per. "What is it, what does it mean?" demanded Peggy, as a

y, as she started off to capture the flying paper, that, eluding her, blew hither and thither in a tantalizi

mine," shrieked Agn

nearer to him, wh

't give it to her,

d back Will, with a swift,

d it until-until I see y

s certainly something more serious than c

him, reaching up her hand and crying

rust the paper into hi

I don't think it would be safe now. There's so much

nt look at Tilly; "and you may keep it for me until later in the evening,

suddenly struck up t

" cried Agnes,

smiling; "and if you'll excuse me," lifting hi

-later, when he would hand her her property, that collection of "facts," and by that time he would have read these "facts." She wouldn't need to risk any words

others in the house also shows that the accident of the moment an

nxiety increased after she had heard those

-that dreadful name of Smithson; for, "What is it all about, that bit of paper?" she asked Till

-don't, that's a dear; I

say another thing about it, and we won't think about it-" And then and there "

t us get into the dancing-hall as soon as possible. Where's au

side by side in the dancing-hall, watching the two

st lovely!"

!" echo

ach other! our ste

they both laughed, and a little sile

h Tom Raymond," suddenly e

" said Peggy. "'Music has charms to soothe the savage breast,' somebody has written, you

ld not cease to wonder what it was she was talking about so earnestly with Tom Raymond,-to

e wonder and worry, lifting up a radiant face of enjoyment as she floated along to the music

or the next dance. I'll ask

r two chaperones when Tom came up, an

or the next dance,

," for it brought back to her his strange expression at the first sight of Peggy, and his questi

ot of embarrassment. Oh, oh! what could it all mean but that he had known everything from the first? "And I fancied at the first he acted as he did because he thought she wasn't quite fine enough; and all the time he knew she was th

Tilly!" and there was Will beckoning to her. "What shall I do with that paper?" he whispered, a

im upon the piazza. "Come around here where nobody can see or overhear

t read it?"

little huffily. "You asked me

"You are a gentleman!"

pe so," Wil

sed he was. Oh, he's just splendid! and if you-" But here-I'm half ashamed to record it of my plucky little

n't, now! Oh, I say!" cried

ort; but tears continued to flow, and she fum

her hand; "and don't you bother another bit about Agnes and her tantr

k you,-she'll tell you. Yes, read it, read it, Will.

drew the bit of pap

there was an entire lack of comprehension; at the second reading a look of s

fling this bombshell str

bout her and her innocence and ignorance of real facts. This estimate of Master Will's sympathy was not a mistaken one. He not only

has he done to make you think so much

came round the clump of sheltering bushes accompanied by Peggy. And "We've been looking for you everywhere," said P

I gave you to keep for me," a very different voice-a high, shar

ted, and t

Tilly, she sha'n't hav

ch insults. It was all nonsense,-all that stuff about being prosecuted for showing up facts. She would be stopped by that foolishness no longer. She would first take her stand boldly, and let everybody know w

,-the paper I gave

, and answered very coolly

mean? Have

can't give

you re

I don't give it to you. I

n," cried Agnes, shrilly. "Miss S

d we know how sweet and innocent you are. Oh, Peggy, come, come, and don't listen to her!" burs

as not to b

t do you mean, Tilly, dear, by 'innocent'? What has she," g

eggy, don't!"

jeeringly. "Nobody has been getting u

alling me Miss Smithso

ly. "How long since did

r changed it

' is down on the hotel register