and fix up the parlor, and Emily, turn up that dress of jours and get busy squeezing lemons for the punch. "Kate Price, you are the worst, girl I ever knew. Don't you know the girls will be here in a few minutes and you have not a thing ready?" With this, off came the pink sash ribbon. "What have you been doing all morning?" With this she loosen ed her collar. "Just supposing we hadn't come around." Up went the skirt and a big pin held it well above all danger. "O, Emily, you wouldn't be so mean. Like a good girl, go ahead and do what you can, and I'll run up stairs and dress. I'll be down in time to make the sandwiches." For a few moments no sound was heard in the house. Presently Emily appeared in the hall and called up to Kate. "Kate, I have finished the punch, but I cannot find any glasses. Tell me where they are and I'll set them on the table." "Mercy me—whatever shall I do?" responded Kate fron: upstairs. "I loaned them all last night for the minister's donation party and they have not sent them back. Please go ask Samuel if his toe is not well enough for him to step over and get them." "I'll do nothing of the kind, Kate irritably. "But there are ripe nuts," she re torted, teasingly. "I tell you there are none," he de clared, with positlveness. "You will have only your trouble for your LEONARD. pains. Don't be snch a little fool." "Thank you, sir, for your compli ment," she said, with an elaborate courtesy, "You grow more gallant every day." With an exclamation of anger, Leanord flung into the house and The days dragged on until It was New Year's eve, when the ship picked up land and exchanged the long pitch of the open sea for the choppy waters of the channel. Bradley had a chat with the cap tain and then sought out the wire less operator in his little cabin. An hour later as he paced the deck a steward approached him. • "It's all right, sir," he said, touch ing his cap. "The special will be waiting. They'll get you into Wa- TO BE EXACT, IT WAS IN A ROW BOAT AT BAR HARBOR. terloo at hurf arfter 11, sir. Thank you, sir." Bradley stamped around until the mud pilot came on board. Then he went down to his cabin and packed his satchel, arranging with his cabin steward to have his trunks shipped the following day. He was standing by the gangway as the ship warped into the docks. Bradley ran down the gangplank, through the customs' shed to where Price," said Emily, as she flounced back to the kitchen. "ICate—Kate," wailed Flora. "I've dusted the room and fixed the tables, but I can't find the cards—where are they?" "Brother Tom was going to get home on the 2 o'clock train and bring some new ones, but he hasn't come yet—O, dear, what shall I do?" Before Flora had time to express her inward feelings, the front, door bell rang. Each girl waited for the other to make the move, but no one cared to take the initiative. Flora and Emily met in the hall and gasped to hear Kate's voice calling out of the upper window. "Please ring again, I don't think the girls heard you." Flora dropped her apron and started for the door. She turned the catch, she pulled, she put her knee against it,and pulled some more. "O, Emily, do come help me. We simply must let them in." So together they pulled, then the girls on the outside began to help by putting their combined weight against it and pushing. All to no avail. "Kate Price, come down here this minute and let the girls In —we can't budge this door." Kate appeared as fresh as you please in a dainty white dress, and as she came down the stairs her face plainly showed a whole expression of contentment. "O, we had that door painted yes terday, and I suppose it has stuck fast." Her pretty brown head ap peared at the front window as she called: "You will have to come in the back way, girls. The door is stuck." Alma, still smiling, tripped off down the road. The smile played about her lips, but the lips quivered a little at times. She was very fond of Leonard, but his positive ways sometimes made her afraid that their married life might not be as pleasant as she hoped. > More than once nhe had been on the point of returning his ring and telhng him that she dared not trust her happiness in his hands, but al ways her love triumphed over her fears and she bore meekly his domi neering manner. Left to himself Leonard soon re turned to the piazza to reflect upon feminine foolishness. I; was absurd, he told himself, to go looking for nutg so early. It would have been much more pleasant to sit on the piazza and perhapa Mrs. Shelly would have brought out some lemon ade and cake, aa she so often did. But It was lonesome work, enter taining himself with thoughta that were far from cheerful, and at last, with a gesture of dlaguat, he caught up hla hat and atarted off. He knew about where Alma would | go. He would go after her. In an the only train stood waiting. The cars always suggested toys to Bradley, but there was nothing child ish about the speed, and as they