T 
 
 
 . : ' ^
 
 Barbara Prcbton 
 
 A YOUNG SAVAGE. Crown 8 vo, $ 1.50. 
 FORTUNE'S BOATS. Crown 8vo, $1.50. 
 
 HOUGHTON, MIFFLIN & CO. 
 BOSTON AND NEW YORK.
 
 FORTUNE'S BOATS 
 
 BY 
 
 BARBARA YECHTON 
 
 Author of " We Ten, or The Story of the Hoses; " "A Lovable 
 
 Crank, or More Leaves from the Eases ;" "A Little 
 
 Turning Aside;" "A Young Savage," etc. 
 
 BOSTON AND NEW YORK 
 
 HOUGHTON, MIFFLIN AND COMPANY 
 
 (Cfce Ctifcers'i&c prcs?, <Cambrib0e 
 
 1900
 
 COPYRIGHT, 1900, BY LYDA FARRINGTON KRAUSB 
 ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
 
 TO 
 
 MY BELOVED 
 
 BROTHER AND SISTER 
 
 JOHN AND FANNY KRAUSE MORRISON
 
 " Fortune brings in some boats that are not steered" 
 
 Chance that chance the Eternal God did guide."
 
 CONTENTS 
 
 CHAP. PAG* 
 
 I. URSULA'S STORY 1 
 
 II. UNCLE GABE 22 
 
 III. ONLY JIM IVORS 33 
 
 IV. DRESS REHEARSAL . . . . . 53 
 V. THE NEW COUSIN 70 
 
 VI. LILIES OF THE FIELD AND OTHERS ... 86 
 
 VII. ON AND OFF . 107 
 
 VIII. AN ACQUISITION AND A Loss .... 126 
 
 IX. GIVING LESSONS 144 
 
 X. AND so IT CAME 165 
 
 XL JARED 190 
 
 XII. " IN THE DAY'S JOURNEY " .... 212 
 
 XIII. FRIEND URSULA 237 
 
 XIV. THE SWEETENER OF LIFE 267 
 
 XV. REVELATIONS 284 
 
 XVI. GREAT DAYS 321 
 
 XVII. UNCLE GABE'S PARISH . 343
 
 FORTUNE'S BOATS 
 
 CHAPTER I 
 
 URSULA'S STORY 
 
 URSULA JEFFREY ran gayly up the long flight 
 of stairs that led to the apartment where she lived, 
 at the top of the house. " Mother ! Girls ! Open 
 the door ! I have some news ! " she called, her 
 fresh young voice ringing out ahead of her. 
 
 " Sh ! my dear ! " some one said in mild re- 
 proof; and when Ursula, flushed and breathless, 
 reached, her own front door, she saw two men sit- 
 ting at the farther end of the hall, in the afternoon 
 sunshine which streamed through the small glass 
 skylight and made the " top floor " the most de- 
 sirable apartment in the house, despite the many 
 steps that had to be traversed to reach it. 
 
 One of the men smiled at Ursula : he was her 
 uncle Gabriel. His companion was a large heavy 
 man, shabbily dressed, and sitting awkwardly on 
 the edge of the chair which the Reverend Gabriel 
 Kincaid had brought out into the public hall for 
 his accommodation. He shot a sly hasty glance 
 at the bright-faced girl from under a pair of sullen 
 beetling brows.
 
 2 FORTUNE'S BOATS 
 
 Uncle Gabriel waved his fingers airily at his 
 niece. " Don't ring ; the latch is up. Go right 
 in," he told her, with a beaming smile. " Your 
 mother 's in there, and Margaret." 
 
 " Oh ho ! then Margaret has come. Jolly ! " 
 exclaimed Ursula, and opening the door she 
 stepped into the narrow dark passageway which, 
 though only about fifteen feet long, was yet proudly 
 designated in the advertisements as a " private 
 hall." Speeding through the short entry, guided 
 by the sound of singing, Ursula paused at the open 
 dining-room door and looked in. " Oh, here you 
 all are ! " she said in a tone of satisfaction. 
 
 The room was of a good size, running the width 
 of the house, and light, having two large windows. 
 Across the western window stood an old roomy 
 flat-topped desk, laden with books, papers, manu- 
 scripts, and writing material. In the south win- 
 dow sat Mrs. Jeffrey, a plump little woman with a 
 cheery placid face ; she was darning a much-worn 
 tablecloth. The four girls scattered about the 
 room were her daughters, of whom Margaret, aged 
 twenty-three, was the eldest, and eighteen-year- 
 old Frances the youngest. Between these two 
 came Ursula and the twins, Judith and Ruth. 
 
 On a low bench beside her mother sat hand- 
 some, hazel-eyed Margaret, her dark head bent 
 over the tablecloth, her shapely hands busy darn- 
 ing. The table was divested of its cover, and, 
 with a paper pattern spread before her. IJutli was 
 carefully cutting out a skirt. Judith lay at full 
 length on the shabby comfortable old lounge ; and
 
 URSULA'S STORY 3 
 
 though there was a strong buzz of conversation 
 going on, over by the window stood Frances, hold- 
 ing a dilapidated piece of music at arm's length 
 before her, and singing scales at the top of her 
 vigorous young voice. 
 
 Conversation and scales alike came to an abrupt 
 close at Ursula's appearance. 
 
 " Well ! if you are n't screeching ! " she has- 
 tened to inform Frances, with sisterly candor. " I 
 thought you always practiced in the sitting-room." 
 
 " I was trying to get up to high C," answered 
 the young person she addressed, not at all abashed. 
 " And I was n't going to be banished away off to 
 the sitting-room shut up there alone when 
 everybody else was here." 
 
 " She was afraid she 'd lose something, now 
 that Margaret has come," remarked Judith lazily. 
 " You know that, as a family, we delight in seeing, 
 hearing, and enjoying everything all together ! " 
 She made a languid, graceful sweep of her arms 
 as if drawing the whole family to her in one em- 
 brace. To be graceful was as natural to Judith 
 as to breathe ; as natural as the good " style " with 
 which she wore her clothes, and the fine poise of 
 her dark head. Though always making the most 
 of her inches, Judith was considerably below her 
 twin in height, and the contrast between them 
 was still farther marked by Ruth's finely moulded 
 figure, her masses of light hair touched with yel- 
 low, and the innocent dark gray eyes that ex- 
 pressed far more than their owner ever imagined 
 or felt. With this fine physique was united a sim-
 
 4 FORTUNE'S BOATS 
 
 plicity of thought and speech, a deliberation and 
 literalness very unlike Judith's clear mind, her 
 quick wit and sarcasm, her whimsical changeable- 
 ness, and the dignity on which she prided herself. 
 In the way of looks Ursula had long ago graded 
 the girls thus : " Margaret is the beauty of the 
 family always was, always will be bless her ! 
 Next comes Kufie " (the home name for Ruth) 
 " not far behind, but never knowing it. Taken on 
 your own merits, Judy separately you might 
 by a partial judge be declared pretty, but with 
 your two sisters by, for comparison, you may con- 
 sider yourself well treated if called good-looking. 
 Still, some compensations have been given you 
 don't ask me what they are ; you know well enough. 
 As for you, Frances, and myself, we have no de- 
 scription ; we are simply possessed of certain items 
 apiece two eyes, a nose (alas !), a mouth (again 
 alas !). But as these faces are all we '11 ever have, 
 we must e'en accept our lot and try to be cheerful 
 over it." 
 
 But family opinion is not always infallible. 
 Ursula's broad smooth forehead and delicately 
 marked eyebrows, her steady honest gaze and 
 kindly mouth, made her often very pleasant to look 
 at ; while the brown eyes, brilliant as Margaret's, 
 that lighted up Frances's piquant little brunette 
 face, and her heavy mane of wavy chestnut-colored 
 hair, were "items" by no means to be drspis.-d. 
 The sun was glinting into bright red the stray 
 short locks that stuck out so liberally around 
 Francie's head, as she stood in the west window
 
 URSULA'S STORY 5 
 
 this afternoon, holding her shabby music and look- 
 ing up at Ursula with a saucy smile. " Well, if 
 you must know, I did want to hear Margaret tell 
 about those Austins," she admitted, " and that 
 funny pompous butler, and " But no one was 
 paying the slightest attention to her; so, leaving 
 the sentence unfinished, Frances tossed aside her 
 music, and openly joined the group at the other 
 end of the room. 
 
 At the mention of Margaret's name Ursula had 
 rushed forward and embraced the big girl who 
 was sitting at her mother's feet. " You love of a 
 Mamie ! " she exclaimed rapturously. " This is 
 the jolliest surprise ! Going to stay to tea with us, 
 are n't you ? That 's beautiful ! Miss Austin is 
 an angel to have let you come. And you 're just 
 in time to hear my news." 
 
 Mrs. Jeffrey let the tablecloth fall into her lap, 
 and looked expectantly at the eager flushed face of 
 her second daughter, while the girls immediately 
 flocked close around Ursula, crying, " News ! news ! 
 Tell us at once, at once ! " 
 
 " I certainly will, if you people '11 only give me 
 space to breathe," protested Ursula, putting out 
 her arms to ward them off. 
 
 " Did n't I tell you close together ! " murmured 
 Judith pensively, regardless of the fact that she 
 had been one of the foremost in the little crowd. 
 " Ursa, I 've an idea ! " she went on, giving her 
 sister a sharp little pat on the shoulder to secure 
 attention, then standing off, head on one side, to 
 continue her remarks. " When you finish your
 
 6 FORTUNE'S BOATS 
 
 novel, that 's to bring you (and us, of course) fame 
 and fortune, and you start the carriage and pair 
 which would then be a necessity if we were rich we 
 certainly could n't do anything so vulgar as walk ! 
 would n't it be a fine idea to have the vehicle 
 circular in shape ? Then we could put mother in 
 the middle, and we five sit round her, when we 
 took an airing ; we 'd all be so close together and 
 4 comfy ' and satisfied. Don't you see ? Mother 'd 
 be the centre of attraction the great planet 
 and we girls her satellites; nobody would be 
 slighted or left out in the cold, as Jim would say, 
 and peace and happiness would be supreme in the 
 Jeffrey family. Now tell us your news, do ! " 
 finished Judith abruptly, impatiently. 
 
 " It 's about your work and it 's good news," 
 remarked Ruth in soft drawling accents, eyeing 
 Ursula speculatively. 
 
 "/know what 't is ! " suddenly declared Frances, 
 flourishing her long arms excitedly. " That big 
 black ogre of an editor in chief that you told us 
 about, Ursa, has in some mysterious way discov- 
 ered you're writing a novel that's going to be 
 famous set the world on fire ! and he has gone 
 down on his stiff old knees and fairly implored 
 you to let him have it as a serial (is n't that what 
 you call it?) for the paper, for the noble sum 
 of"- 
 
 " You 've just hit it exactly, Francie," agreed 
 Margaret. " Genius, like water, always finds its 
 level, and " 
 
 " Well, you 're both burning just a little, and if
 
 URSULA'S STORY 7 
 
 everybody is through guessing, I '11 tell you," 
 broke in Ursula, struggling with a wide smile of 
 amusement and satisfaction. 
 
 " We 're all ears ! " promptly declared Frances, 
 and each girl immediately fell into what she con- 
 sidered the most comfortable position for listen- 
 ing : Margaret on the bench at her mother's feet; 
 Ruth in a corner of the lounge, with Judy's head 
 on her shoulder, Judy's hand fast locked in her 
 own .; and Frances sitting crosslegged on the floor, 
 while Ursula took a seat on the edge of the table. 
 " I can look at you all from here and talk better," 
 she offered in excuse, and began her story. 
 
 " As you all know," she said, with a little con- 
 fidential gesture, " it is n't long since I got my 
 position in the Leader office. Of course," look- 
 ing directly at her mother and Margaret, though 
 what she was about to state was already as well 
 known to them as to the rest of her audience, 
 " being a beginner, I could n't expect much pay 
 I was only too thankful to be taken on at all. It 
 was certainly a piece of great good fortune for 
 which I can thank uncle Gabe. Well, I was put 
 in what 's called the ' exchange ' room where 
 all the newspapers and magazines that come to 
 the Leader are collected. These papers we for 
 there are two other girls at it beside myself are 
 expected to look carefully through, and cut out 
 from them all the short bits of news, general in- 
 formation, etc., etc., that we think would be suit- 
 able to the Leader and interesting to its readers. 
 These pieces we rewrite "
 
 8 FORTUNE'S BOATS 
 
 " Why ! you 've told us about that lots of times 
 before," interrupted Ruth. " Could n't you skip 
 going over it again ? We 're just hungry for the 
 news ! " 
 
 "It is extremely rude to interrupt," put in 
 Margaret hastily, noticing Ursula's face, at the 
 same time casting an imploring glance at the im- 
 patient Ruth. 
 
 Ursula colored up. " I can only tell the story 
 in my own way," she said stiffly. " Those of you 
 that don't care to listen to it may go out of the 
 room. I know mother and Mamie will stay, if 
 nobody else does." 
 
 " Of course we all want to hear it," and " Tell 
 it just as you like," came in a hearty chorus from 
 four of the assemblage ; while Ruth tilted her 
 blond head and studied the pattern of the ceiling 
 with a great appearance of indifference. 
 
 " Well, I '11 make the rest as short as I can," 
 resumed Ursula, the interest somewhat gone 
 from her voice, though it soon returned as she 
 went on. " As I was saying, we have to rewrite 
 or edit these ' paragraphics,' as we call them. 
 And they are used, in printing the Leader, to fill 
 out odd places around the advertisements or at 
 the foot of a column wherever a space occurs. 
 The other two girls merely edit or arrange their 
 paragraphics ; they say that 's quicker and less 
 trouble. So it is, but, as you people know, I love 
 to write, and quite often whenever I find an in- 
 teresting subject I rewrite mine entirely. Each 
 day's work is put into a sealed envelope on which
 
 URSULA'S STORY 9 
 
 is written the name of the person who has made 
 the selections, and then handed in to the ' make- 
 up ' editor. He uses the paragraphics as he sees 
 fit throughout the paper. But if he shouldn't 
 approve of the selections, back they come to the 
 unfortunate who has made them and sometimes 
 a few sharp words as well ! This has happened 
 two or three times to the other two girls in the 
 exchange room, though they 've appeared not to 
 mind it at all. / should have felt dreadfully mor- 
 tified and disheartened, but they just laughed over 
 it. Well, this morning " 
 
 But just at this interesting point of the story 
 there came another interruption. 
 
 " Oh, wait a minute ! just one second ! " broke 
 in Frances excitedly. " Miss Weewee is scratch- 
 ing to come in." Hushing to the door, she 
 opened it and admitted a sleek black cat, with a 
 funny monkey-like little black and white face, 
 and stiff fierce white eyebrows and whiskers that 
 stood out prominently. Puss walked into the 
 room with a stately measured tread and an air of 
 bland assurance which was rudely disturbed by 
 Frances, who snatched up the cat and hastily re-^ 
 turned to her place. " There ! " exclaimed the 
 girl a little breathlessly, sinking down on the floor 
 again and pressing the unwilling Miss Weewee 
 into a recumbent position on her lap. " Now the 
 family circle is complete. Go ahead, Ursa ! " 
 
 " Wait another minute and I '11 close the front 
 door," remarked Judith, suddenly rising from the 
 lounge. " It has just occurred to me that it 's
 
 10 FORTUNE'S BOATS 
 
 open, and there 's no necessity of letting uncle 
 Gabe's horrid-looking protege hear all we say." 
 
 In almost less than the time she had specified 
 Judy was back on the lounge, comfortably nestled 
 against Ruth's shoulder. " Now tell us the rest," 
 she said. 
 
 " I 've the greatest mind not to say another 
 word of it ! " exclaimed Ursula indignantly. " The 
 idea of interrupting me for that old cat ! And 
 now you, Judith ! I came home just brimming over 
 with this news, thinking you people would be so 
 interested and I don't believe you care one 
 particle ! " 
 
 " Now don't make a fuss about nothing ! " ad- 
 vised Ruth calmly ; she always took her twin's part, 
 unless the offense were against herself. 
 
 " Oh, but I am interested," protested Judith, 
 and " Do go on ! " urged Frances. 
 
 " You know very well, Ursula, that we are inter- 
 ested in all you have to tell us," remarked Mrs. 
 Jeffrey. 
 
 And presently, swallowing her wrath, Ursula 
 made another attempt to finish her story. " I 've 
 almost forgotten where I was," she said listlessly. 
 
 " This morning," prompted Frances, with such 
 an exact, unconscious imitation of Ursula's tone 
 that everybody laughed, and as a result the atmo- 
 sphere cleared wonderfully. 
 
 " Well, this morning," resumed Ursula, " one 
 of the girls, a Miss Ireland, came to me in quite a 
 state of excitement. 'The editor in chief lias sent 
 for the three of us,' she said. * We are to go right
 
 URSULA'S STORY 11 
 
 down to his office. I 'm awfully afraid something 's 
 wrong with our work. I should have been more 
 careful. I 'm alone in the world, and what I get 
 here is all I have to live on.' I felt sorry for 
 her ; for though in the same box as far as money 
 is concerned, I 'm so much better off than she is 
 in having all you dear ones." With her annoy- 
 ance quite forgotten, Ursula beamed affectionately 
 on the circle of upturned, interested faces which 
 reflected the love shining out on them through her 
 own bright eyes. " So I tried to comfort her. 
 * Why jump to the conclusion that it 's trouble 
 ahead of you?' I told her. 'This may mean 
 something better than you have had ' for the 
 minute I entirely forgot that I was in it, too. But 
 she was determined to look on the dark side. 
 And down we went to Mr. Driscal's office. He 
 is a very cross-looking man, with a loud voice and 
 a nervous, jerky, fierce manner. Why, when he 
 makes the simplest remark you'd almost think 
 he was going to bite your head off ! He is n't in 
 the least polite. He soon let us know why he 'd 
 sent for us. ' Each of you take a desk,' he said 
 he fairly roared ; the offices are only partitioned off, 
 and all open at the top, so everybody on that floor 
 must have heard him ; ' take a desk,' he said, ' and 
 write me an article a column length on the 
 conditions of the poor in New York city.' Then 
 he swung round again in his swivel chair, and went 
 on with his work as unconcernedly as if what had 
 happened was a most ordinary every-day occur- 
 rence. But somehow we felt that this piece of
 
 12 FORTUNE'S BOATS 
 
 writing meant a great deal to us perhaps our 
 positions. So we took our places at the ' desks ' 
 mine was an old table, with a game leg and 
 began. At least the other two girls began I 
 heard their pens scratching but I couldn't think 
 of one single thing to write ! I could n't concen- 
 trate my mind on the subject, try as I would. I 
 could n't think of how to begin, or what to say. 
 I felt a perfect fool ! " 
 
 " Goodness me ! do hurry on ! " cried Margaret 
 and Frances excitedly, as Ursula paused te take 
 breath ; she could not now complain of want of 
 interest in her audience. 
 
