! . . . . Yes, I've just received a letter. . . . . What's that? . . . . No, mother hasn't been able to trace her silver at all yet. Isn't it terrible? . . . . Oh, well, she is b

nt. . . . . No, I won't tell you one thing more about it, except that everything is O. K. Will you come over to-night? . . . . What's that-you can't? Oh, Betty, you just have to. Oh, well, if that's all why

evening the door bell rang and Betty, after a last peep in the mirro

clock is just striking the hour-listen," and obediently he listened, his

have been wandering around for the past half hour trying to kil

Because I have been ready for only half a minute. Here's your hat, Allen," she added, taking it down from th

in your hand. Too well acquainted, in fact, for this is the second season we have been chums; and I see prospect of a third, if the law busin

o glum," she added, and the mischief bubbled

ngers over it. "The explanation for all this," she went on, making him a cur

going to the Billettes' or anywhere else! Here, hat, get back where you belong," and he f

perfectly wonderful news to tell us and all our girls and boys are going to be there to hear it. You wou

o them herself, radiantl

hought you would never get here. We h

ght," remarked Betty, as she started for the library from which came a confused murm

id Mollie, and Betty threw him a

she flung aside the portières and stood framed in

len had mistaken the date," said Frank.

he last remark. "I might be afflicted with loss of memory; but, Betty-never!" They all laugh

aid Roy, who was always impatient to get to the

led herself with an import

she began, when

What?" he ask

you are going to begin that," said M

f you interrupt again, we will get the boys to

one accord, and Will ret

ar from my aunt and uncle every day. They took rather a long time to make up their minds, but now everything is settled. They are really going to

?" inquired Betty, leaning forward eager

called Pine Island in Lake Tarracusio. They say it is a beautiful place,

e in?" Allen inquired. "There isn't room in

ly. "And if there were, do you think

ation," Allen answered defensively. "

u girls had better look out," he added threateningly. "Don't forget that I

she besought Will, with tears in her voice, to have pity. "Oh, kind and noble sir

beaming around on the assembled company. "If

"I know you have something good to tell us, and I w

u appreciate ho

o on," Grace

t," he continued without

t it," Allen fi

continued, dropping the air of dignity, which, considering his youthful appearance, was always very comical, "I thought maybe you fello

questions and answers that followed showed that they agreed heartil

do believe this is the very best of all," then her face clouded as she turn

p the eagerness out of her voice. "You said something about a c

way," he answered seriously. "It looks as if some of our wor

omehow, Allen," Frank broke in. "Why, h

n he continued: "But you can just better believe

ust one important thing we haven't decided yet, girls,

y turned to her in amazement. Amy was like that, she didn't talk much, but when she did, wha

aking a chocolate nut from a dish of candy that Mollie h

chum with awe. "I would never have thought of her in

is happily settled," said Roy, veering back to the po

ly decided they were to start a we

they were all reluctant to go. As Allen stood on the porch of the

will be able to g

y if I didn't?" he

of c

there," he said