passed the town and gained headway he settled himself back in the seat and lit- a cigar. He would a little more than make It. But a fresh disappointment await ed him. As they ran into the sta tion but one shabb hansom was in sight. There was an excursion just In, explained the porter. "There aren't many cabies about anyhow this time of night. They're hanging about the theaters tryin' to get a fare. There'll be a lot here presently, though. There's a boat train comin' up from Southampton." "If you think that that relic can live as far as the Carlelon, I'll try him," said Bradley. "Call him oVer." The porter blew two blasts on his whistle and the cab rattled over. "Carleton, double quick," called They all turned and came around to the back door, where Kate let them in with the air of a well trained hostess. "Just look at my dress, all green paint—l won't have a thing to wear to the hop." Dear me, this organdie is ruined—lt won't wash," were just a few of the greetings she received. Kate rose supreme, however, to all such trifles, and che had soon man aged to pacify all of the girls, and they were seated around the tables, when the bell rang again. Out the window went Kate's head, and the minister's voice was heard to say: "My dear Miss Price, I've run over with the glasses that you sent last night, and Mrs. Perkins asks you, please, to accent these few goodies that were left over from the dona tion." A large, substantial-looking basket was handed in the window. "0, Mr. Perkins, do come in and meet the girls, and have some lemon ade. Will you climb in the window or come around the back way?" "I'm coming in, Miss Price, just long enough to preach a sermon to one of your party. I met Tom down the road sitting on a rail fence in a most dejected frame of mind, and, by the way, here is a package he gave me to deliver. Now a rail fence on a hot afternoon is no place for a young man to be sitting with a broken heart, and I propose to send Miss Emily down to tell him so." "He can sit there till the fence gives way," snapped Miss Emily. "I'm not going."' "O, yes, you are, Miss Emily. Tom told me all about it and it's quite your own fault. Sam did cut his toe. You are wholly to blame, so go tell ticipation, he was already enjoying the triumph of an "I told you so" when he should find her with an empty basket and a doleful face. Baker's woods was the best place for nuts. It was where they always went, but though he covered the beaten tracks and shouted until he was hoarse there was no Blgn of Alma. He went on to a woods further up the road and repeated his search, but with no more success and hot and tired and with the unpleasant reali zation that it was long after the noon dinner hour, he plodded back to the house. Alma sat on the plasca as cool and dainty as she had been In the morn ing. Leonard scowled as he came up the walk. The sight of the girl in her cool white gown, so markedly In contrast with his own hot and dusty feeling, was an added irritation. "Where have you been?" she asked as hs came up the steps. "I hurried back to have a little chat on the plasca before dinner and you had gone without a word to anyone." "I do not have to glre an account of myself," he paid, crossly. "If you want to know, I was looking for Bradley, as he stepped in. The cab man peered through the trap. "Club or hotel, sir?" he demanded. "Hotel, and hurry," cried Brad ley, and then the long lash whisked over the horse's flanks and they rat tled up the Incline., "I'll make It," he whispered to himself, "I have little leeway, but I'll get there." But the hoodoo hold. The horse lost its footing on the slippery pave ment and crashed to the ground. Bradley sprang out. while the cabby and some passersby sought, to get the horse to his feet. It only took a moment to show that his leg was broken, and thrust ing a coin in the driver's hand, Brad ley reached for his bag and looked about for another cab. This time he was more successfiul and it was five minutes of 12 as he rattled up to the lio'.el. The clerk eyed him askance as he him so before he succumbs to 'a sun stroke." It took the combined pleadings of Mr. Perkins and the club members, but after much persuasion, and even threats, Emily started for the rail fence that ran around the orchard. THEY WERE SEATED AROUND THE TABLE. She diplomatically approached from the rear. There, Tom sat, hunched up like a blackbird in the rain. "Tom," called a rather weak voice. "Emily, darling!" and with a bound he was at her side. "I'm sorry I didn't let you in last night, Tom, but you see I thought you stopped in to see Lucy Wright, and that made you late." i you." "Where did you go?" she asked. "Surely not to Baker's woods?" "That was where," he admitted. "I did not And you, so 1 went on to ALMA. the Oraham tract." "But there are no nuts there," she said, with a ripple of laughter, "You told me io yourself this very morn ing." entered the lobby and demanded that his card be sent