 " The very sound of the other girls' pens rushing 
 so rapidly over the paper seemed to add to the 
 dreadful feeling of incompetency of idiocy 
 that had hold of me," went on Ursula. " I wrote 
 * Conditions of the Poor ' at the top of my paper ; 
 then sat and stared hopelessly at the wall before 
 me, and thought of the most irrelevant, silliest 
 subjects what kind of a winter hat I should like 
 to have, what mother might give us for dinner. 
 Truly!" at the chorus of indignant, disappointed 
 exclamations from the family. " As far as writing 
 on the condition of the poor was concerned, my 
 mind was a perfect blank ! And what made mat- 
 ters worse was, that back of the horrible apathy 
 was that strong conviction that this opportunity 
 was one I should always regret having lost. Then, 
 all at once, a curious feeling a sort of doing-it- 
 against-my-will feeling made me look round, and 
 there, to my left, in one of the small offices which
 
 URSULA'S STORY 13 
 
 opened into our large room, was a man looking in- 
 tently at me through the open door. I could see 
 he was very tall, very slender, with a little stoop 
 about the shoulders ; and he had the most serious, 
 nicest face that you could imagine ! But his hair, 
 girls ! " Ursula threw out her hands and laughed 
 merrily at the recollection. " It stood up in the 
 funniest little spears all over his head as if he 'd 
 been running his hands wildly through it, or try- 
 ing to comb his locks with the poker. You can't 
 think what a comical contrast it presented to his se- 
 rious face ! But I very soon forgot all that in his 
 great kindness. Looking straight at me, with the 
 most earnest expression, he said in a low but per- 
 fectly distinct voice the people in our office 
 must have heard him : ' Don't be frightened ; you 
 can do what is required. Put it in story form 
 or any way you please but write ! ' And as he 
 said that, an idea flashed into my mind. ' Oh, 
 thank you, very much ! ' I whispered back. I would 
 have liked to have every letter in the sentence a 
 capital, I felt so grateful to him. Then he shut 
 his door to, and I began to write. And really, it 
 seemed as if I could n't get the words on paper 
 fast enough, they came into my mind so rapidly ; 
 was n't that queer ? And I wrote about one of 
 your poor people, Judy about poor little Joe 
 Foyle " 
 
 "Oh, Ursula, did you? Oh, what did you 
 say ? " cried Judith. In an instant her little af- 
 fectations of airy indifference fell away ; she hastily 
 sat up, and with eyes alight, her whole face kin-
 
 14 FORTUNE'S BOATS 
 
 dling, bent eagerly forward toward the girl on the 
 table. 
 
 " I told of Joe's wretched home," replied Ursxila, 
 slowly, reflectively; "of his worthless father, his 
 drunken mother ; of his miserable, ragged condi- 
 tion ; of how difficult it had been to get any 
 hold whatever on him. I told of the suit of clothes 
 
 the only decent clothes of his life that he 
 had saved up for, penny by penny ; of their effect 
 upon him, and how through them he had (with in- 
 finite patience and a heroic faith in the existence of 
 the divine spark in man) been gradually lifted to 
 some slight sense of respectability. I told of how 
 proud he had been of his new suit ; how carefully 
 it had been worn on Sundays and high days, and 
 at other times been hidden in the most secret 
 corner of his forlorn home, to escape his mother's 
 hungry eyes. I told of his hiding the cherished 
 garments, in desperation for a new place, in the 
 oven of the old disused stove which, as he thought, 
 stood in a forgotten corner of his home. I told of 
 the discovery of them, and of Joe's bitter despair 
 when he reached home one afternoon to find his 
 clothes gone for drink ! I told it in story form 
 
 I added not one word to the truth. But oh, 
 mother, girls ! the pitifulness of the whole thing 
 came to me with such force ! It gripped my heart. 
 I forgot all about Mr. Driscal, and that what I AMIS 
 setting down there was to come under his critical 
 eye I forgot all about ' space ' and the paper 
 
 I simply wrote ! My face was wet with tears wlicn 
 I got through."
 
 URSULA'S STORY 15 
 
 There were tears now in Ursula's eyes, and she 
 finished with a break in her voice ; there were 
 tears, too, in the eyes of those who were listening 
 to her. They remembered the wild outburst of 
 grief with which Joe had told his loss to his be- 
 loved " Miss Judit," and the reckless, unreachable 
 lawlessness into which he had relapsed. " Ain't 
 no use gi'n' me more clo'es they '11 on'y go same 
 way. I don' wan' no more," Joe had declared, in 
 the bitterness of his heart, and had persisted in 
 his resolve. 
 
 "Oh, my poor people! my poor people! " cried 
 Judith, springing up, a sharp sorrow in her voice 
 that surprised the family ; she was not given to 
 such outbursts. " Oh, mother, girls," turning pas- 
 sionately to them, " you can't think how their trials 
 and sorrows and wants weigh on me sometimes ; 
 how I feel for the poor things since I 've been a 
 * visitor ' among them ! Their life is so narrow 
 and hard ! And they 're only human beings ; they 
 crave warmth and comfort and happiness as well as 
 the rest of us. God has put the same instincts into 
 us all. It seems to me that I fairly long for money 
 these days, to be able to do things for my poor 
 people things that one can't expect the Church 
 or the Societies to do. I mean, to give a treat 
 here and there to some poor, overworked mother 
 who is all tired out and discouraged, and needs 
 cheering up ; or a little inexpensive present to an- 
 other, something bright and pretty ; I would n't 
 care whether 't was a frivolous something or not, 
 so long as it gave genuine pleasure. And for
 
 16 FORTUNE'S BOATS 
 
 my boys and girls ah ! " (the color flamed into 
 Judith's pale face) " I want a great deal for them. 
 First and foremost, a splendid big playground 
 with grass in summer, on which they could sit 
 and walk and run whenever they pleased; with 
 great heaps of earth, too, and sand standing about 
 in winter and at all times where the children 
 could play and roll and tumble " Judith broke 
 off abruptly. " Do you know," she said sharply, 
 " that some of my boys hardly know their Mother 
 Earth except as a handful in a little clay flower- 
 pot, or as builders' property, off which they are 
 chased if they dare set foot on it ? Remember our 
 mud pies in the country, girls, our rolls in the 
 sand, our forts and caves, our joy, and then pity 
 these poor, defrauded children! If I could get 
 a big, big place for them, where they could play 
 ball and marbles and tennis, fly kites, skip ropes 
 do any and everything that would make their 
 bodies healthy I 'm sure their minds and souls 
 would grow healthy, too. 'T would make better 
 girls and boys ; by and by, better men and women, 
 better fathers and mothers, better citizens. Only 
 a playground to do all that. But I have n't 
 the money to get it for them not one cent ! " 
 "With a tragic gesture and a sharp indrawing of 
 her breath that was almost a sob, Judith sank 
 down on the lounge again and buried her face in 
 her twin's shoulder. 
 
 There was a sympathetic silence. Then, in the 
 loving, tranquil manner that had so often givni 
 comfort to her children, Mrs. Jeffrey said : " Don't
 
 URSULA'S STORY 17 
 
 get discouraged, daughter. Do the lesser things 
 that come as your portion do them cheerfully 
 and well and leave the greater ones in God's 
 hands. Until the fund and the playground come, 
 do your best with what is in your power, and be 
 thankful for it." 
 
 " And what became of your paper, Ursa ? " 
 asked Margaret presently. 
 
 " Oh yes I did n't finish," Ursula said, with 
 a little start of recollection. - " And that 's the best 
 part of the story, too. Well, the papers were 
 handed to Mr. Driscal, and we only heard the 
 result just before leaving the office. As it turns 
 out the morning's work was a test, and the re- 
 sult stands like this : Miss Halliday's paper was 
 ' turned down,' and she goes away she says she 
 does n't care. Miss Ireland's paper was also re- 
 fused, but she is to stay on and continue the 
 paragraphic work. And my little story " Ur- 
 sula paused, and smiled provokingly at the eager 
 family. 
 
 " Oh, go on ! " they cried breathlessly. 
 
 " My little story is accepted, and will be pub- 
 lished in to-morrow's paper ; our Saturday number, 
 you know. Is n't that perfectly amazing ? Wait 
 wait there 's more to tell," as Frances hastily 
 arose, to Miss Weewee's great surprise and dis- 
 gust, and with a shout of delight fell upon Ur- 
 sula's neck. "Furthermore, Mr. Driscal has 
 directed me to write another story, for next Satur- 
 day's paper ; in fact, a series of short stories on 
 the same lines as this first one, and which will
 
 18 FORTUNE'S BOATS 
 
 appear in the paper from week to week. Besides, 
 I '111 to try my 'prentice hand at a short article 
 now and then. And how do you suppose Mr. 
 Driscal came to think I could do such work ? The 
 make-up editor told me just those very para- 
 graphics that I had written. He noticed them in the 
 paper, and asked whose work they were. Little 
 did I dream they would bring me this advancement. 
 I only hope I may not fall short of what is ex- 
 pected of me." 
 
 For a moment Ursula looked dubious, but the 
 confident assurance of the family that she would 
 be sure to be more than equal to all the demands 
 made upon her, and their prophecy of a brilliant 
 future, soon sent her spirits up again. 
 
 " Some of the people in the office say it is a fine 
 beginning," she said, with modest pride. "And 
 on my way out, this afternoon, I met the gentleman 
 who had given me courage when I most needed it. 
 I feel I owe my success to his kindness, and I told 
 him so, at which he seemed much surprised. 'I 
 have sisters,' he said, as if that explained the whole 
 proceeding. Then, presently, when we had talked 
 together for a few minutes, he pulled out his card, 
 and in the most simple, straightforward, and sol- 
 emn fashion presented it to me. ' I am in the 
 office every day. Should you need assistance at 
 any time, I hope you will not hesitate to call upon 
 me for it,' he told me. My dears, from his man- 
 ner you would have imagined him a grandfather, at 
 the very least ! Here 's the card." 
 
 " I don't like your making acquaintance in that
 
 URSULA'S STORY 19 
 
 way with strange men ! " exclaimed Mrs. Jeffrey 
 uneasily. 
 
 But her daughters were crowding their heads 
 together over the small piece of pasteboard, and a 
 chorus of voices announced, " John Minot Rose ! " 
 
 "That's his name, mother," added Ursula. 
 " And he is n't a ' strange man ' at all. He is a 
 most valued member of the Leader editorial staff, 
 and the author of those stories that we all like so 
 much ' The Passing of our Little Brother, the 
 Lark,' and ' In the Heart of the Woods,' and 
 others. Don't you remember them ? " 
 
 " Oh, / know who he is I know him ! And 
 he 's just as nice as he can be ! " cried Margaret 
 eagerly, and somewhat incoherently. " He be- 
 longs to a large family they all visit Miss Aus- 
 tin and her brother ; they call him * Jack Rose.' 
 Oh, they are nice people, mother ! I know all about 
 them. He has four married sisters : Nannie, 
 who is Mrs. Maxwell Derwent ; she often brings 
 her two boys and her little girl to see Miss Aus- 
 tin. They 're lively young persons, too, I can tell 
 you. And I believe there is a baby. Then there 's 
 Nora Mrs. Chad wick Whitcombe who is very 
 beautiful and refined and fashionable, and knows 
 it. Mrs. Hilliard Erveng is the one I like best 
 ' quicksilver Betty,' Miss Austin calls her. She 
 is so merry and bright a perfect contrast to her 
 sober, rather dull-looking husband. Mrs. Erveng 
 has two children a sturdy boy, and a shy blos- 
 som of a little girl named Alice. Another sister, 
 Katharine, was married last spring to an English-
 
 20 FORTUNE'S BOATS 
 
 man, the Honorable Mr. Warwick, and is now 
 living in England. Miss Austin says this Mr. 
 Warwick was once very much in love with Mrs. 
 Erveng, before she married. There is still an- 
 other sister Mlidel ; she lives in the old home 
 with her father (who writes books about the An- 
 cients) and her brother, Mr. Felix Rose, and his 
 wife. Mr. Felix Rose has charge of the Austins' 
 law affairs ; he is a prominent lawyer, and his wife 
 is a noble woman. I admire her immensely ! She 
 is always so sweet and friendly to me. I 've 
 spoken of it here at home many a time you peo- 
 ple must remember. I 'm sure you 'd all love her 
 for it. She knows I am a gentlewoman, even if 
 I am Miss Austin's paid companion ! " The rich 
 color deepened in Margaret's cheeks, and her bril- 
 liant eyes grew proud. 
 
 " Well ! I should think she would know it ! " 
 exclaimed Ursula, with such angry energy that the 
 family had to laugh, and " Don't explode, Ursa ! " 
 warned Judith. 
 
 " Mrs. Felix, as Miss Austin calls her," con- 
 tinued Margaret, enjoying the position of histo- 
 rian, " has one child, another Felix, and I believe 
 old Mr. Rose is as fond of his son's wife as if she 
 were his own daughter. The young men Jack 
 Rose, and Paul and Alan Rose, his brothers all 
 visit at the Austins'. They are musical, and some- 
 times Miss Austin has me come in to play accom- 
 paniments, when they call of an evening. Paul 
 has the reputation of being very brilliant. I 
 know he is very sarcastic, and, / think, conceited.
 
 URSULA'S STORY 21 
 
 Alan is a pleasant sort of fellow ; not a bit intel- 
 lectual, but honest and well-meaning, and devoted 
 to Paul. They are both at college. But best of 
 them all I like Mr. Jack Rose. Oh, by the way," 
 with a sudden assumption of carelessness, and be- 
 stowing close attention on the folds of the old 
 tablecloth which she was shaking out, " he knows 
 Jim Jim Ivors. I mean Mr. Rose told me the 
 other day that he knows Jim. Now," deter- 
 minedly ignoring an exclamation of interest from 
 Ursula, " is n't it about time that some one went 
 out and rescued uncle Gabe from that tiresome 
 protege of his ? I 've been here almost all the 
 afternoon, and I have n't seen him for more than 
 a few minutes. That horrid man never knows 
 when to go." 
 
 " I '11 send him off. He '11 be sure to have bor- 
 rowed every cent the dear old boy had in his 
 pocket," asserted Frances. 
 
 Going to the front door she opened it, and in 
 a tone of subdued excitement called, " Uncle 
 uncle Gabriel ! Margaret is here, and waiting to 
 see you. Could n't you come at once ? " 
 
 " That will fetch him," she declared, returning 
 to the family.
 
 CHAPTER H 
 
 UNCLE GABE 
 
 IN a few minutes after his niece's call Mr. Kin- 
 caid tripped lightly into the dining-room, wearing 
 an air half jubilant, half deprecating. 
 
 " Well, Gabriel, that man has made a visita- 
 tion ! " " Are n't you exhausted, uncle Gabe ? " 
 " How much did he borrow this time ? " " He is 
 a fraud a humbug, sir ! " were some of the re- 
 marks offered to the gentleman by his sister and 
 his nieces. 
 
 The Reverend Gabriel Kincaid had no size to 
 boast of ; he was barely of medium height, slender, 
 not to say thin, and so round-shouldered that his 
 much-worn shiny sack coat went up in the back 
 and sagged ungracefully in front. His clerical 
 waistcoat and bagged-at-the-knees trousers also 
 showed more than signs of long use. A little 
 black silk skullcap pushed well off his fore- 
 head, and now rakishly askew covered uncle 
 Gabe's bald head, allowing just a fringe of brown 
 hair mixed with gray to appear below its rim. 
 Gray was in the slight brown mustache as well, 
 and plentifully streaked the short pointed beard 
 which its owner was so fond of stroking as he 
 talked. Spectacles protected a pair of small, pro-
 
 UNCLE GABE 23 
 
 minent, short-sighted brown eyes; and there was 
 a fine color in uncle Gabriel's cheeks, a jaunty 
 smile upon his lips. This last, however, and his 
 jubilant expression vanished at the remarks that 
 met him, and he looked distressed. 
 
 " My dears, you must not judge so harshly," he 
 said, in mild rebuke. " You would never say such 
 unkind things if you knew the unfortunate man's 
 story. He has passed through deep waters 
 de-ep waters ! " Uncle Gabriel sighed heavily 
 and stroked his beard. 
 
 " Well, now, confess," urged Frances, who was 
 her uncle's favorite, shaking a saucy finger at him. 
 " Did n't that ' unfortunate ' now don't look as 
 if I 'd called him names did n't he borrow money 
 of you to-day ? Did n't he ? " 
 
 Mr. Kincaid showed signs of guilt. The bright 
 spot of red in his cheeks deepened, and he looked 
 deprecatingly at his women folk. " I had but a 
 quarter to my name," he said. " And what was 
 that to a hungry man ? " 
 
 " Did n't I tell you ! Had it been a dollar, he 'd 
 have gotten it just the same," asserted Frances, 
 with conviction. "Uncle Gabe, that man comes 
 only for what he can get out of you. He has a 
 horrid face a hardened convict might look as 
 he does." Mr. Kincaid gave a start. " And he 's 
 entirely too big and fat to be in a starving condi- 
 tion, 5 ' went on Frances. " Can't make me believe 
 that ! You 've gotten him two situations : why 
 did n't he keep them, and not be coming here two 
 or three times a week, borrowing the little money
 
 24 FORTUNE'S BOATS 
 
 you have ? We think him a fraud, a regular hum- 
 bug and I 'm almost positive he is ! He is just 
 imposing on you ! " 
 
 " Oh no, he is n't, my dear," returned uncle 
 Gabriel, with equal conviction. " I was n't born 
 yesterday ; I understand human nature," with a 
 sagacious wag of his head, ''pretty well. This 
 poor creature has had a most checkered existence 
 a most sad life ! He has been falsely accused, 
 been infamously wronged " 
 
 " That 's the story he tells ; how d' you know 
 it 's true ? " interpolated Margaret. 
 
 But Mr. Kincaid turned a deaf ear, and went 
 on with his remarks : " He has fallen into evil 
 lost his good name and his dear ones and is 
 now repentant and seeking the forgiveness of his 
 God. I would have the heart of a stone, not of a 
 fellow man, to turn from him now. What is a 
 quarter, or a dollar, or" growing emphatic 
 "dollars, in comparison with the bringing of a 
 lost son home to his Father ! This poor fellow 
 his name is Jared Watkins " (uncle Gabe waved 
 his hand in the direction of the hall, as if intro- 
 ducing his departed protege) " this poor fellow 
 comes to me with his trials and sorrows, and his 
 efforts toward a better life ; would I be a faith- 
 ful minister of the Gospel, a true follower of the 
 Master, to turn my back on him ? Now tell me 
 that ! " Mr. Kincaid finished abruptly, took off 
 his glasses and began rubbing them vigorously 
 with a small piece of chamois which he drew out 
 of his coat pocket, meanwhile peering in his short-
 
 UNCLE GABE 25 
 
 sighted fashion at his sister, who sat silent and 
 with a contrite face. 
 
 The girls, too, though unconvinced, were silent 
 for a brief space ; then Judith said, in a tone that 
 might be considered apologetic : " You see, uncle 
 Gabe, I know all about my poor people. I go to 
 see them in their homes, and have ways of knowing 
 that what they tell me is true, and that the help 
 they get is put to good use. But you do get de- 
 ceived ; some of your proteges have taken a mean 
 advantage of your kindness. And we hate to see 
 you imposed on again. That 's why we spoke." 
 
 Uncle Gabriel was willing to accept to the ut- 
 most all that Judith's tone might imply. " Well 
 eh well perhaps it looks a little that way," 
 he reluctantly admitted, though with a kindly 
 glance at his niece through the glasses which were 
 once more astride his well-defined Roman nose. 
 " But," brightening up, " if even only one out 
 of ten was benefited, comforted, heartened on the 
 way, that more than compensates for the imposi- 
 tion of the other nine. Does n't it ? Eh ? Better 
 for me to be imposed on er occasionally," with 
 an airy wave of his hand, " than that I should 
 refuse or slight one fellow creature that asks for as- 
 sistance or needs it eh?" Mr. Kincaid put his 
 hands in the pockets of his trousers and rattled 
 loudly the keys he had there, beaming on the fam- 
 ily with an expression that said plainly, "That 
 clinches the argument." 
 
 Everybody smiled, while Ursula flew at her 
 uncle, and pulling off his cap kissed the top of his
 
 26 FORTUNE'S BOATS 
 
 bald head. " You dear, blessed, innocent Doctor 
 Primrose ! " she exclaimed. " Now let 's drop the 
 protege, and I '11 tell you something unexpected 
 that 's happened to me to-day " which she imme- 
 diately proceeded to do, encouraged to a full and 
 detailed account by the suggestions and reminders 
 of her mother and sisters. 
 
 Uncle Gabriel listened with the most sympa- 
 thetic interest. " Well well ! " he exclaimed, 
 when Ursula finished. " If this is n't splendid news ! 
 Well, you deserve it, Ursula you 're a good girl. 
 You '11 make good use of this opening ; I 'm glad 
 you 've got it. Now you 're all breadwinners," 
 glancing around the circle of his nieces, " all bring- 
 ing in something toward the support of the home. 
 You, Margaret," pointing at her with the long lean 
 forefinger of the scholar, " are Miss Austin's com- 
 panion ; Ursula, you have only to go on as you 've 
 begun and you '11 be a noted writer yet ; you, Ju- 
 dith, have your visiting among the poor which 
 should prove as helpful to you as to them ; Ruth 
 has her beautiful art embroidery ; and Frances "- 
 
 "And Frances is the dummy of the family," 
 interrupted that young person, with unexpected 
 heat, and clutching the unsuspecting Miss Wee wee 
 to her with cruel force (which that feline imme- 
 diately resented by making a precipitous descent 
 over the shoulder against which she had been rest- 
 ing). "Frances can do nothing but take the 
 hard-earned money of her sisters to pay for singing 
 lessons money that she may never be able to 
 return ! I 'm the only drone in the hive. If
 
 UNCLE GABE 27 
 
 you people could know how mean I feel some- 
 times ! " 
 
 " Why, Francie, child, you are my right hand, 
 here at home ! " " Now, Frances, don't you say such 
 silly and unkind things ! " " Would n't you do as 
 much for one of us ? " " And when you know 
 the hopes we all centre in you ! " cried the mother 
 and sisters, in respective tones of encouragement 
 and exasperation. 
 
 Mr. Kincaid threw a glance of mild rebuke at 
 his favorite, and calmly continued his remarks. 
 " Now if I could but find a parish, we would all be 
 doing well," he said. 
 
 " Why, uncle Gabe, I thought you were editing 
 two papers ! " exclaimed Margaret. " You told 
 me so once, when I was at home." 
 
 " Yes, my dear, he does edit two papers," put in 
 Judith, before her uncle could reply. " But they 
 are so poorly off for funds and have so small a cir- 
 culation that the editor's salary comes in spasmodic, 
 semi-no-time payments. That 's the Hebrew paper. 
 The Italian one has never paid him a cent. And 
 the car fares the dear creature has spent going 
 to the office it's away downtown, by the river 
 the time and trouble and money he has expended 
 on the poor Italians who read the paper and come 
 to him with their tales of woe, can neither be 
 counted nor measured ! Sometimes he has three 
 and four of them at a time, out in the hall. And 
 they are always the hungriest people ! " Judith 
 gave her twin sister a little reminiscent nudge, and 
 they both laughed.
 
 28 FORTUNE'S BOATS 
 
 " It 's a shame for uncle Gabe to be wasting his 
 talents in such work," declared Ruth, in her soft, 
 slow voice. " He should be president of some col- 
 lege, or have a professorship " The sentence 
 broke off abruptly, at a warning glance from Mar- 
 garet. In one short year, long ago, while holding 
 a professorship in a Western college, uncle Gabriel 
 had lost his young wife and little son, and had 
 suffered a grievous wrong as well, and the wounds 
 were still tender. " He he knows so many 
 languages," finished Ruth lamely. 
 
 But it is doubtful if Mr. Kincaid had heard her. 
 He stood looking out at the patch of blue sky which 
 was visible through the western window, and 
 thoughtfully stroking his beard. 
 
 " You see, Margaret, it 's this way," he said, 
 turning and addressing his eldest niece. " The 
 Hebrews pay me whenever they 've got the money. 
 They are thoroughly honest. When they have n't 
 got it, why, I can't expect it. The Italians can't 
 pay me, for the simple reason that they 've barely 
 enough to keep the paper afloat to pay for 
 paper, printing, etc. Only one man gets paid, 
 and," stoutly, " he ought to be ; he can't find an- 
 other thing to do, and he has a wife and child to 
 support." (Uncle Gabriel did not add, as he might 
 have done, that he had voluntarily made over his 
 salary as editor in chief to this man, though still 
 cheerfully and faithfully fulfilling all the duties of 
 the post.) " And if I gave up the paper it would go 
 to pieces," went on Mr. Kincaid ; " for, you know, 
 my dear," with the most innocent, unconscious
 
 UNCLE GABE 29 
 
 egoism, " it is n't everybody who has my knowledge 
 of languages. Never been the slightest trouble to 
 me to learn a language ! Let me see ;" he stopped 
 stroking his beard, and began counting on his long 
 thin fingers : " English, French, German, Italian 
 those I speak almost equally well. Greek, Latin, 
 Hebrew, Sanskrit, I know thoroughly ; Spanish 
 and the Norse tongues I read. More than ten in 
 all ! " Sticking his hands in his pockets, uncle 
 Gabriel rattled his keys loudly and beamed upon 
 his niece, bright-eyed and smiling in simple, 
 genuine admiration of what he called his " gift." 
 "Seems if I ought to make something out of all 
 that, doesn't it ? " he asked proudly. " Why, Hel- 
 mud, you know President Helmud, of Harvan 
 College used to say to me, again and again : 
 ' Kincaid, I 'd give a good deal for your knowledge 
 of languages. It 's phenomenal ! ' And there is n't 
 a man-jack that comes into that little river office, 
 no matter what part of Italy he hails from, that I 
 can't talk to him, and understand and be under- 
 stood by him. It 's just a gift I have in liberal 
 measure, too ha ! ha ! " Then a shade fell upon 
 uncle Gabriel's expressive face ; his eyes returned 
 to the blue patch of sky. " But I 'd give it all up 
 to-morrow, to have a parish," he said wistfully, 
 
 " Don't you be disheartened, Gabriel," came in 
 Mrs. Jeffrey's quiet tones. " You '11 get a parish 
 yet, and all the better one for having waited so 
 long for it." 
 
 " I 'm not looking for a soft berth," put in her 
 brother hastily. " I want a parish where will be
 
 30 FORTUNE'S BOATS 
 
 plenty of work. I 'm not afraid of it, so long as 
 I can still have a little time for study. I 'ni not 
 too old for hard work ; you know I 'm several 
 years this side of fifty, Etta. I 'm a good way yet 
 from the ' dead line.' " Uncle Gabe held his thin 
 little figure erect for a few minutes, and straight- 
 ened his stooping shoulders. " You do think I '11 
 get a parish ? I don't look too old to have one, 
 do I?" he asked, with an earnestness that was 
 pathetic. His eyes passed swiftly over five of his 
 women folk, and finally rested upon Judith. The 
 critical faculty was strongest in her ; she was not 
 so easily influenced by emotion. " Do I ? " he re- 
 peated, addressing his question to her. 
 
 And while the rest of the family waited, in sur- 
 prise that she did not at once respond, Judith 
 looked carefully at her uncle. 
 
 " Well, uncle Gabe," she remarked presently 
 (calmly ignoring Francie's outburst of " Oh, do, 
 for goodness' sake, say something ! "), " I don't 
 see why you should n't be called to a parish ; you 
 certainly do not look superannuated. There are a 
 good many gray hairs in your beard, but except 
 for that, it seems to me, as far as I can remember, 
 that you don't look one day older than you did ten 
 years ago, when I was a little girl. No, you are 
 certainly not too old to have a parish, and do good 
 work in it, too." 
 
 Mr. Kincaid blew kisses to his niece from his 
 finger tips. "I shall remember you in my will, 
 Judith," he remarked facetiously ; then went over 
 and stooped himself before the low, narrow mirror
 
 UNCLE GABE 31 
 
 in the sideboard. " H'm ! " he murmured uneasily, 
 stroking his beard and turning his head from side 
 to side to obtain different views. " There are a 
 good many gray hairs in it. More gray than 
 brown I should n't wonder." 
 
 The door that led into the kitchen slowly opened, 
 and from behind the screen which stood before it 
 appeared the short square figure of a girl whose 
 light flaxen braids were folded flat against the 
 back of her head, and whose round stolid blue 
 eyes turned interrogatively on her mistress. 
 
 "Time for set table no?" she asked, with a 
 strong German accent. 
 
 " Why, there 's Gretchen ! I had no idea 't was 
 so late ! " exclaimed Mrs. Jeffrey, beginning hur- 
 riedly to fold up her sewing. " Francie, stay and 
 help me straighten things, will you, dear? The 
 rest of you good people will please go into the sit- 
 ting-room and remain there until tea is ready. 
 How dark it has grown ! Light the gas in our 
 hall, Ursula." 
 
 It was as the light flared into existence, with her 
 hand still upstretched to the gas fixture, that Ur- 
 sula whispered over her shoulder to Margaret, 
 " Mamie, Jim is coming this evening right after 
 tea." Her tone was that of one who imparts 
 pleasant news, but Margaret's eyebrows went to- 
 gether in a quick frown, and the color sprang warm 
 and vivid into her cheeks. 
 
 " I do wish I could be at home for one visit 
 just one without Jim Ivors having to come pok- 
 ing in ! " she cried angrily, with an impatient, 
 petulant shake of her shoulders.
 
 32 FORTUNE'S BOATS 
 
 " Why, Margaret ! " exclaimed Ursula, in great 
 surprise, wheeling sharply round upon her sister, 
 the burnt match still between her fingers. " To 
 feel that way about dear old Jim that we 've known 
 ever since we were born Jim who cares so much 
 for you ! You should be ashamed to talk so. This 
 is something new what 's come over you ? " Her 
 keen eyes searched the beautiful face that was so 
 provokingly unreadable. " You don't half appre- 
 ciate Jim," Ursula said severely. 
 
 " Very likely not I never pretended to," re- 
 torted the perverse Margaret, walking away. 
 
 And presently, after staring for several minutes 
 in a thoughtful, absent-minded fashion at the burnt 
 match, Ursula threw it away, and followed her sister 
 into the sitting-room.
 
 CHAPTER III 
 
 ONLY JIM IVORS 
 
 THE Jeffreys' drawing-room was a cosy place. 
 There were a few somewhat worn but handsome 
 pieces of furniture in it, which, at the sale made 
 necessary by Mr. Jeffrey's sudden death, a few 
 years ago, had been bought in and presented to 
 the widow and children by his creditors. These 
 among them was a fine upright piano filled 
 a good deal of space, but added greatly to the in- 
 terest of the small room, as did the quaint silver 
 lamp, some rare bits of old family china, and the 
 two or three good pictures which hung upon the 
 walls. There were window seats, of home manu- 
 facture, covered with pretty, inexpensive material, 
 and on them plump cushions to make the recesses 
 inviting. Bright-colored cushions heaped up on 
 the lounge partly concealed its faded cover, and 
 lent picturesque color to the surroundings. A 
 banjo, in its green baize jacket, stood in a corner 
 near the piano, and there were books, on book- 
 shelves and tables, in plenty. 
 
 The care of this apartment fell chiefly upon 
 Frances, it being the family dictum that that 
 young person had " wonderfully good taste in ar- 
 ranging a room ; " and Francie's opinion of the
 
 34 FORTUNE'S BOATS 
 
 little drawing-room had been frequently expressed. 
 " It is n't grand," she would gay, pausing for a 
 last look, dust-cloth and feather duster in hand, 
 " but," her eyes lingering in affectionate pride on 
 each cherished object, " anybody would know it 
 belonged to refined people." 
 
 And on this evening the little room fully justi- 
 fied her estimate of it, with the silver lamp shed- 
 ding abroad its soft glow, and in the air the de- 
 lightful fragrance of the one large rose which 
 stood in a tall slender vase on the mantelpiece. 
 
 The two men who had come in to spend the 
 evening congratulated themselves on being in such 
 comfortable quarters. In his inner consciousness 
 Carter Ferris was classifying them as " bang up," 
 and Jim Ivors's eyes traveled with great satisfac- 
 tion around the room, which was his ideal of home, 
 coming back to rest longest on Margaret's beauti- 
 ful face as she lounged in the old-fashioned " spin- 
 dle " chair. 
 
 Jim was in fine spirits. Margaret's presence 
 had always that effect upon him, and besides, to- 
 night he had a piece of " good luck " to impart 
 that he felt sure would be of more than ordinary 
 interest to his friends ; some hopes and plans to 
 discuss with one of them, the mere thought of 
 which set his big happy heart thumping heavily 
 against his ribs, and filled him with a restless long- 
 ing for the end of the evening, when he expected 
 to take Margaret back to the Austins'. By nature 
 Jim was a cheerful creature ; care sat lightly upon 
 him. He enjoyed his profession of artist, and that
 
 ONLY JIM IVORS 35 
 
 it brought in barely enough to live on had, until 
 within the last few years, been to him a matter of 
 small moment. But now well, now that consid- 
 eration was of supreme importance. Jim's habits 
 were simple, his dress indifferent, his main idea 
 on that subject, as far as himself was concerned, 
 being that clothes were made to be worn out. 
 To-night, his gay-colored necktie was faded and 
 worn, and there were faded daubs of color on his 
 black velvet painting jacket, as Margaret noted. 
 " The idea of his wearing that jacket here, and 
 those trousers ! " she thought, looking at him with 
 new, severely critical eyes. " Who but Jim Ivors 
 would ever wear such light trousers in winter! 
 Why does n't he dress like Carter Ferris and 
 and well, other people ? " 
 
 Not being conscious of her criticism Jim was 
 undisturbed by it, and his gayety infected the rest 
 of the company. Sitting down to the piano he 
 went through his repertoire of songs four, and 
 all to the same accompaniment trolling out the 
 words that came in the lower notes, and dropping 
 into a full sweet whistle where the melody changed 
 into an upper key. 
 
 Stimulated by Jim's example, others in the com- 
 pany began contributing to the general entertain- 
 ment. Carter played dashing dance tunes that set 
 everybody's feet twinkling under their chairs ; and 
 dragging her uncle into the little square corner 
 of the outer hall, Frances whirled him around 
 until the reverend gentleman's untrained heels 
 flew out wildly, and he cried for mercy. After
 
 36 FORTUNE'S BOATS 
 
 that the same young lady favored the company 
 with a spring song of Chaminade's, rendered in a 
 voice so sweet, so clear and true, that the sisters 
 looked at each other with open pride. Uncle 
 Gabriel was persuaded to sing his favorite " Three 
 Kings of Orient We," and Judith followed with 
 some wild, weird Norse music. 
 
 It was under cover of this last that Jim made 
 an opportunity for a few words with Margaret. 
 " Peggie, I 've got a fine piece of luck for you," 
 he whispered. " I '11 tell you all about it soon 's 
 we have a chance to talk when I 'm seeing you 
 home by and " 
 
 " That necktie you 've got on looks as if you 'd 
 given it hard service," interrupted Margaret, 
 quickly and irrelevantly. She eyed her friend 
 closely as he knelt near her chair, at the low music 
 rack, balancing a pile of more or less dilapidated 
 sheet music on one of his knees clad in the objec- 
 tionable light trousers. Ostensibly Jim was hunt- 
 ing for a song for Frances ; in reality his hand was 
 turning the sheets aimlessly, his merry brown eyes 
 gazing up at Margaret, full of an expression which 
 to-night she did not care to see. Jim was hand- 
 some, she was compelled to admit to herself, but 
 " It is black with age, and all frayed," she contin- 
 ued severely. " I do think you might take a little 
 more interest in your appearance." 
 
 " Why, you said you liked this red tie on me ! " 
 exclaimed Jim in surprise, patting his Deofcgesr, 
 :ind lines of perplexity furrowing his broad white 
 forehead that was in such contrast to the ruddy 
 face below it.
 
 ONLY JIM IVORS 37 
 
 " Because a thing is becoming is no reason for 
 putting it on and wearing it until it literally falls 
 to pieces," remarked Margaret austerely. " Every 
 time I 've seen you, for weeks, you have had on 
 that tie. Don't you know that 'variety is the 
 spice of life ' ? " 
 
 Jim did not mention that the red tie had been 
 donned so continuously in the hope of finding favor 
 in her eyes, should they meet during the hours of 
 each day when he left his bare little studio and 
 haunted Washington Square, where lived the 
 Austins. Instead he gave the limp music on his 
 knee an impatient shove, which sent it sliding to 
 the floor. " Oh, bother clothes ! " he observed 
 brusquely. " Life is too short to be worrying over 
 such trifles." 
 
 " Oh, very well ; just as you like," retorted his 
 companion coolly. 
 
 But to be annoyed with Margaret, to-night es- 
 pecially, was not easy to Jim. " Say, Peggie," he 
 whispered presently, persuasively, to induce the 
 fair, averted face to turn again on him, " d' you 
 remember that quaint little table you fancied, the 
 last evening I took you home the antique we 
 saw in Bowles's window with the slender twisted 
 legs and a flap to lift up ? Well " there was a 
 happy, triumphant note in Jim's voice, the music 
 still lay unheeded on the floor, and his hand was 
 on the arm of the spindle chair "I know your 
 weakness for tables in general, that table in par- 
 ticular, and I 've bought it." 
 
 Margaret turned sharply on him. " Jim !
 
 38 FORTUNE'S BOATS 
 
 that dear little table ? " she exclaimed, with spar- 
 kling eyes. 
 
 Jim set his lips together in a funny, prim fash- 
 ion that he had when very much pleased, and 
 nodded at her. " That one, and no other," he 
 assured her. " You wanted it, so I invested as soon 
 as I could. Now that makes let me see " 
 resting an elbow on the chair, to balance himself, 
 he began counting on his palm " this table, the 
 little cabinet to hang against the wall, the three- 
 cornered chair, the old sofa (that '11 have to be 
 reupholstered), two cushions, and a screen. Ac- 
 cumulating, is n't it ? And I don't let the fel- 
 lows sit on or handle those things, Peggie you 
 understand ? " Jim was very fond of that expres- 
 sion. " Except when I use any of 'em in a picture 
 they 're in a corner of the studio, well covered up, 
 waiting for " his voice dropped to the merest 
 whisper, but such a happy whisper ! " you know 
 what for, Peggie ! " 
 
 But with a sudden, impetuous movement Mar- 
 garet was gone out of the chair, out of the room 
 leaving Jim, still on his knees, to gaze wonder- 
 ingly after her, and then begin hurriedly shuffling 
 the limp music into a disorderly pile. 
 