up to Miss Twining. "Have you an engagement with her?" he demande'. "I have," said Bradley. "For 12 o'clock tonight. I came all the way from America to keep it." "It's a long ways, sir," said the clerk, blandly. "It doesn't matter how long a way it is," he scowled. "Send up that card, will you?" "In just a minute, sir," he prom ised. "You send that card right upstairs >or I'll come around there and punch your head off. Do you suppose I've taken all this trouble to be here on time to have you ..poll it all?" "Not in the least," argued the clerk, "This gentleman will take you up." | Bradley turned to face the tall commissionaire who had come up be hind him. "Do you know the number of the 1 room?" he demanded. , "Yes, sir. That's all right, sir," : was the prompt, response. "Just come with me, sir." i His guide pushed open a blaze door and passed into a corridor in i odd contrast to the elegance without. Bradley glanced about comprehen sively. "Going up in the servants' i lift?" he suggested. The comniissonaire's hand gripped i his arm. "The lady is stopping in an other hotel. I'm to take you to her," ] he said. "Nonsense," cried Bradley. "They i always stop here." "But we're full," said the guide, patiently. "We had to send them on i to another hotel." "What's your game?" demanded 1 Bradley, angrily. "Better come quietly," said the i commissionaire. "Here, Jim, catch his other arm." A husky porter sprang to his left side and gripped that arm. Bradley, ] thoroughly angry, struggled to free himself, but he was as a child in i their grasp and ths only result of his endeavor was to have n>e sleeve torn out of his overcoat and that gar ment ripped down the back. 1 . He was carried through the ser- ! i vants' entrance and bundled into a ! waiting cab. A policeman stood be side the door and when they had bundled him in, still fighting, fol- ' lowed and sat opposite him. »i "I wouldn't make a row, sir," he counseled. "It'll only go against you i in the morning." ' j "In the morning?" he echoed. "Do "No, dear. I told you the truth. Sam did cut his toe off and I had to go for the doctor." "I know it now," admitted Emily. "Mr. Perkins told me, and then, be sides, I've seen Sam." Then with a shy little glance she stole up to Tom and said: "I know where Mr. Perkins is now, Tom." "Emily, can it be? Will you really be mine today?" "Yes, Tom, today, if Mr. Perkins thinks I've attoned sufficiently for my sin." They found Mr. Perkins prying open the front door in order that the club members might at least make a "But that 1b where we always go nutting," he insisted. "Where did you go?" "To the village," she explained, as her smile deepened. "You see, Len, I was going to explain my little joke, but you got so positive that I could not go nutting until the frost came that 1 didn't remind you that we were going to have a taffy pull tonight, and I wanted some nuts for the peanut brittle. Peanuts are ripe before the frost." "And you let me go to all that trouble?" he demanded. "I asked you If you wanted to come," she reminded, "and you would not. How was I to know that you were going to change your mind? You are so positive about things that you are hateful sometimes, and I'm glad that your bad temper punished you. I wish you had walked clear into the next county. If you had not been go superior when I came out you would have known all about It. You deserved all you got." "I guess I did," he admitted, humbly, taken aback by her vehe mence. "See here, Alma, the next time I start in to know it all, Just say peanuts' at me. That will shut you mean that I am under arrest? Is it any crime to ask for a lativ stopping at a hotel?" Kather unusual, sir," suggested the officer. Bradley groaned. I U give five pounds to anvon« who will get word to MissTwl'nln* of my predicament," he ofTered. 1 he thrse men looked nervous, but. did not speak. But as they were taking him out of the cab in front °* the station the commissionaire whispered, "I'll take the message, "Tell her that Mr. Hudson—Brad ley Hudson—called," he said. "Ex plain what happened. She will un derstand." He managed to get the note out of his pocket and pass It to the man. Then he went quietly enough to a cell. For nearly two hours he paced ths narrow cell while the ribald songs and laughter of the holiday cele brants filled the place. Then Trixie came, and with her a dapper little fellow whom he did not know." "You poor boy," cried Trixie as she caught sight of his face through the bars. "They told me that th-i steamer was late and that the train would not be up until morning, so I never thought of sending wo-d to the desk." "So it seems," he smiled. "It was evident that I was not expected." "But it will be all right now,'* she promised. "Lord Kllton will vouch for you and you can come back with us." "But I'm too late," he said, as the little man bustled oft to confirm the identification. Trixie held her watch up to thr bars after she had fumbled wi