 " Oh, if I could only have mother to myself 
 for ten minutes, even, I 'd tell her everything," 
 thought Margaret, as she sped through the rooms. 
 Yet, when she reached the dining-room, it was 
 with almost a sense of relief that she found uncle 
 Gabriel there and Ruth, besides her mother. Of 
 course, she told herself, while they were there a 
 confidential talk was impossible.
 
 ONLY JIM IVORS 39 
 
 " Well, daughter, the home visit is slipping fast 
 away. I wish I could make it twice as long. I 
 miss my first baby," Mrs. Jeffrey said affection- 
 ately, smiling up into Margaret's flushed face. 
 " Let those gay people in the sitting-room do 
 without you for a while ; sit down here by me, and 
 we '11 have a quiet little talk." She motioned to 
 a chair by her side, into which the tall daughter 
 immediately dropped. " You say the Austins are 
 invariably kind and considerate ; are you sure 
 you 're happy there, my dear ? " With a swift 
 intuition the mother eyes searched Margaret's 
 countenance. 
 
 " Suppose you and I adjourn to the giddy crowd 
 in the front room," Mr. Kincaid proposed to Ruth, 
 laying down the newspaper he had been scanning. 
 " I presume that piece of embroidery could be 
 held over until to-niorrow." 
 
 There was a simultaneous outcry. " Oh, you 
 need n't go, uncle Gabe ! " and, " Why, Margaret 
 has n't anything to say to mother that the rest of 
 us can't hear!" exclaimed the two girls Margaret 
 hastily, almost appealingly, Ruth in a soft yet in- 
 jured drawl, at the mere suggestion of a secret 
 from the family. Further discussion of the sub- 
 ject was prevented by the appearance of Ursula 
 and Jim. " It 's so warm in there that we thought 
 we 'd come out and get a breath of fresh air," ex- 
 plained Ursula for the benefit of all, but with a 
 pointed look of reproof at her elder sister, which 
 that young woman calmly ignored. 
 
 " Anyway, I 'd rather be here so cosy out
 
 40 FORTUNE'S BOATS 
 
 here, and and quiet," brilliantly remarked Jim, 
 appropriating the empty chair beside Margaret. 
 " You 're a nice one to run off in that fashion ! " 
 he said to her in a reproachful undertone, but with 
 imploring eyes which Margaret refused to see. 
 
 Jim was a prime favorite with Mrs. Jeffrey ; 
 she had known him from his juvenile days of 
 knickerbockers and tops and marbles, and her 
 interest in his artistic success was great. He still 
 retained his childish name of "aunt Jeffa" for 
 Mrs. Jeffrey, and found a welcome in the home 
 whenever he chose to claim it, which was very 
 often. Now, at sight of her favorite, the good 
 lady's thoughts instantly turned to hospitality. 
 
 " Ruth, get some glasses and ice water, and a 
 bottle of my orange syrup," she said. " Perhaps 
 Jim would like to taste it." 
 
 " Would I ? Just try me ! " declared Jim, in 
 an ecstatic tone^that signified orange syrup was 
 the one beverage in life for which he craved. 
 
 But he was not to enjoy it this evening. 
 
 While Ruth was setting the glasses on the table, 
 and uncle Gabriel was valiantly drawing the cork 
 of the home-made syrup, the party received a sud- 
 den reinforcement. Frances came dashing through 
 the short entry, and, pausing at the door, regarded 
 the signs of festivity with an indignation that 
 promptly found voice. 
 
 "Well, of all mean people!" she exclaimed 
 feelingly, addressing her sisters. " To steal away 
 one after another, and leave poor Judy and me to 
 do all the entertaining! And here you are en-
 
 ONLY JIM IVORS 41 
 
 joying yourselves orange syrup, and everything ! 
 I 'm going to stay here and have a good time, too," 
 taking a seat by the table as she spoke. 
 
 " You '11 see Judith pretty soon," Frances went 
 on, with a warning shake of the head. " She 's 
 talked Art and Music " her tone signified capi- 
 tals " to that man " she suddenly remembered 
 he was Jim's friend " that er Mr. Ferris 
 until she 's fairly exhausted. I know she is. 
 I stayed to help her, and stared at him until my 
 eyes felt as if they were crossed, and I really 
 could n't swallow any more yawns ; then I had to 
 come out. Mother" Francie's tone grew severe 
 " I do think the girls should go in. Judy '11 be 
 perfectly raving, to 've been left alone so long. 
 Could n't we have the orange syrup in the front 
 room ? " 
 
 " No, no oh, don't let us go in ! It 's so much 
 nicer out here ! " cried Margaret ; which, of course, 
 Jim eagerly seconded. 
 
 "Yes, Francie, I think we should," agreed 
 Ursula, rising ; and Mrs. Jeffrey gave a ready 
 assent. " Certainly, serve it in the drawing-room, 
 if you all prefer that," she said. 
 
 Whrrrrrr! went the electric bell that was con- 
 nected with the street door of the house. There 
 was an unexpectedness about it that made every- 
 body start, and brought the stout little maid from 
 behind the screen with amazing celerity. 
 
 " Goodness ! who can that be ? " questioned Ruth. 
 " No visitors, surely, at this hour of the evening," 
 glancing at the clock on the mantel.
 
 42 FORTUNE'S BOATS 
 
 " Who can it be ? " wondered one or two others, 
 but not Margaret. 
 
 With a sudden vivid rush of color that dyed 
 forehead and ears and deepened the peach bloom 
 in her cheeks, Margaret rose and hastily made her 
 way out of the room. At the door she turned and 
 spoke in a laughing voice, though her heart was 
 making frightened bounds that nearly took away 
 her breath : " Well, come on, then, if you want to. 
 We '11 all go in the sitting-room. Come, come ! " 
 
 Jim followed her ; so did Ursula and Frances. 
 
 Ruth set the tray of glasses down hard on the 
 table, and resuming her seat took up her embroid- 
 ery again, her delicate red lips drooping at the 
 corners. " I do think that sometimes Margaret 
 is so changeable ! " she complained, while Mrs. 
 Jeffrey and Mr. Kincaid waited for the second 
 ring, which should announce the visitor's arrival 
 at the front door of the apartment. 
 
 No one but Gretchen had heard Margaret's hur- 
 ried instructions as the maid stood pressing the 
 electric button. " If it 's a gentleman, ask him to 
 step to the drawing-room door, and I '11 let him in." 
 
 " Gen'man front room," with a pointing 
 finger over her shoulder, was all that Gretchen's 
 English and knowledge could furnish in answer to 
 her mistress's " Who ? " 
 
 But they were not long left in ignorance, for 
 Frances and Judith came rushing out, eager to 
 tell. " Oh, mother, guess who 's in there ! " cried 
 Judy, so intent upon being the first to tell the 
 news that she quite forgot her usual air of dignity.
 
 ONLY JIM IVORS 43 
 
 " Oh, mother, it 's " began Frances. 
 
 " It is Mr. Austin" determinedly finished Ju- 
 dith. 
 
 Involuntarily Mrs. Jeffrey had risen to receive 
 their message ; now she as involuntarily sat down 
 again. " Mr. Austin ! " she repeated, in a voice 
 somewhat weak with surprise. 
 
 Miss Weewee, who had been the unwilling 
 prisoner and companion of Gretchen, having made 
 her escape, now emerged from behind the screen 
 and leaped upon the table. Sitting up very 
 straight, with her tail wrapped closely around her 
 four little white paws, she fixed her green eyes 
 upon Mrs. Jeffrey with an expression of the most 
 profound and yearning interest. The object of 
 pussy's attention was too occupied to appreciate 
 this evidence of affectionate regard, but Frances 
 nudged Judith. " Oh, do look at Weewee ! " she 
 said, with a giggle. 
 
 " Mr. Austin," remarked uncle Gabriel re- 
 flectively, giving, in a violent effort after memory, 
 his black silk skullcap a shove which sent it 
 rakishly over one ear. " Why, Austins are the 
 people Margaret 's with, eh ? " 
 
 "Yes," put in Frances glibly, determined to 
 have some say, " and he walked in as naturally as 
 if he 'd been coming here lots of times. Not 
 a word of apology for calling so late ; and he 
 has upset everything. I don't mean the furni- 
 ture," she hastily explained, at the look of alarm 
 on her uncle's face, " but the enjoyment. Marnie 
 is talking to him very pleasantly of course, she
 
 44 FORTUNE'S BOATS 
 
 knows him but Ursula acts as if she 'd swal- 
 lowed a ramrod, she is so stiff. Mr. Ferris looks 
 bored nobody 's taking much notice of him now. 
 And as for Jim, he just glowers at Mr. Austin 
 asif"- 
 
 " Frances, you certainly should be a reporter; 
 you have the graphic tongue of a ready writer," 
 hastily interrupted Judith, noting her mother's 
 disturbed face. 
 
 Mrs. Jeffrey rose. " Come, Gabriel," she said, 
 a touch of more than ordinary decision in her 
 manner. " Come in with me." 
 
 " Why, certainly, my dear," cheerfully acqui- 
 esced uncle Gabe. 
 
 " Come on, Ruth," whispered Judith, preparing 
 to fall into file behind the small procession. 
 
 Ruth shook her head. "The sitting-room '11 be 
 full enough without an extra one being in it," she 
 said practically. " And I 'm not so crazy to see 
 Mr. Austin. I 'd rather stay here with my em- 
 broidery and Miss Weewee." 
 
 Frances's description of the state of affairs had 
 not been far wrong, as Mrs. Jeffrey realized when 
 she reached the drawing-room. Carter Ferris did 
 look bored. Ursula had assumed a coldness of de- 
 meanor unusual to her and not conducive to general 
 hilarity. Jim stood by the mantel, not far from 
 the newcomer, an unmistakable scowl on his fore- 
 head, his mouth set, and a fierce light in his brown 
 eyes. Margaret was talking rapidly, with a de- 
 sperate attempt at her usual ease of manner. She 
 welcomed her mother eagerly.
 
 ONLY JIM IVORS 45 
 
 " Mother, uncle Gabriel, this is Mr. Austin," 
 she said ; and the tall, delicate-looking man who 
 stood leaning against the mantel came forward 
 and acknowledged the introduction with cordiality 
 and easy grace. 
 
 " I am very happy to be allowed to make your 
 acquaintance," he said, and there was genuine sin- 
 cerity in his voice. 
 
 Roger Austin was a much older man than Jim 
 Ivors. Although his hair was still thick there 
 was a well-defined patch of gray on each temple, 
 and some gray in the short close-cropped line of 
 whiskers that marked the sides of his pale, plain- 
 shaven, refined face. Mr. Austin looked just what 
 he was a kindly, formal, well-bred man of 
 the world. His dress was irreproachable without 
 being foppish, and offered a strong contrast to 
 Jim's faded red necktie, his variegated painting 
 jacket, and light summer trousers, though Jim was 
 unquestionably the handsomer of the two men. 
 But with Margaret, comparing them this evening, 
 Jim's good looks carried very little weight. 
 
 Mrs. Jeffrey's reception of Mr. Austin, though 
 perfectly polite, was marked with reserve, and in 
 spite of the well-meant efforts of one or two of the 
 party conversation languished in a fashion usually 
 unknown in that little parlor. And the troubled 
 expression in the mother's eyes deepened when 
 presently Margaret rose, and, with a questioning 
 glance at Mr. Austin, murmured hesitatingly, " I 
 suppose I had better be going it's getting 
 late."
 
 46 FORTUNE'S BOATS 
 
 " Whenever you are ready I am at your ser- 
 vice," he courteously assured her. 
 
 Mrs. Jeffrey hastened after her daughter, but 
 Jim was ahead of her. Leaving the room in the 
 most open and precipitous manner he caught up to 
 Margaret in a few seconds. 
 
 " Peggie," he said abruptly, his hand closing 
 tight around her arm, " / am to take you home." 
 
 Margaret resented his masterful tone ; her face 
 hardened. " Indeed you are not ! " she declared, 
 throwing her head up angrily. " Let go my arm 
 this minute ! " 
 
 Jim's* hand dropped ; his eyes and voice alike 
 grew wistful, imploring. " Ah, Peggie, I want to 
 talk with you. I 've a splendid piece of news to 
 tell you, something you 'd love to hear," he urged. 
 Then, as Margaret began walking away from him, 
 he added desperately, " I 've sold my picture, ' Off 
 the Coast of Maine ' - sold it before it 's finished 
 or on exhibition." A note of exultation relieved 
 Jim's sombre earnestness. "Farley brought a 
 California big gun to see the picture, and he 
 bought it on the spot. Paid a good price for it, 
 too. Don't you want to hear how much ? It 's a 
 good price, you understand ? I want to tell you 
 all about it. You know what this success means 
 to you and me, Peggie, don't you? " 
 
 Margaret wheeled round on him, but she 
 would n't meet Jim's unhappy eyes, nor look into 
 his face, out of which a good deal of the ruddy 
 color had faded. " I 'm very glad to hear you 've 
 sold a picture," she said coolly. The polite indif-
 
 ONLY JIM IVORS 47 
 
 ference of her tone sent a shiver over Jim ; sud- 
 denly he felt as if he were the merest acquaintance 
 to her instead of "I hope you will sell many 
 more," went on Margaret frigidly. " Some other 
 time when I am at home I '11 hear the particulars, 
 but not to-night. I haven't time." Then she 
 whirled herself into the next room, where Nemesis 
 awaited her in the shape of Ursula. 
 
 "Margaret Jeffrey, you knew that man was 
 coming you invited him ! " was Ursula's accusa- 
 tion. " You have slighted Jim the whole evening, 
 and now to finish up with this ! I 'm astonished at 
 you ! " She expected, hoped for, a contradiction ; 
 the more indignant it might be, the better pleased 
 would she be to receive it. 
 
 But for a while Margaret maintained silence 
 and an appearance of indifference, though the 
 hands that held her hat pins were cold and trem- 
 bling so as to be almost useless, and the face be- 
 neath the hat was alternately paling and flushing 
 in a nervous, very unusual fashion. " I did know 
 Mr. Austin was coming," she said presently, de- 
 liberately, her eyes, full of defiance, meeting 
 Ursula's in the old dressing-glass before which 
 they both stood. " And as for Jim Ivors, I 'm 
 not bound to devote myself to his entertainment 
 every time I come home. If I come home, he 's 
 here. If I 'm out in the square for a breath of 
 fresh air, there he is. If I look out of the window 
 the last thing at night, nine times out of ten 
 there 's Jim sitting on a bench smoking like a fur- 
 nace, or else tramping up and down the park. He
 
 48 FORTUNE'S BOATS 
 
 actually haunts me ! " Margaret's tone had lost 
 its deliberation now. "And I'm just sick of it 
 sick of him ! " 
 
 " Margaret ! what a way to speak of the man 
 you 're going to marry ! " exclaimed Ursula, her 
 anger lost in consternation. Then, involuntarily, 
 " And that you should be so disagreeable this 
 evening of all others, when the poor fellow has the 
 sale of his picture to tell you of ; when he has spent 
 more than he can afford to on that antique table 
 you were wild about, just to please you " 
 
 Margaret turned upon her sister in a sudden 
 fury. " I never said I 'd marry Jim Ivors," she 
 declared vehemently. " And I never will ! If he 
 has chosen to take that unwarranted idea into his 
 stupid head, am I to be held responsible for it, 
 and harangued and scolded if I 'm barely civil to 
 another to other men ? I won't stand it ! 
 You 're all acting as if I had committed a crime in 
 letting Mr. Austin call here. I did n't invite him 
 at all ; he asked to be allowed to call." There 
 was triumph in Margaret's voice now as well as 
 indignation. " He said he wanted to meet my 
 relatives." 
 
 " My dear, does Miss Austin know of her bro- 
 ther's visit here this evening ? " asked Mrs. Jef- 
 frey's quiet voice. She had entered the room 
 unobserved by the girls, and her serious, troubled 
 eyes touched Margaret. 
 
 "I I don't know, mother," she hesitated ; then, 
 honestly, with a deep blush called up by mingled 
 shame and pride, "Mo, I don't think she does.
 
 ONLY JIM IVORS 49 
 
 But surely Mr. Austin is old enough to make a 
 call without having to ask his sister's permis- 
 sion ! " The next minute Margaret's arms were 
 around Mrs. Jeffrey's neck, her face buried in 
 that lady's shoulder. " Oh, mother, don't look at 
 me so reproachfully ! " she cried out. " It surely 
 is n't such a dreadful thing for Mr. Austin to call 
 here ! He may be rich and important, and we poor 
 and obliged to earn our living, but we are refined 
 people. I am just as well born as he is, and he 
 knows it. If he wau^ts to come to see us and be 
 our friend, why should n't he ? He is a true gen- 
 tleman, mother ; / know you would like him." 
 Then Margaret straightened up. " And as for 
 Jimlv " 
 
 " That is just why I do object to visits from 
 Mr. Austin," interrupted Mrs. Jeffrey gently but 
 firmly, and with a movement of the head not un- 
 like that of her daughter. " You know, Margaret, 
 noblesse oblige ; it is an obligation upon one who 
 is noble to act nobly. You are in Washington 
 Square to be Miss Austin's companion ; not to be 
 receiving attentions from her brother, unknown 
 to her. If Mr. Austin is so honorable a man, then 
 he has not come here this evening in the expecta- 
 tion of escorting you home without some encourage- 
 ment from you to do so. Child, dear daughter " 
 Mrs. Jeffrey grew very earnest "I should be 
 grieved and disappointed, more than I can bear 
 to even think of, if you allowed any attentions 
 from Mr. Austin save of the most everyday, con- 
 ventional nature such as you know to be your
 
 50 FORTUNE'S BOATS 
 
 due from him as his sister's companion. Marnie, 
 my firstborn, you 're a woman now. I can't insist 
 on your behavior ; I can only tell you how I feel 
 about this matter only advise, and leave the fol- 
 lowing of the advice to your own heart. I love 
 you, dear, I admire you, and I trust you ! " 
 
 With a quick passionate gesture Margaret caught 
 her mother's face between her own two hands and 
 kissed it warmly. " Darling mother, don't worry 
 about me ! I shall remember, and I '11 do my best 
 to act as you 'd like me to ! " she cried, with deep 
 feeling. All softness was gone from her voice, 
 though, when she turned and spoke to Ursula ; in- 
 stead there was a sharpness not usual to Margaret 
 with her favorite sister. u But you need n't, from 
 what I said to mother, think that I 'm going to 
 marry Jim Ivors," she declared. " You think him 
 a paragon ; I don't. Jim has some good quali- 
 ties 't would have to be a poor wretch indeed 
 that would be perfectly destitute of them ; but he 
 is the most untidy, slovenly, stupid " she seemed 
 to find satisfaction in piling up her adjectives 
 " clumsy, uncouth creature I 've ever known ! I 
 would n't, I could n't endure having him around 
 me all the rest of my life ! " 
 
 " You can say this, after all the years of patient, 
 faithful love he has given you ! " exclaimed Ursula 
 incredulously. 
 
 " You think that '11 work on my feelings, don't 
 you? But it doesn't not one atom," returned 
 Margaret, and forthwith marched off to the draw- 
 ing-room, where stood the three men in their over-
 
 ONLY JIM IVORS 51 
 
 coats, all ready to take their departure. As Mar- 
 garet entered the room, uncle Gabriel appeared 
 through another door, and he also wore his over- 
 coat, a long-skirted affair that hung on his small, 
 spare figure and flapped around his heels. The 
 black skullcap was gone, soon to be replaced by 
 the stiff derby hat which the reverend gentleman 
 held in his hand. 
 
 " Well, my dear, ready? " he asked cheerfully. 
 
 Margaret started, Jim's brow cleared as if by 
 magic, and Mr. Austin lifted his eyebrows in 
 polite surprise. 
 
 "/ expected to be Miss Jeffrey's escort to 
 Washington Square," he said. 
 
 " Oh, that is my privilege, which I am not at 
 all inclined to forego," was Mr. Kincaid's jaunty 
 answer. " Come along, Margaret. We '11 let these 
 good gentlemen get well ahead of us ; then you 
 and I can walk slowly and have our usual gossip 
 together by the way." 
 
 But a little later that same evening, before 
 Ursula had finished " straightening " the drawing- 
 room and putting out the lamps, there came a 
 hasty scrabble at the door. 
 
 It was Jim Ivors back again. 
 
 " No, thank you, I won't come in," he remarked 
 hurriedly, in reply to Ursula's invitation ; " I only 
 came back for a few words. Say, Ursa" Jim's 
 whisper grew most persuasive " don't you let 
 anybody be cross with Peggie for for this affair 
 to-night will you ? Peggie 's a handsome girl.
 
 52 FORTUNE'S BOATS 
 
 She can't help people admiring her, can she ? 
 You see, it might n't have been through any doing 
 of hers at all that that Austin fellow was here to- 
 night. I should Ve thought of this before, but 
 I 'm such a jealous cur where she 's concerned. 
 Now don't let anybody blame her d' you under- 
 stand?"
 
 CHAPTER IV 
 
 DEESS REHEARSAL, 
 
 " URSULA, it 's come ! And mother promises 
 we shall divide them this evening right after 
 tea," announced Frances in an excited stage whis- 
 per over the banisters, as her sister came lagging 
 up the last flight of steps. 
 
 Ursula leaned against the wall and looked up at 
 her. " ' It ' ? " she said interrogatively. " And 
 what is the mysterious ' them ' that we are to rend 
 apart after tea ? " 
 
 " Oh, you are so dense sometimes ! " Frances 
 threw out her hand impatiently. " I did n't want 
 everybody in the house to hear, but as you can't 
 guess I suppose you must be told." Dropping her 
 voice to the merest whisper she added : " The 
 Greenoughs have sent a bundle, a huge one. It 
 came by express, and it 's so big and round and 
 fat and ' comfy ' looking " Frances was fond of 
 adjectives " that we feel sure there are lots of 
 pretty things inside it. Is n't that jolly ? And 
 was n't it lovely of the G.'s ? " 
 
 " Very," answered Ursula, but with such lack 
 of enthusiasm as immediately to attract the younger 
 sister's attention. 
 
 " What 's the matter ? Something 's gone wrong 
 at the office," asserted Frances. " Tell me."
 
 64 FORTUNE'S BOATS 
 
 " Oh, only that my story for this week has been 
 cut and cut until there's hardly anything of it 
 left." Ursula's pretense of indifference did not 
 at all deceive the " youngest," as Frances was 
 called in the family, and was soon dropped. " It 's 
 the fourth in the series, you know," continued 
 Ursula, " and I think the best. The character 
 drawing is stronger. And now, to make the story 
 fit into a certain space in the paper, it has been 
 so cut and pared that it reads just like the barest, 
 baldest statement of a most ordinary happening. 
 There 's no life in it. Those stories come from 
 my very heart " a little tremor shook her voice ; 
 " there is n't one superfluous word in them, and 
 yet this is the second one that has been mutilated. 
 Shows how much the office people appreciate my 
 best work ! Mr. Rose was away to-day, or I should 
 have asked him to use his influence for my poor 
 little story. It 's so discouraging ! I feel now as 
 if I would n't write another line. Oh well," re- 
 turning to indifference, " I suppose it '11 be like 
 this always ; no use in moaning over what can't be 
 helped. I must just get calloused to it ! " Deter- 
 mined that the tears which had sprung to her eyes 
 should not be suspected, Ursula finished abruptly, 
 and made a dash for the front door. 
 
 But Frances's long arms came suddenly in the 
 way, and held and hugged her vigorously. " You 
 dear old tired clever thing!" the "youngest" 
 declared ; then giving by love's intuition the com- 
 fort most sustaining : " No, it won't always be 
 like this. You '11 be famous yet, and able to take
 
 DRESS REHEARSAL 55 
 
 all the space you please see if you 're not 
 when you finish your novel and the public read it. 
 So don't you mind what those horrid, narrow- 
 minded old office people do. Then they '11 be 
 glad enough to give you the whole paper, if you 
 wanted that much space. Cheer up, Ursa ; your 
 turn will come. I predict it. You are going," 
 with most emphatic wag after wag of her head, 
 " to be a great famous writer. Now ! And 
 you know lots of things that I predict come 
 true." 
 
 " And lots of them do not. You 're a goose ! " 
 ungratefully returned Ursula ; but she laughed, 
 the cloud lifting from her face, and that satisfied 
 Frances. 
 
 " Come on in and see the bundle," she urged, 
 leading the way to the dining-room, where, in one 
 corner, stood a package of truly generous propor- 
 tions. It was covered with stout paper wrappings, 
 and to the Jeffreys, who had an intimate know- 
 ledge of former bundles, suggested all manner of 
 pleasant as well as practical surprises. 
 
 " That is a bouncer ! " agreed Ursula, eyeing 
 the big brown package with reviving interest. 
 
 " We 're to open it just as soon as tea is over 
 and everything in order again. You know this is 
 Gretchen's afternoon out," remarked Ruth, as she 
 set a plate of crisp, freshly buttered toast on the 
 table. The toastmaker's cheeks and dainty little 
 ears were a deep soft pink ; she wore a white 
 apron tied pinafore fashion around her neck, and 
 there was a pleasant excitement shining in her
 
 56 FORTUNE'S BOATS 
 
 quiet gray eyes. It was in her slow voice, too, as 
 she said persuasively : " Get off your things at 
 once, won't you, Ursa? And, Frances, go tell 
 uncle Gabe that tea is ready. Bring him along 
 with you, or he '11 forget all about eating, and go 
 on writing, as he did the other evening. He's 
 been holding a reception the whole afternoon out 
 in the hall that Jared Watkius and a small 
 crowd of Italians." 
 
 " As usual, they were hungry. They 've eaten 
 up all the stale bread mother was saving for a 
 bread-and-butter pudding," put in Judith, who, 
 just returned from an all-day tramp among her 
 " poor people," lay resting at full length on the 
 lounge. " They 'd have got that as well," motion- 
 ing to the plateful of toast, " had n't Ruth grown 
 desperate and hidden it. Uncle Gabe has been 
 entertaining, cheering, advising, and encouraging 
 his 'constituents,' as Frances calls them, all the 
 afternoon, and now, probably, he '11 sit up half 
 the night writing editorials for their two papers. 
 Uncle Gabriel is of the salt of the earth we ap- 
 preciate that ; but," rearing her head uncomfortably 
 to glance at the family, " what would become of 
 the dear blessed man, I ask, without us to protect 
 him from his own generosity ? " 
 
 The girls laughed, and then Ruth urged : " Oh, 
 do hurry, girls ! The sooner we 're through with 
 tea, the sooner to get at the bundle." 
 
 " Why such haste ? Anticipation is sweet, and 
 our high hopes may be dashed " plaintively 
 began Judith.
 
 DRESS REHEARSAL 57 
 
 " Why, Judith, you know there 's always some- 
 thing good in the bundles," interrupted Ruth 
 literally. 
 
 " Too bad Mamie can't be here," remarked Ur- 
 sula; "she was for the last lot." 
 
 " Now, girls, don't keep tea waiting," came in 
 the mother's even tones as she entered the room, 
 bringing Judith to her feet, sending Ursula to take 
 off her coat and hat, and speeding Frances to the 
 small hall bedroom next the drawing-room, which 
 her uncle occupied. 
 
 Sliding the portiere aside she looked in. " Your 
 rivirence," she said, dropping a curtsy, " I am 
 ' sweet Anne Page,' and ' my mother desires your 
 worship's company ' in the dining-room ; or in the 
 words of Bailey junior, 'The wittles is up;' in 
 plain everyday English, tea is ready." 
 
 Mr. Kincaid sat at a little table directly under 
 the gaslight, and so absorbed in his writing that he 
 glanced at his niece with blank, uncomprehending 
 eyes. " Yes," he remarked, pulling absently at 
 his beard. " Ah true we have not had tea. 
 Well eh," looking down at his work, and dip- 
 ping his pen afresh into the ink, "I don't care 
 for any tea to-night, my dear. I must get these 
 finished." 
 
 But Frances pounced upon the little gentleman 
 and turned his face up to the light. " Uncle Gabe, 
 you are bad ! " she asserted solemnly, with sudden 
 suspicion. " You look tired to death. You did n't 
 come home to lunch, and I '11 wager you have n't 
 tasted one mouthful since early this morning ! "
 
 68 FORTUNE'S BOATS 
 
 Uncle Gabriel released his face from his niece's 
 hold, sat back in his chair, and slipping his hands 
 into his pockets rattled his keys ; a twinkle was in 
 his eyes. " Now that 's where you make a mistake," 
 he said jauntily. " I not only lunched myself, but 
 a friend as well, with me. Now there, my lady ! " 
 
 " On ten cents ! " cried Frances incredulously. 
 " That was all you had in your pocket this morn- 
 ing. You told me so." 
 
 " On ten cents," repeated Mr. Kincaid, wagging 
 his head, bubbling over with enjoyment of his 
 niece's mystification. " I walked down town and 
 up again felt like doing it so I still had my ten 
 cents when I met Jared Watkins. Poor fellow ! " 
 uncle Gabriel's bright face clouded for a moment 
 " he is certainly very unfortunate very unfor- 
 tunate ! He had had no lunch, neither had I ; so 
 we went off together and refreshed the inner man 
 on my ten cents. 'T was good, too, I tell you ! " 
 with a reminiscent smack of the lips. 
 
 " What did you get ? " asked Frances, with in- 
 terest, forgetting all about the waiting tea, and 
 lounging comfortably against her uncle's door. 
 
 " Ha, ha ! takes me ! " laughed Mr. Kincaid, 
 threading his beard with great satisfaction. "There 
 are such public conveniences as lunch wagons," he 
 went on to explain, " places where succulent mor- 
 sels may be obtained at a very moderate price 
 indeed. The * Magnet ' - good name, eh, fetch- 
 ing name ha, ha ! has a most attractive bill 
 of fare hanging outside, from which one may make 
 his choice. Things to make your mouth water ! "
 
 DRESS REHEARSAL 59 
 
 another reminiscent smack. " A darky has 
 charge clean, good fellow, always most respect- 
 ful and attentive. My dime " uncle Gabriel 
 sat up and waved a lean forefinger at Frances 
 " allowed us to partake sparingly, 't is true of 
 that delicious dish beloved by the discriminating 
 Mr. Silas Wegg, ' a weal an' 'animer.' In other 
 words, Jared and I had each a veal and ham pie, 
 at five cents apiece. Ha, ha ! " 
 
 " Must have been about one mouthful for each. 
 As long as you were doing it, why did n't you give 
 the big creature the whole ten cents, and you come 
 home to lunch ? " queried Judith, who, sent in 
 search of Frances, had come up in time to hear 
 the story. 
 
 Uncle Gabriel's face fell. " I never thought 
 of that ! " he exclaimed, looking so thoroughly 
 ashamed of himself that the girls had to laugh. 
 " And poor Jared said he had n't had breakfast. 
 What was I thinking of? And yet," rallying, as 
 a sudden recollection occurred to him, " I had 
 mentioned when we first met that I too was hun- 
 gry, moved by that common impulse which stirs 
 us all at certain hours of the day. He knew I was 
 hungry, and he knew that I had only ten cents 
 inadvertently I had mentioned both facts; so to 
 have offered him two pies, and taken none myself, 
 would have been to have made Jared most un- 
 comfortable, under the circumstances see ? My 
 dears, the poor have very delicate feelings, veiy. 
 One has always to consider that in eh offer- 
 ing any assistance. If I 'd had my wits about me,
 
 60 FORTUNE'S BOATS 
 
 I need n't have volunteered the information that I 
 was hungry, or the low state of my finances. As 
 long as I did, however, 't was best that we ate 
 together. Jared's feelings would have been hurt 
 else, I know they would." 
 
 " Well, well ! if you are n't the most inconsid- 
 erate people ! " declared Ruth, appearing on the 
 scene. " Frances sent for uncle Gabe, Judith for 
 Frances, and now mother had to send me after you 
 all." 
 
 " To be sure ! " cried Frances, making a plunge 
 for her uncle's arm, and turning out the gas at the 
 same moment. " Come on, your rivirence ; be 
 spry!" 
 
 Uncle Gabriel fell into his favorite's mood, and 
 the two went headlong, helter-skelter, through the 
 dimly lighted rooms, arriving in the dining-room 
 ahead of Judith and Ruth, and demanding loudly, 
 in a most injured tone, " Why, I thought you 
 were waiting for us ! Where are the others ? " 
 
 Usually tea was a slow meal with the Jeffreys : 
 adventures and incidents of the day were related 
 and talked over, letters were read aloud, books and 
 newspapers discussed, and often plans formulated 
 for the morrow. It was a meal beloved of the family 
 and looked forward to. But to-night there was not 
 the customary lingering around the table. Instead 
 was a briskness and celerity about every one's 
 movements that excited Mr. Kincaid's curiosity, 
 until Ursula showed him the portly brown bundle 
 in the corner of the room. 
 
 "Ah," he remarked, peering at it, "that ac-
 
 DRESS REHEARSAL 61 
 
 counts for everything. Vanitas vanitatum well, 
 I suppose young people must frivol a little. 'Tis n't 
 likely there 's anything for me in the bundle, and 
 those editorials are waiting. I '11 go write them." 
 And forthwith the little gentleman trotted off to 
 his quiet room and his work. 
 
 " There, now all is finished," Ruth said, put- 
 ting the last tumbler on the sideboard, and giving 
 the table cover a little straightening twitch. " Now, 
 mother, we 're all ready." 
 
 " Yes, everybody 's ready," chimed in Frances. 
 " Mother, sit in this low chair, and we '11 drag the 
 bundle before you." 
 
 With a smile Mrs. Jeffrey took the seat ap- 
 pointed her, and in a trice the big package was 
 before her and the strings cut. A long-drawn 
 " O-o-h ! " broke from the four girls as the stout 
 wrappings were pulled aside, disclosing a pile of 
 neatly folded, many-colored garments. 
 
 Mrs. Jeffrey looked across the heap at the four 
 eager faces opposite her. " Years ago," she said, 
 44 1 gave your cousin Esther a dress. 'T was a new 
 yellow silk I 'd never worn it with a pattern 
 of little flowers all over it. How pretty she looked 
 in it, too ! She has never forgotten that gift, and 
 now in our time of need see how the small kind- 
 ness comes back to us in double and triple mea- 
 sure ! Esther is a dear, generous creature ! " There 
 was a suspicious moisture in Mrs. Jeffrey's eyes. 
 
 44 That 's the kind of memory worth cultivat- 
 ing," quoth Judith absently, eyeing the garments 
 with deep interest " short where injuries are
 
 62 FORTUNE'S BOATS 
 
 concerned, but like an elephant for kindnesses. 
 Oh, motheree / what a swell gown ! Who '11 get 
 that, I wonder ? I 'ni just pining for a tailor-made 
 suit " 
 
 " Goodness ! I hope we won't all want the same 
 thing ! " cried Ruth anxiously. 
 
 " We can do as we 've done before let mother 
 decide," remarked Ursula. 
 
 " They 're marked they 're all marked which 
 is for whom," broke out Frances, whose sharp eyes 
 had been at work. " And there 's a gorgeous bit 
 over there with my name on it. Jfur-rah I " 
 Catching Ruth, who happened to be nearest, by 
 the waist, the " youngest " whirled her round the 
 big table and back before any resistance could be 
 offered. 
 
 " You are entirely too rough ! " exclaimed Ruth, 
 breathless and indignant ; but Frances paid no 
 heed, for with a squeal of delight she had seized 
 upon the garment Mrs. Jeffrey held out. " Girls, 
 girls, it 's a tea -gown ! with a train ! " she 
 screamed, dancing about with delight, the new 
 possession clasped in her arms. " I must put it 
 on right away. I've never worn a train." But 
 in the very act of flight she paused. " Think I '11 
 wait, and see first what everybody else gets," she 
 announced, to deaf ears, for the girls were too 
 deeply interested inspecting the garments the mo- 
 ther was handing out to pay any attention to each 
 other's remarks. 
 
 Exclamations of delight filled the air. " This 
 is a beautiful bundle! Silk linings galore ! Gaze ! "
 
 DRESS REHEARSAL 63 
 
 cried Judith, displaying the gay lining of a skirt ; 
 she had carried off her spoil to a chair in a corner 
 of the room, and was taking all a proprietor's 
 pride in her new clothes. 
 
 " Oh, see this pink silk waist : is n't it sweet ? " 
 demanded Kuth ecstatically, holding the garment 
 high in the air for inspection. " Cousin Esther 
 remembered my weakness for pink ; is n't that nice 
 of her ? And look at the lace on it ! " 
 
 " Yes, and the yellow for Marnie her favorite 
 color," Ursula was saying. "And think of my 
 getting this lovely tailor-made skirt and jacket 
 just what I wanted. See how fine the cloth is, 
 and the whole thing so stunning. Do you mind 
 my having it, Judy ? " 
 
 Judith met the deprecating eyes without a 
 minute's hesitation. " No, I 'm glad you got it," 
 she said stoutly, " though, honestly, I might have 
 minded had we divided the things ourselves 
 had n't they been marked for us, I mean. But I 
 don't care one bit, Ursa, truly. I 've fared splen- 
 didly ! And," eagerly, " I 've settled in my mind 
 just who of my poor people are to have this and 
 this " - pointing out two of the newly acquired 
 acquisitions to her wardrobe, " when I 've finished 
 with them. I '11 wear them carefully." 
 
 "Mother, dear, what did you get? Oh, were 
 you forgotten ? " cried Ursula, with sudden com- 
 punction. " Take my suit. It could easily be 
 altered to fit you " 
 
 " Would cousin Esther forget me ? " laughed 
 Mrs. Jeffrey ; then laying her hand on a small
 
 64 FORTUNE'S BOATS 
 
 heap near her chair, " No, my dears, I am very 
 well off : all these are mine." 
 
 " I 'm going to put on my tea-gown," declared 
 Frances. " Come, Ursa, help me. Oh, I 've 
 thought of something ! Excuse me, mother." She 
 ran whispering from one to another of her sisters, 
 and presently the whole four picked up their new 
 treasures and filed out of the room, with the as- 
 surance, " We '11 soon be back, mother very 
 soon." 
 
 The running to and fro, the laughter and 
 snatches of gay talk that came floating out to the 
 dining-room, told Mrs. Jeffrey that some fun was 
 afoot, and with a smile she awaited it. 
 
 She had not very long to wait. Along the hall 
 and into the room they came, with bows and smiles 
 and mincing steps and infectious little gusts of 
 giggles. The things in the bundle marked " odds 
 and ends " had been well utilized. 
 
 " This is a fancy-dress party, mum," Mrs. Jef- 
 frey was informed by the foremost one, who was 
 Ursula, in a low-necked waist, with a mousseline-de- 
 soie scarf half covering her pretty shoulders and 
 round white arms. She wore a feather in her hair 
 (taken from a summer hat) and long gloves. 
 Ruth came next, wonderfully fair to look at, 
 clothed in something that was soft and shimmer- 
 ing, pink as its wearer's exquisite color, and giving 
 her such an air of statuesque repose as made the 
 mother suddenly realize that one, at least, of her 
 "twins" was very much "grown up." But Judith 
 and Frances were the most picturesque of the
 
 DRESS REHEARSAL 66 
 
 group, the former in a yellow and red Dolly Var- 
 den watteau gown which had been long in the 
 family ; it was looped high over a yellow cretonne 
 petticoat, and with the high-pointed bodice and 
 elbow sleeves lent an old-time effect which was 
 very becoming to Judith. Finding Frances un- 
 willing to forego the wearing of the tea-gown, the 
 girls had draped it round the slim figure as nearly 
 after the fashion of the Dolly Varden costume as 
 could be obtained ; of course leaving the train, 
 which just then was its owner's proud delight. 
 Both girls wore their hair powdered, and a rose 
 (another contribution from the summer hat) nes- 
 tling above the left ear. With her whitened locks 
 piled high on top her head and heightening the 
 brilliancy of her eyes, craning her slender girlish 
 throat from among the falls of lace that finished 
 the neck of the pale green tea-gown, and flourish- 
 ing her long arms to show off the wide, open, lace- 
 trimmed sleeves, Frances looked a very different 
 creature from the shabby overgrown young person 
 she generally represented. 
 
 While the other girls carried on elegant and 
 animated conversations with Mrs. Jeffrey and 
 imaginary and admiring cavaliers, Frances retired 
 to the open space by the west window and gave 
 herself up to the practicing of the most profound 
 and elaborate curtsies, directed to no one in par- 
 ticular, and varied by occasional rushings to and 
 fro filled with admiration of the long train that 
 came switching and twisting after her. " This 
 is beautiful! I do think those Greenoughs are
 
 66 FORTUNE'S BOATS 
 
 dears ! " she exclaimed ecstatically, returning from 
 one of these sudden excursions. " If I ever get 
 so well off that I don't have to wear out my clothes 
 myself, I '11 certainly hunt up some nice refined 
 poor people like ourselves and get them to 
 accept my things, and " 
 
 " Could there possibly be another family of 
 young females quite so nice as ourselves ? " queried 
 Judith slyly. 
 
 " Judy, how can you be so conceited ! " ex- 
 claimed Ruth, and was astonished and not over- 
 pleased at the shouts of laughter that arose. 
 
 " Come, let 's go and show ourselves to uncle 
 Gabe," hastily proposed Ursula. " He is proba- 
 bly so engrossed with those editorials as to have 
 forgotten our very existence. We '11 give him a 
 surprise." 
 
 And in this they succeeded, for no one could 
 have looked more astonished than did Mr. Kincaid 
 as the four pretty creatures marched into the 
 room. 
 
 " Why, why ! dear me ! what is all this ? " he 
 exclaimed, dropping his pen and sitting back in 
 his chair to look at them. 
 
 " We 're not your busy-bee nieces at all, sir," 
 Judith informed him, with a very grand air. " We 
 are four fairy princesses from across the sea, just 
 stepped in to dazzle your eyes. We can't stay but 
 a little while, for of course there are four fairy 
 princes in full pursuit of us. And should they 
 ever catch us ugh ! " here was a gesture of 
 exaggerated horror "we'd have to marry them
 
 DRESS REHEARSAL 67 
 
 and go off to be queens of fairyland. Then neither 
 you nor other mortal would ever lay eyes on us 
 again ! " She finished in a tone of deep commis- 
 eration for those who would be so deprived. 
 
 Uncle Gabriel stroked his beard and looked at 
 his nieces, a couple of whom bridled and tittered 
 behind their hands ; then he arose and made them 
 a profound bow. " I 've always felt a great desire 
 to meet some fairies," he said, with twinkling eyes. 
 " But I 'd no idea they were such substantial crea- 
 tures. How did your royal highnesses come by 
 air line, or in some ' dusky barge ' ? Girls," drop- 
 ping suddenly into enthusiasm, " you 're all so 
 handsome that I 'm filled with admiration ! Ruth, 
 you 're a model for a duchess. Judy, you 're 
 a dream of beauty. Ursula, you look sweet 
 enough to kiss " suiting the action to the word. 
 " Frances " 
 
 " Oh dear ! there 's that front door bell ! " in- 
 terrupted the " youngest " impatiently. " It 's 
 that horrid Gretchen she said she 'd be in 
 early. Keep my compliment until I get back, 
 uncle Gabe, and don't forget to say something 
 about my new train. I '11 go to the door, mother," 
 she shouted through the rooms ; then wheeling 
 round to face her sisters, a giggle on her lips, 
 " Girls, I '11 let Gretchen in through the sitting- 
 room door," she said rapidly. " You all come out 
 here first, and sit round like company. It '11 be a 
 joke to see her round eyes open." 
 
 While the sisters, with only half-suppressed 
 laughter, were hastily taking their places in the
 
 68 FORTUNE'S BOATS 
 
 little drawing-room, Frances unlocked the front 
 door and thrust out her powdered head, waving 
 a bare slim arm, from which the open sleeve of 
 the green tea-gown had fallen away. "You may 
 come in this way, Gretchen," she called authori- 
 tatively. 
 
 But the next minute she fell back, with a little 
 shriek, and three young men filed into the room. 
 
 " Hallo ! what 's up a masquerade ? " asked 
 one, Jim Ivors, staring with all his eyes at the 
 three girls who had taken " poses " for Gretchen's 
 benefit. " Where 's your mother ? I 've brought 
 you a new cousin. Here he is Basil Fabrey." 
 Jim motioned to the young fellow who stood 
 beside him. 
 
 For one dreadful moment it seemed as if the 
 girls were dumb. Then Judith called, with a note 
 that was almost anguish in her voice, " Uncle Ga- 
 briel, please come here at once ! " And springing 
 up, Ursula held out her hand to the tall round- 
 shouldered man who was lingering by the door, 
 looking shy and most uncomfortable. 
 
 " Ah, Mr. Rose ! " she exclaimed cordially, 
 though her cheeks were scarlet with embarrass- 
 ment. " I am very glad to see you. This is my 
 uncle, the Reverend Mr. Kincaid. These are my 
 sisters. Judith, Ruth, Frances, this is Mr. Rose, 
 of whose kindness to me you have often heard. 
 Frances," turning to that young person, " ask 
 mother " 
 
 But the powdered head and brilliant eyes, which 
 li:i<l been thrown into bold relief by the heavy
 
 DRESS REHEARSAL 69 
 
 dark portieres among whose folds their owner had 
 tried to lose herself, had suddenly disappeared. 
 Though called " slow " and " dense " by some 
 members of his family, Jack Rose had neverthe- 
 less found time, during Ursula's hurried introduc- 
 tion, to wonder to which of the sisters that head 
 might belong. And now his gray eyes turned 
 upon his hostess with so unmistakable a question 
 in them that she answered it before he spoke. 
 
 " That was Frances," she said, smiling ; " our 
 ' youngest,' and a most merry, impetuous, and er- 
 ratic individual. She is responsible for your find- 
 ing us in this crazy rig. We ' dressed up,' as the 
 children say, for fun and have been caught ! 
 Jim, have you introduced Mr. Rose to our new 
 cousin ? "
 
 CHAPTER V 
 THE NEW COUSIN 
 
 THROUGH the rooms swept Frances, like a small 
 tornado, in such agitation of mind as to have en- 
 tirely forgotten the long train of her tea-gown, 
 but lately her dearest pride, which now went glid- 
 ing and switching after her quite unheeded. 
 
 " Mother ! what do you suppose ? 'T was n't 
 Gretchen at all ! " she cried, bouncing into the 
 dining-room in great excitement. " Jim 's in 
 there, and Mr. Rose, and a new cousin 1 " 
 
 " What do you mean ? What are you talking 
 about ? " demanded Mrs. Jeffrey, in bewilderment. 
 
 " That is what Jim said, that 's all I know * a 
 new cousin,' " insisted Frances. " And," turning 
 up her saucy little nose, " he is n't much * for 
 pretty,' either, as Jim would say. I only got one 
 good sight of him, but that was enough. He 's 
 got a lo-ong face, long as a horse's (it looks so, 
 anyway), a month to make a gargoyle envious, 
 and the queerest eyes you ever saw. They're 
 enough like Miss Weewee's for him to be her 
 cousin, instead of ours. And, to crown all, his 
 name is Basil Fabrey. Such a name ! Miss 
 Weewee Jeffrey, allow me to present to you 
 Mr. Bazzle-Dazzle Fabrey ! " Laying violent hands 
 upon the astonished cat, Frances set her upon her
 
 THE NEW COUSIN 71 
 
 hind legs, and forced poor pussy to make a low 
 bow to the absent cousin. 
 
 " Fabrey ! Fabrey ! " repeated Mrs. Jeffrey 
 thoughtfully, searching her memory. " Where 
 does he come in ? Oh, I know," brightening up ; 
 "Cousin Maria Norton married a Fabrey, and 
 went to live on the Pacific coast. He didn't 
 amount to much in a business way, either. This 
 must be her son. Well, well, I never expected to 
 hear of Maria again! We used to be girls to- 
 gether. I '11 go right in. Come, Francie." 
 
 All embarrassment was gone, and quite a buzz 
 of conversation had taken its place, when Mrs. 
 Jeffrey entered the little drawing-room. With a 
 merriment she had been far from feeling at the 
 time, Ursula was relating her difficulties of the 
 day to Jack Rose, and receiving his sympathy, 
 while, in a corner, Jim was hearing from Ruth of 
 Margaret's latest visit at home, and telling his 
 own tale of woe. 
 
 " She has n't written me one line for the last 
 three weeks, and I 've sent her letter after letter," 
 he said mournfully. " And I 've laid eyes on her 
 but twice, though I 've been in Washington Square 
 well, pretty often " (poor Jim !), " and then 
 she didn't notice me. It seems to me that she 
 could n't help seeing me ; but still, of course, she 
 might n't have seen me she could n't have. 
 I 've no wish to force myself on Margaret, you 
 understand," with an effort after his pride, "but 
 she belongs to me, Ruth ; you all know that. And 
 I '11 never give her up unless she herself asks her
 
 72 FORTUNE'S BOATS 
 
 / 
 freedom from me. But she 'D not do that." Jim's 
 
 tone grew confident, his face brighter. " Peggie 
 is true to the core. There is some good reason 
 for her acting in this way I 'm sure of it and 
 she '11 explain everything by and by. I 'm not 
 afraid she '11 ever go back on me ; she 's too loyal 
 for that sort of thing." 
 
 " Did Marnie ever tell you in so many words 
 that she 'd marry you ? " asked Ruth, in her direct 
 way. 
 
 For a moment Jim looked at her with startled 
 eyes. "I I don't remember that she did 
 in so many words," he replied presently, very 
 slowly. " But she knows has known for years 
 that I love her, that I !m working for her; 
 that I expect her, and no other woman, to be my 
 wife. She 's helped me choose the things for our 
 home by and by ; she 's never once said that she 
 would n't or did n't wish to marry me. What 
 am I saying?" Jim pulled himself up short. 
 " 'T was n't ever necessary to discuss that question 
 between us," he said, with an assumption of dig- 
 nity so unusual as to rather overawe Rufie. " And 
 I won't discuss it now. I trust Margaret. You 
 understand, Ruth? I trust her entirely." 
 
 Meanwhile, after a few cordial words to Jack 
 Rose, Mrs. Jeffrey was making acquaintance with 
 the new cousin, whom it had fallen to Mr. Kin- 
 caid's and Judith's share to entertain. Basil 
 Fabrey was not very unlike Francie's description 
 of him. His jaw was much too long for beauty, 
 and his mouth decidedly wide, the lips set firmly
 
 THE NEW COUSIN 73 
 
 together. Constant outdoor life had tanned his 
 naturally fair skin almost to copper color ; his hair, 
 too, was very dark, if not black, and the contrast 
 to these presented by a pair of very light blue 
 eyes was a striking and not entirely pleasing one. 
 Sharp eyes they were, too, and holding between 
 the brows a little scowl that came and went and 
 came again as their owner talked. Very unlike 
 handsome Jim Ivors was he, or Jack Rose, with 
 his intellectual, noble face that reflected the soul 
 within ; and yet, not altogether ill-looking either 
 was this young man. His smile, though slow to 
 come, was very pleasant while it lasted, lighting 
 up the sombre face wonderfully, and flashing into 
 the watchful eyes. Basil was about twenty-three 
 or four, tall, well developed, with a well-knit 
 figure and good bearing, and dressed, this evening, 
 in a rough brown business suit. The smile was 
 having its own way now, as the new cousin stood 
 responding to Mrs. Jeffrey's hand-clasp, and an- 
 swering her words of welcome. 
 
 " I would know you were Maria's boy ! " the 
 good lady told him. " You have her smile. Now 
 sit down here and tell me of your mother; I 
 haven't heard a word from or of her, for years. 
 She used to be full of fun ! Is she so still, or has 
 she grown old and staid like myself? And has 
 she such bonny daughters as I have ? " 
 
 Then Basil's smile flashed out again. "You 
 are pretty well off," he said, sitting down beside 
 her and letting his eyes rove about the room. The 
 scowl had quite disappeared. "I'm all the son
 
 74 FORTUNE'S BOATS 
 
 and daughter my mother's got," he went on. 
 " I 'm her only child. Should n't wonder if there 'd 
 been times, though, when she found even that one 
 a pretty big handful ! " He seemed to regard this 
 as a joke. " Mother has n't much fun about her 
 these days," he told his hostess. "My father's 
 death, about four years ago, was a great blow to 
 her; seems as if she can't get over it. In one 
 way mother 's had a hard life. The old man " 
 Basil hastily corrected himself " my father was 
 very unfortunate. For years he was " He 
 paused, as if hardly knowing how to go on. 
 
 " Yes, yes, I did hear," broke in kind-hearted 
 Mrs. Jeffrey, anxious to spare him. " I heard of 
 his investing, and losing every dollar ; just after 
 they were married, too. Yes, I heard of it. Poor 
 Maria ! Still, there are harder things than poverty 
 in this world to endure. And," smiling, "your 
 mother is fortunate in having such a strong young 
 son to put his shoulder to the wheel for her." 
 
 The " strong young son," however, did not 
 return the smile. He was studying his hostess's 
 placid face with the most watchful eyes, that ugly 
 scowl in full possession of his forehead. 
 
 " Then if you find a business opening in New 
 York, you may stay on here," remarked Judith, 
 rather in the tone of a statement than that of a 
 question. She had returned from a short visit to 
 the other side of the room in time to hear the last 
 part of her mother's speech. 
 
 "Possibly," returned the young man briefly. 
 Then to uncle Gabriel, who had just joined the
 
 THE NEW COUSIN 75 
 
 group, he added, " I suppose people in New York 
 think an awful lot of money, as they do in Cali- 
 fornia as they do the whole world over. They 
 value a man for what he 's got how much he 's 
 worth not for what he is." 
 
 There was a sharpness, almost bitterness, in his 
 voice which affected each of his listeners differently. 
 " Poor boy ! he has had his share of snubbing ! " 
 thought the mother, and remarked with genuine 
 warmth of tone, " Well, riches or poverty, it 's the 
 same to us. We are poor ourselves, and we value 
 our friends for themselves, without the slightest 
 regard for their possessions or social status." 
 
 " ' The gold is but the guinea stamp, a man 's a 
 man for a' that,' " quoted uncle Gabriel cheerily. 
 "Still," he went on slowly, stroking his beard, 
 " money wealth should never be despised. 
 In the proper hands it may be a power for good." 
 
 " I just wish / had a lot of it," cried Judith, 
 laughing. " I know what I 'd do with it fast 
 enough. I would " 
 
 The new cousin's scowl was actually fierce, his 
 pale eyes scintillated. " You 're just like the rest 
 of 'em," he broke in rudely. " I never knew a 
 girl yet that did n't love money ! Well, I am poor 
 poor poor! And those that don't like me 
 may leave me alone ! " 
 
 His vehemence surprised them all ; and Judith's 
 little head went up. " Judging by myself, I should 
 say that girls preferred manners to money," she 
 retorted, with such obvious meaning that the blood 
 rushed to Basil's bronzed face, turning it a bright 
 mahogany color.
 
 76 FORTUNE'S BOATS 
 
 "I I did n't mean " he began awkwardly. 
 
 But Judith was paying no attention to his re- 
 mark. " Some one is knocking ! " she exclaimed, 
 and hastily opening the door, disclosed a small boy 
 standing in the hall. 
 
 He was a little thin fellow, and so overcome by 
 the sudden prominence into which he was brought 
 that his tongue almost failed him. " I wan' - 
 Miss Judit'," he stammered out, then began claw- 
 ing his ragged cap nervously, and balancing him- 
 self on one foot, resting the other, in a dilapidated 
 shoe, against his ankle, while his gaze fixed itself, 
 open-eyed, on the girls in their fantastic dresses. 
 
 " Why, it 's Eddie West ! " cried Judith. " I 'm 
 Miss Judith don't you know me ? This is only 
 flour," motioning to her whitened locks with a 
 smile. " Go to the other door, Eddie," she went 
 on kindly ; " I '11 let you in there and hear your 
 message." 
 
 There were two front doors to the Jeffreys' 
 apartment : one from the public hall directly into 
 the drawing-room, where the boy now stood. The 
 other was the regular entrance, where was the bell, 
 and opened into what was termed the " private 
 hall," a narrow entry of which mention has already 
 been made. 
 
 Opening this door, Judith admitted and led the 
 way for Eddie into the dining-room, where besides 
 her mother, uncle Gabriel, and Frances, was, to 
 Judy's annoyance, the new cousin as well. 
 
 " Now, Eddie, what 's the message ? " Judith 
 asked.
 
 THE NEW COUSIN 77 
 
 Then the burden of grief, which for a few min- 
 utes had been lifted, settled down again upon nine- 
 year-old Eddie. " Me mother she 's orfle sick ! 
 She wan's Miss Judit' right off ! " he managed to 
 get out, then crooking his ragged elbow against 
 the side of the door, broke into a fit of crying. 
 But it was over almost as soon as begun, and the 
 little chap straightened up, wiping his eyes and 
 nose on a dingy rag which did duty for a hand- 
 kerchief, and, furtively, on his coat sleeve. " I 
 dunno what 's de matter," he replied to Judith's 
 query. " She 's shakin' like she was col' ; we ain't 
 got no fire. An' she 's talkin' orfle funny 
 callin' all de time fur Miss Judit'." 
 
 " I '11 go right away," promised Judith. " Mo- 
 ther, have we any blankets, any old quilts, that I 
 could take along ? " 
 
 " Only one thin old comfortable I 'm afraid 
 that is all I have," Mrs. Jeffrey said doubtfully. 
 " I gave away my last old blanket the other day." 
 
 " Oh, my dear, take a blanket or quilt which- 
 ever it is off my bed," urged uncle Gabriel ; 
 his skull-cap was half off his head, his eyes were 
 shining with sympathy through his glasses. " I 'm 
 sure I don't need so many covers. And besides, I 
 could put my overcoat on the bed if I were cold. 
 Eh ? Take it ! " 
 
 " I 've got it ! I 've thought of something ! " 
 cried Frances, with an inspiration. " The Colonel 
 is n't in use ; he '11 be just the thing ! " She dis- 
 appeared, and was back again in a minute or two, 
 bringing with her a very long and thick circular
 
 78 FORTUNE'S BOATS 
 
 cloak. It was of soft material, dark gray and 
 black, a long pointed hood hung down the back, 
 and it was fastened at the throat by a large clasp 
 of German silver. 
 
 " We named him after that funny book, ' The 
 Colonel's Opera Cloak,' he was so very like Colo- 
 nel St. John's wonderful cloak," the "youngest" 
 explained to Basil, who sat with his elbows 011 the 
 table, his chin in his palms, saying nothing, but, 
 as Frances afterwards asserted, " looking at us all 
 as if we were some curious, strange animals, of a 
 species hitherto unknown to him." " It 's been 
 in the family for ages," continued Francie, grow- 
 ing sentimental. " We 've every one of us worn 
 it, at some time or other. We 've covered with it, 
 we 've taken it on journeys. Good-by, dear old 
 Colonel ! " She hugged the cloak to her, then 
 threw it beside the basket into which her mother 
 was hastily packing food and such other things as 
 she thought might be useful. Bottles were filled 
 with hot water and well wrapped up, and Eddie 
 was supplied with a package containing wood and 
 coal, with which to start a fire. 
 
 " Now I '11 get on my things," announced 
 Judith, when all this was accomplished. 
 
 " You are never going yourself ! " remonstrated 
 the new cousin, in an earnest undertone, coining 
 quickly to her side. " Send the things by the 
 boy, give him money," Basil's hand went uncon- 
 sciously toward his pocket, "but don't you go 
 out among such people and at this time of night. 
 It is n't safe nor right."
 
 THE NEW COUSIN 79 
 
 A mocking smile flitted over Judith's lips ; she 
 lifted her eyebrows disdainfully. " Don't trouble 
 yourself about my safety," she remarked crisply. 
 " I am well known in this part of the city, and as 
 safe under little Eddie's protection as if escorted 
 by a phalanx of police. Mother is going with me, 
 she always does at night, not because she is afraid 
 to trust me alone among my poor people, but be- 
 cause she is so capable in sickness." Then the 
 young lady marched away with a grand air very 
 suitable to her Dolly Varden gown and powdered 
 hair. 
 
 But the dignity was still well in evidence when 
 Judith returned in her simple street dress, and 
 with the powder all brushed out. " Jim insists on 
 going with us, mother," she said to Mrs. Jeffrey, 
 who stood ready. " He insists on carrying the 
 basket. He '11 go with us only to the door." 
 
 " I will carry the basket," asserted Basil, with 
 rather a lordly air, and stretching out his hand 
 for it. 
 
 But Judith drew it out of his reach. " You 
 should have spoken sooner," she informed him in- 
 differently. 
 
 " Why did n't you ask me ? we 're cousins," 
 he retorted. 
 
 Again Judith arched her slender eyebrows at 
 him ; the color flamed into her pale face. " The 
 men we know cousins or not ask permission 
 to do things for us ; they don't wait for us to ask 
 them," she remarked proudly. " Here 's the bas- 
 ket, Jim. Come, Eddie."
 
 80 FORTUNE'S BOATS 
 
 " Look after the girls until I get back, Gabriel," 
 Mrs. Jeffrey said, smiling at her brother. And 
 then the rest of the family and the visitors crowded 
 out into the hall to see -thef departure. 
 
 As the little party disappeared down the steps, 
 Basil strolled back into the dining-room, and 
 standing on the threshold of the door, hands in 
 his pockets, closely scrutinized the cosy but shabby 
 room. The inexpensive curtains, the patches in 
 the rug, the faded cover of the broad old-fashioned 
 lounge, the worn screen, even the gaping cracks in 
 the flat-topped desk, which was sadly in want of 
 " doing up " nothing escaped his gaze. Slowly 
 his eyes traveled over each object, and with a 
 start fell upon Miss Weewee, who sat in her 
 favorite place, in the middle of the table, regard- 
 ing him with severe intentness. In her green eyes 
 appeared what was known in the family as her 
 44 diabolical " expression, and so unpleasantly did 
 it affect the new cousin that he snapped his fin- 
 gers at her and cried " Scat ! " with an emphasis 
 that sent pussy flying behind the screen, from 
 which place of refuge she peered out at him with 
 fascinated interest. 
 
 " What are you doing ? " asked Frances, appear- 
 ing at Basil's elbow. 
 
 " Making acquaintance with your cat," was the 
 somewhat grim reply. As they walked to the front 
 room Basil added, " I should think you people M 
 prefer a dog to a cat. There is something human 
 about a dog. Doesn't Judith like dogs?" 
 
 44 Oh, yes, we all like them," replied Frances.
 
 THE NEW COUSIN 81 
 
 " We used to have dogs when we lived in the coun- 
 try, but here in a flat " 
 
 But not waiting for her to finish the sentence, 
 Basil began asking othar questions. It was not 
 until some time afterward that the three girls 
 realized how closely they had been catechised that 
 evening, and how little the new cousin had told of 
 himself in return. Jack Rose, however (who was 
 lending but one ear to a long discourse of uncle 
 Gabriel's), understood the process of " pumping " 
 that was going on, and he was moved t>y an un- 
 usual and increasing resentment. 
 
 " And what do you do ? " questioned Basil, with 
 an air of affability, settling himself more com- 
 fortably in his chair. " I know about the other 
 girls now what 's your occupation ? " 
 
 *' I have none," replied Frances dolefully, and 
 looking very much ashamed. " I 'm supposed to 
 possess a voice, and it is being cultivated at my 
 sisters' expense. I think I could sing, now you 
 know, fill a position in a church or somewhere, if I 
 could get it. But Signer Bacalli insists I should 
 wait a couple of years longer. I 'd like to be earn- 
 ing some money as well as the other girls, but 
 I 'in the greatest dummy ! I can't do a thing 
 unless," with a giggle, and casting a glance around 
 the little drawing-room, " unless it may be ar- 
 ranging a room, or setting a table. Those I can 
 do very well oh well," holding up her pow- 
 dered head, " pretty well. Can't I, Ruth ? " 
 
 " Indeed, she can," confirmed Ruth warmly. 
 " I 'm sure there is n't anybody in this city that has
 
 82 FORTUNE'S BOATS 
 
 more taste in fixing a house than Frances has. 
 We often say that she 'd manage to make the 
 very barest room look cosy." 
 
 " Anyway, Francie, with a voice like yours, you 
 ought to be content," supplemented Ursula. 
 
 But Frances made a gesture of self -depreciation ; 
 and leaning forward, Jack Rose said, in the solemn 
 fashion he bad sometimes when very much in ear- 
 nest, " The ability to make a home attractive is no 
 mean gift, Miss Frances. My sister, Mrs. Erveng, 
 considers it very valuable. Only the other day 
 and at other times, too I heard her wishing for 
 some one who, as she expressed it," Jack smiled 
 at the recollection of Betty's characteristic speech, 
 " would come in and change her furniture about 
 every week, and dust her pretty china and things 
 without reducing them to atoms." 
 
 " Oh ! " exclaimed Frances, with a delighted 
 little gasp, sitting up very straight and opening 
 her brown eyes at Jack. " Perhaps I could " 
 She paused. 
 
 Jack opened his eyes, too. " That 's so perhaps 
 you could," he said, looking very much pleased. 
 " I '11 speak to my sister. I think you '11 like her," 
 he added. " She 's so bright and amusing and 
 thoroughly nice ! " A few minutes after, he rose 
 to go. " You were very kind to let me come," he 
 told Ursula, in what his sister Betty called his 
 " old-fashioned manner." " I shall be glad to 
 come again. And, sometime, may I bring my two 
 younger brothers, Paul and Alan ? We used to 
 be a large family at home," IK- continued, -"and
 
 THE NEW COUSIN 83 
 
 a jolly lot. But one after the other has married, 
 until now there are only a few of us left at home, 
 and at times it is dull for the boys." Ursula could 
 barely keep from smiling at Jack's fatherly tone. 
 " I should be glad to have the boys know you and 
 your sisters. Paul is a clever fellow ; he is in col- 
 lege they both are. Thank you, I shall bring 
 them very soon. Mr. Kincaid, you will see me at 
 your office some afternoon ; " the two editors had 
 fraternized at once. " Good-night ! " 
 
 But before Jack reached the stairs, Frances 
 came running out into the hall. " Good-night, Mr. 
 Rose," she called. " You won't forget, will you ? " 
 
 With his hand on the banister Jack paused and 
 looked at her, as she stood in the full glare of the 
 gas. The light shone down on Francie's whitened 
 mop of hair, showing its pretty waves and the tiny 
 independent locks that sprung out here and there. 
 It shone on the bright eyes uplifted to him, and 
 on the mouth, parted in a half smile, the upper 
 lip just short enough to show a glimpse of white 
 teeth, and to impart a frank, very winning expres- 
 sion to its owner's face. 
 
 " Would n't Felix love to sketch her ! " thought 
 Jack, with a sudden appreciation of the girl's pic- 
 turesqueness. " No," he said, smiling back at her, 
 " I shan't forget. I '11 speak to Betty about it. 
 Good-night ! " 
 
 In the drawing-room, by and by, conversation 
 lagged. Uncle Gabriel thought of his unfinished 
 editorials with profound regret, and then surrep- 
 titiously took " forty winks " behind his glasses.
 
 84 FORTUNE'S BOATS 
 
 After an ineffectual struggle to keep her eyes open 
 K ut h gave up, and retiring to the dining-room had 
 a comfortable nap on the lounge there, while Ur- 
 sula and Frances " racked their brains " to keep 
 the ball of conversation rolling. The new cousin 
 made no efforts in that direction ; he simply sat 
 on until Jim Ivors walked in, when he rose with 
 alacrity, and an air of relief not at all flattering 
 to his entertainers. " You 've been gone a good 
 while," he remarked bluntly. 
 
 " Yes, I had to go for a doctor, the poor crea- 
 ture was pretty bad," explained Jim. " Your 
 mother wishes you not to wait up for her and 
 Judith," he said to the girls. " They '11 be home 
 as soon as they can be spared." 
 
 Basil twisted his shoulders in a petulant childish 
 way, and gave an impatient grunt. " Queer kind 
 of work for a girl like Judith ! " he declared. 
 " Seems to me that in a big city like this she 
 might 've found something else to do." 
 
 The sisters looked at one another in surprise, 
 Jim cried sharply " Eh ? what 's that ? " and 
 uncle Gabriel's sleepy eyes flew open. " It is a 
 noble work, sir a noble work!" he said impress- 
 ively, drawing up his little figure, and looking with 
 disapproval at the newcomer. 
 
 Apparently entirely unaffected by this with 
 the most careless indifference, in fact Basil 
 made his adieux, and the young men went away 
 together. But once in the street, Jim got the 
 benefit of the new cousin's opinion, delivered in 
 plain ami unvarnished vernacular. "They 're the
 
 THE NEW COUSIN 85 
 
 derndest lot of softs I 've ever come across," he 
 asserted. " Did you see that old duck flare up ? 
 I wonder if he thinks " 
 
 Jim's hand fell heavily on his companion's 
 shoulder. " Look here, young man," he said 
 sternly, " just you say one more word derogatory 
 to those people and I '11 knock you down. D' you 
 understand ? " 
 
 For a moment the two men looked into each 
 other's eyes in silence, then Basil threw back his 
 head and laughed, a laugh of genuine enjoyment. 
 " By Jove another of 'em ! " he remarked face- 
 tiously. Then he frowned heavily and shook Jim's 
 hand off. " I 've got a scheme in my head," he 
 said brusquely, " and it depends entirely upon how 
 you fall in with it whether I ever go to see my 
 new relatives again. It 's this." Rapidly, and 
 with insistence, he unfolded his plan, and Jim lis- 
 tened in silence, puffing away at his cigar. 
 
 There followed a short, sometimes sharp, dis- 
 cussion, in which, however, Basil won his point, 
 for it ended by Jim saying, a little uneasily, a 
 little moodily, " Well, I can't see any sense in your 
 idea but have your way. Only I warn you ! 
 I '11 be keeping a close eye on all you do, and if 
 you don't walk a chalk-line just look out for 
 yourself, that 's all. I '11 out with everything and 
 spoil your little game. You understand ? " 
 
 " Yes, I ' understand,' " mimicked the other, but 
 laughingly. " And in the mean time just see that 
 you keep mum. Good-night ! " 
 
 "Good-night," answered Jim gruffly, and the 
 two went their separate ways.
 
 CHAPTER VI 
 LILIES OP THE FIELD AND OTHERS 
 
 MORE than once Margaret had told the family 
 at home, " I don't feel my duties at the Austins' 
 in the least irksome ; in fact, I enjoy them. 
 You know I love to read aloud ; and Miss Austin 
 is very nice and kind. Her letters and notes are 
 usually so clever and amusing that it 's the most 
 interesting work to write them off." She had 
 thrown the girls into spasms of laughter with her 
 descriptions of the daily drive of the ceremo- 
 nious procession of little frail Miss Austin to the 
 carriage, escorted by a maid, by Margaret, and the 
 pompous English butler, Huggins, who bore the 
 extra wraps and the toy terrier, Carlo, with such 
 condescending affability ; of the fat coachman, 
 who, Margaret said, reminded her of the rat that 
 drove Cinderella's pumpkin coach, and of the 
 rigidly erect footman who touched his hat with 
 obsequious and automatic regularity, and then, 
 when his mistress's eye was not on him, cast 
 such adoring glances at her beautiful companion, 
 glances which, it is needless to say, that young 
 person sternly ignored. The autocratic old house- 
 keeper, too, who had held undisputed sway for 
 years, who called the little mistress of the house
 
 LILIES OF THE FIELD AND OTHERS 87 
 
 " Miss Marian," and both cuddled and tyrannized 
 over her, she also was known to the Jeffreys 
 through Margaret's saucy tongue. 
 
 " You would think she owned the whole place, 
 and the family as well," Margaret had told them 
 laughingly. " And she is the most jealous old 
 thing ! She watches and hovers around the room, 
 and listens (yes, she does, I found her at it one 
 day) when Miss Austin is talking to me, or dic- 
 tating letters. I suppose she 's afraid * Miss 
 Marian ' will like me too well, and so her long 
 nose be put out of joint. I fancy Miss Austin is 
 a little afraid of Emmons, that 's the house- 
 keeper's name, but for all that she is very sweet 
 and nice to me. Of course, I 'm kept pretty busy, 
 but really I don't think I could have a pleasanter 
 position as long as I have to earn my own liveli- 
 hood." 
 
 Margaret had said this in all sincerity, and the 
 affectionate regard she felt for Miss Austin had 
 not lessened as the weeks of her stay in Washing- 
 ton Square lengthened into months. Owing to 
 the little lady's delicate health, she rarely went 
 out of an evening, and when, this winter, Mr. 
 Austin began returning early from his club, and 
 finally got into a habit of spending many even- 
 ings at home, his sister was delighted. All her 
 charm of conversation was exerted for the enter- 
 tainment of this only and dearly loved brother 
 her junior by several years. Also in this cause 
 Margaret's musical ability was called into requi- 
 sition ; and it was with pride and great satisf ac-
 
 88 FORTUNE'S BOATS 
 
 tion that Miss Austin told an intimate friend, 
 " Roger grows more and more fond of his home 
 every day. I think I have reason to feel flattered 
 when he gives up engagement after engagement, 
 and even his club, to spend evenings at home with 
 his little old-maid sister. Don't you?" 
 
 And Margaret, too, had come to enjoy those 
 evenings when Mr. Austin stayed at home, when 
 Felix Rose and his bright, gracious-mannered wife 
 " dropped " in, or the Maxwell Derwents, or merry 
 " quicksilver," as Miss Austin called her, 
 Betty Erveng and her quiet husband. Among 
 these kindly well-bred people Margaret was well 
 treated ; and in spite of a troublesome recollec- 
 tion or two, which would obtrude itself upon her 
 conscience now and then, she had been, as she had 
 stated to the family, very happy in her new occu- 
 pation. 
 
 But there came one morning when Margaret 
 awoke from sleep with a peculiar heaviness of the 
 heart a feeling of apprehension, almost that 
 surprised herself. " Why ! why should I feel 
 so ? " she said wonderingly, looking round the 
 room for an explanation. Then her eyes fell 
 upon a large gray envelope standing against her 
 pincushion there was always plenty of that 
 heavy gray paper in the drawer of the library 
 table downstairs. " Ah ! the letter ! I 'd forgot- 
 ten it," Margaret whispered, and covering her face 
 with her hands, gave herself up to very serious 
 thought. 
 
 When presently the hands were removed, and
 
 LILIES OF THE FIELD AND OTHERS 89 
 
 she sprang up to dress, her expression was calm 
 and resolute. " There 's no comparison between 
 the two no comparison whatever," she declared 
 emphatically, and began humming a tune by way 
 of routing the last vestige of that disagreeable 
 feeling. But it chanced to be a rollicking air that 
 Jim Ivors was fond of whistling, and as soon as 
 Margaret recognized this, the song died on her 
 lips, and the rest of her toilet was performed in 
 silence, but slowly, lingering over every detail. 
 
 Busying herself in one way and another, Mar- 
 garet managed to be much upstairs that morning, 
 until, from behind the curtains of her window, 
 she saw Mr. Austin go across the park. " How 
 distinguished he looks, and how well he carries 
 himself ! " she noticed, with a sudden proprietary 
 pride that deepened the color in her cheeks, and 
 rigidly keeping her eyes from the bench whereon, 
 last night, had shone, far into the hours (she 
 had jumped out of bed several times to see if it 
 was still there), the small red glow of a cigar 
 or was it a pipe ? " Some people have such low 
 tastes ! " thought Margaret, and turning from the 
 window, went to Miss Austin, who always took a 
 late breakfast and in her own sitting-room. 
 
 Having locked the letter in the gray envelope 
 safely away, Margaret tried to put its contents 
 entirely out of her mind, and give herself up to 
 her duties. But, spite of all efforts, her thoughts 
 would wander, and soon the absent, dreamy ex- 
 pression of the hazel eyes attracted Miss Austin's 
 attention.
 
 90 FORTUNE'S BOATS 
 
 " Now, stop for a few minutes," the little lady 
 said abruptly, interrupting the reading. " You 
 sugared my cup of tea twice this morning. You 
 gave Huggins the wrong message I heard you. 
 You poured out coffee instead of cream for 
 Carlo. And you have read that last paragraph 
 three times over, without in the least being aware 
 of it. You 've got something on your mind, Mar- 
 garet ; that is very evident something that, per- 
 haps, is troubling you. Now what is it ? Perhaps 
 I could help. Tell me." Miss Austin's keen black 
 eyes softened as they dwelt on the drooping face 
 before her. She put out a hand and patted Mar- 
 garet's shoulder. " Tell me," she repeated, with 
 gentle insistence. " Perhaps it is a difficulty I 
 could smooth out for you." 
 
 But the girl shrank from the friendly hand ; 
 suddenly, to her own great surprise, tears sprang 
 into her eyes, and her underlip quivered. " Thank 
 you but there is nothing to tell now," she 
 faltered. 
 
 " Perhaps you would like to spend the day with 
 your mother," suggested Miss Austin kindly. 
 " You have n't been home for some time. I '11 
 drop you there when we go out to drive." 
 
 Margaret looked more startled than pleased. 
 " Oh, you 're very kind, but, Miss Austin, I don't 
 want I 'd rather not go home to-day," she said 
 hurriedly. " I have that piece of * drawn ' work to 
 finish and the notes you have just dictated, to 
 write. If if instead of going to drive I 
 might stay in and work "
 
 LILIES OF THE FIELD AND OTHERS 91 
 
 Margaret had always admired Miss Austin ; 
 she had said at home that that lady's "bright 
 black eyes and snow white hair, turned back over 
 a cushion, give her the most striking appearance. 
 She looks like a Marie Antoinette French mar- 
 quise, or as I like better to think, a dear, kind, 
 fairy godmother." But to the girl's disturbed 
 fancy it seemed this morning that an unusual 
 sternness had replaced the " kind, fairy godmo- 
 ther " expression. A recollection of that letter 
 locked away upstairs came back to Margaret with 
 a little shiver, and she could find no further words. 
 
 As it happened, however, Miss Austin's stern- 
 ness was more than half in her companion's im- 
 agination. The little lady had an abhorrence of 
 anything approaching to a "mystery," or any 
 appearance of fear or awe in regard to herself; 
 she also liked people to fall in with her plans and 
 find them good. She was rather provoked with 
 her young companion this morning, but not in the 
 least seriously angry. " Oh, certainly you may 
 stay at home, if you wish to do so," she returned 
 brusquely. " I shall call for Gertrude Stuyvesant 
 to drive with me. Now, continue the reading." 
 
 The routine of the day dragged almost inter- 
 minably to Margaret, but at last Miss Austin 
 started for her drive, the notes she had dictated 
 were written and dispatched, and the young com- 
 panion was free to take her sewing to her room 
 and be alone. 
 
 Tossing the fancy work upon the bed, Margaret 
 took out her interesting letter and read it slowly
 
 92 FORTUNE'S BOATS 
 
 and carefully as she had read it again and again 
 since its receipt of the evening before. " It is 
 such a nice letter ! " she told herself, giving the 
 inanimate sheets lying in her lap a pat of ap- 
 proval. " Such a quiet, manly, sensible letter 
 not like those crazy effusions " But she had no 
 intention of letting her thoughts wander in that 
 direction just then. " How surprised everybody 
 will be ! " A proud smile flashed over Margaret's 
 face, sending up the corners of her lips, which 
 had been drooping all the morning. She let her 
 thoughts take their own course. " How strange 
 it '11 seem to live here, as my own home ; to 
 be mistress here. Emmons will turn green with 
 rage ; but she need n't fear, I '11 never interfere 
 as long as she treats me properly, as she '11 have 
 to. I '11 have the girls here often very often. 
 I '11 introduce them into society and marry 
 them off well." She laughed. ..." Rufie 'd be 
 a stunning beauty, if she were dressed up as the 
 girls are that come here. Ursa and Judith are 
 stylish and clever and by and by Francie's turn 
 will come. Our 4 youngest ' is n't half bad-look- 
 ing. I '11 look out for them. . . . What will 
 Miss Austin say? I wish she knew. I wonder 
 if she '11 be angry just because I have n't money. 
 I 'm as well born as any Austin ! " Nevertheless 
 Margaret shivered, and the corners of her mouth 
 went down again. " And mother and the girls ! 
 Oh, they '11 be furious with me for taking a 
 man that any girl in her senses would almost give 
 her eyes to get ! My people have got the queerest,
 
 LILIES OF THE FIELD AND OTHERS 93 
 
 most absurd, old-fashioned notions about some 
 things ! But they 'd like me to marry that 
 Jim and go live exist it would n't be living 
 in a garret with him. That reminds me, it 
 might as well be done now as at any other time." 
 
 With a very determined, in fact austere mien, 
 Margaret went into the capacious closet of her 
 room, unlocked the small shabby trunk which had 
 brought her belongings to Washington Square, 
 and came out again carrying a bundle of letters 
 tied together with a blue ribbon. They were of 
 all sizes and degrees of thickness from a half 
 page torn from a notebook to sheet upon sheet 
 of foolscap and all written in the same rapid, 
 sprawling hand. How well Margaret knew the 
 contents of each sprawl ! This was asking Ursula 
 and herself to go for a trolley ride and a walk in 
 the fields one spring afternoon. The beauty of 
 the budding trees, the Hudson lying broad and 
 blue in the valley below, the hilarious spirits of 
 the little party how it all came back to her! 
 Another was a gayly decorated, grandiloquently 
 worded invitation for mother, uncle Gabriel, and 
 the five girls to a "ball," to take place in the 
 writer's studio. Carter Ferris and Ad Lambert 
 one a brother artist as impecunious as the host, 
 the other a struggling newspaper man had been 
 the only other guests at the " ball." But what 
 fun they all had had over the makeshifts for furni- 
 ture and crockery sitting on boxes and on bar- 
 rels cut in two and covered with old rugs and 
 draperies, and drinking chocolate, which they
 
 94 FORTUNE'S BOATS 
 
 themselves had made, out of glasses, tin cups, and 
 even a shaving-mug. Each of the five ladies had 
 been presented with a rich red rose. Margaret's 
 was the finest, sweetest of them all ; it lay pressed 
 in the " ball " invitation, making a hard little 
 hump in the envelope. That slip of twisted paper 
 had come with a bunch of flowers on one of 
 her birthdays 'twas just like the person who 
 sent it to have no cards. This fat envelope held 
 pages of protestations, glowing hopes " Bah ! " 
 cried Margaret angrily, throwing out her hands 
 as if in protest, " that one letter over there on my 
 bureau is worth all these the whole lot of them ! 
 Those demonstrative people tire one to death ! " 
 
 Lifting the bundle gingerly by one of its loops 
 of ribbon, she laid it in the empty grate, drew 
 a match sharply, and set fire to the letters, after 
 which she went and stared out of the window with 
 unseeing eyes until the crackling and little roar 
 in the grate had ceased. " Well ; that 's done ! " 
 she said, with a sigh of relief, and, quite composed 
 in manner, looking even cheerful, she went down- 
 stairs to meet Miss Austin, who had just returned 
 from her drive. 
 
 About three o'clock of the same day Roger 
 Austin was leisurely crossing one of the small 
 parks in the neighborhood of the Jeffreys' home 
 when a girl passed him, walking at a rapid pace. 
 One of the things upon which Roger prided him- 
 self was that of never forgetting a face, and as 
 this face belonged to some one with whom just
 
 LILIES OF THE FIELD AND OTHERS 95 
 
 then he was most desirous of being friendly, he 
 immediately turned, quickened his steps, and over- 
 took the young lady. 
 
 " Miss Jeffrey, is it not ? " he asked cordially. 
 " I hope you have n't forgotten me Roger 
 Austin." 
 
 Very reluctantly Judith paused. " Oh, yes ; 
 Mr. Austin ! " she exclaimed. She looked pale, 
 there were tired circles under her eyes, and in the 
 eyes themselves was an anxious, almost frightened 
 expression. " I can't stop a minute even," she 
 said hurriedly, moving on as she spoke. " We 're 
 going over here to the church, to have this baby 
 baptized it is very ill." 
 
 Then Koger noticed that a girl of about thir- 
 teen walked close beside Judith, holding in her 
 arms the smallest, thinnest infant that he had ever 
 beheld. The girl, too, looked pale and frightened, 
 and kept glancing nervously at the little face 
 lying so ghastly white on her arm. The baby's 
 eyes were closed, the small nostrils pinched; al- 
 ready some of the dignity and peace of death 
 rested on its waxen features. 
 
 " This baby belongs to a family of nine chil- 
 dren they all and the parents live in two rooms," 
 Judith whispered rapidly, as Mr. Austin, hardly 
 realizing what he was doing, walked on beside her. 
 " The father is a mechanic earns good wages, 
 but he drinks it all up. The mother broken 
 in health, discouraged has lost all self-respect, 
 and she also is a drunkard. She threw a fork at 
 her four-year-old boy the other day, in a fit of
 
 96 FORTUNE'S BOATS 
 
 drunken frenzy. Think what a home Heaven 
 save the mark ! that must be for the children ! 
 Poor little baby ! Life in that household means 
 a hard, continuous struggle it must be glad to 
 slip away. How long it 's been ailing, I don't 
 know. I met the girl, Netta, just now, hurrying 
 across the park, on her way to the church. The 
 mother, too intoxicated to come herself, was ter- 
 rified to find the little creature dying, and, though 
 she 's never shown the slightest interest in religion, 
 in fact, refuses to hear anything of it, now she 
 insists on the baby's being baptized at once. She 
 told Netta to run every step of the way ! Ah, 
 here we are ! " 
 
 Judith ended with a note of relief in her voice, 
 as they reached the big brown church which stands 
 for so much comfort and help both spiritual 
 and material to those who come within its 
 influence. 
 
 As Roger lifted his hat to leave her, with habit- 
 ual politeness rather than any feeling of great 
 interest excited by what he had just been told, 
 he asked, " Can I do anything for you?" 
 
 " No, thank you," answered Judith. Then 
 abruptly, eagerly, changing her mind, " Oh, yes, 
 you can you can come in and be the baby's 
 godfather. There '11 be nobody else. Don't be 
 alarmed," she added hastily, with a touch of bit- 
 terness, as she saw him start and his face change, 
 " it will be a responsibility only of moments 
 the little thing is dying." 
 
 " Certainly 1 will do it," Kogur said, obeying
 
 LILIES OF THE FIELD AND OTHERS 97 
 
 a rare impulse, and following her into the dim, 
 quiet church, where a young' clergyman joined 
 them. 
 
 Judith held the dying child, and, as one in a 
 dream, Roger Austin stood beside her, and heard 
 and repeated solemn, unaccustomed words which 
 he had not thought of for years. 
 
 But it was as Judith had said his respon- 
 sibility was of short duration. On the way down 
 the aisle, before the small party could reach the 
 church vestibule, the baby's fluttering breath 
 ceased, with one sharp little gasp, and the tiny 
 form stiffened in death. 
 
 Then Roger beat an undisguisedly hasty retreat 
 to the church steps, leaving Judith sitting in a pew 
 with the small still body laid across her lap, and 
 trying to hush the noisy grief of Netta, whose thin 
 arms had been the little brother's only cradle, and 
 whose long weak back even then ached as hard as 
 did her heart. 
 
 After a while Judith came out alone, looking 
 white and spent. " One of the deaconesses has 
 taken the baby home," she told Roger very quietly. 
 " She knows what to do. To-morrow I '11 go to 
 see the mother. Thank you for helping us." 
 
 " Give me the address, I 'd like to send some 
 flowers," Roger said, and made an entry in his 
 notebook. 
 
 Then Judith held out her hand, with " Now I 
 must say good-by." 
 
 " If you will allow me, we '11 walk together. I 
 am on my way to call upon your mother," Mr.
 
 98 FORTUNE'S BOATS 
 
 Austin remarked, smiling, glad to banish the tra- 
 gedy just over in the pleasant recollection of a new 
 happiness that was his. 
 
 " To see mother ! " repeated Judith, in open-eyed 
 surprise. " I 'm sorry I can't go with you," she 
 added, remembering her manners. " But I 'in 
 due in another direction, and," glancing at the 
 clock overhead, " pretty soon, too, or I may be too 
 late." 
 
 "Must you go?" he asked regretfully. He 
 would have liked to tell her his errand, to secure 
 her sympathy, but she appeared to be in a hurry, 
 and it was against his nature to blurt out anything 
 so important. 
 
 " Yes, I must go," declared Judith. " Good-by ! " 
 But scarce a step or two away, under the influence 
 of a strong impulse, she turned and came back to 
 Roger. " If I don't go," she said, a confidential 
 note in her voice that in some unwonted fashion 
 immediately enlisted his interest, "if I don't go, 
 one of my boys will be sent to prison. All the 
 boys in this neighborhood know me, and they 
 know I like them. I call them ' my boys,' and I 
 try, as far as lies in my power, to help them. I frrl 
 so sorry for the poor fellows ! sleeping, a good 
 many of them, in the most wretched, foul homes ; 
 others, in areas and alley-ways; out of school hours 
 living on the streets often hungry often cold 
 and ragged. And with never a corner of their 
 own, in all this great city, where they could have a 
 good time a romp or game and forget the mis- 
 ery of their hard lives. There are these parks,"-
 
 LILIES OF THE FIELD AND OTHERS 99 
 
 Judith made a comprehensive sweep of her hand 
 that included both, " but with all the trees and 
 the benches and fountains, there is no space for ball 
 playing and the boys would never be allowed to 
 tramp over the grass. It 's all too prim and 
 proper ! " 
 
 " This boy I 'm going to see about to-day," 
 went on Judith, " this Freddie Metz, is a pretty 
 bad lot up to all sorts of mischief and wicked- 
 ness ; active, sly, untruthful, and yet no worse 
 than one should expect from his parents, from his 
 wretched, degrading environments. As uncle Ga- 
 briel says, ' Can you get grapes from thistles ? ' ' 
 Judy's voice grew husky; she stopped speaking, 
 biting her underlip to keep it from trembling. 
 
 " It is hard on you to have to know of so much 
 unhappiness," Roger remarked, in an attempt at 
 sympathy. 
 
 " Not half so hard as for these poor people to 
 endure it," cried Judith. "This is the way the 
 accident happened : Freddie and some other boys 
 his ' gang,' he calls them were playing ball in 
 the street. Freddie's ball broke the glass window 
 of a grocery store. To add to his iniquity," Ju- 
 dith was smiling now, " the young sinner put his 
 arm through the hole, before it was discovered, 
 and stole all the fruit he could lay hands on, which, 
 with fine liberality, he divided equally between his 
 friends and himself. Then the grocer appeared, 
 the friends fled, Freddie was caught, and so his 
 little brother tells me (he was dispatched to im- 
 plore my aid) has been sent to the station-
 
 100 FORTUNE'S BOATS 
 
 house. Now if those boys had had a playground, 
 
 they must play, you know, it 's a necessity of 
 life, this would n't have happened, neither the 
 accident nor the theft. See ? " 
 
 Encouraged by the interest she saw in Roger's 
 eyes, Judith went on, hurriedly, eagerly. " It 
 could be done it could be done," she cried. 
 " If only somebody some rich, good man - 
 would buy up three or four or five tenement houses 
 right in the thickest populated part of the East 
 Side, where children swarm the streets to get a 
 breath of fresh air and play. If he would buy the 
 houses, then pull them down and turn the great 
 open space into a playground for the children. 
 Ah, if he would ! Let it be open on all sides," Ju- 
 dith made a quick, wide sweep with her arms, the 
 mere talking of her beloved scheme sent color into 
 the pale cheeks, a hopeful ring into her voice, 
 " no fences, no gates and with wide open spaces, 
 where marbles and tops, football, tennis, any, 
 every game could be played kites flown, races 
 run everything ! With a pump here and there 
 
 and great heaps of clean earth and sand stand- 
 ing about where the children could roll in it, 
 build forts, caves, make mud pies enjoy them- 
 selves. Some trees, too, in one part of the play- 
 ground, and grass, on which the youngsters could 
 sit and lie and tumble somersaults if they wanted 
 to. And a fountain, and some flowers that they 
 might be allowed to gather and take home, on 
 certain days. There 's nothing wild or extravagant 
 in that, is there? Isn't it all reasonable enough?
 
 LILIES OF THE FIELD AND OTHERS 101 
 
 Oh, think of the evil ways, the mischief such a 
 place would keep those poor children out of ! 
 Think of the good it would do their souls as well 
 as their bodies ! " 
 
 " The carrying out of such a scheme would re- 
 quire a great deal of money," Roger said calmly, 
 reflectively. 
 
 The light and color faded from Judith's face. 
 " Yes, I suppose it would," she returned wearily. 
 " And for that reason, I suppose it will never be 
 done. But, oh," with a tragic gesture and most 
 wistful tone, " think of the crying need there is, in 
 this great, rich New York, for such a place ! You 
 know, the benefit would be not only to the children, 
 but to the city the nation. For these boys and 
 girls will be the next generation " Again her 
 voice failed. 
 
 Mr. Austin looked uncomfortable. " Let me, I 
 beg of you, pay for the damage the boy did to the 
 window," he urged, drawing a long leather wallet 
 from his breast pocket. " Perhaps, then, the grocer 
 might be induced to let the culprit off." 
 
 " No, no ! " Judith's hands went out in protest, 
 " that would never do. You are very kind, but 
 that would n't do at all. I think perhaps the glass 
 is insured, or partly so ; it is generally, I am told. 
 In that case the grocer's loss would not be very 
 great. Perhaps he is sending Freddie to the sta- 
 tion house to prison to frighten him and teach 
 him a lesson. But prison any measures of that 
 sort would, I am afraid, do this boy no good, 
 just now. I 'm in hopes I shall get him off I
 
 102 FORTUNE'S BOATS 
 
 am going to beg for him on the condition of his 
 promising solemnly to run errands for the grocer 
 for so many hours every afternoon at so much an 
 hour we must fix on a price until Master 
 Freddie has worked out the expense of the acci- 
 dent. That would do the boy more good than any 
 prison or reformatory discipline. Yes, perhaps 
 the grocer will agree to it. He certainly will if he 
 has been an East Side boy himself; he will ap- 
 preciate poor Freddie's disadvantages. Good-by ! " 
 Roger stood and watched the girl hurry across 
 the park and get on a car, then his thoughts 
 reverted once more to his own affairs. Since 
 meeting Judith these had taken a secondary posi- 
 tion, and now he found it required a little effort to 
 readjust his mind on precisely its former basis. 
 One of the speeches he had intended to make to 
 Mrs. Jeffrey rather eluded his memory, and, though 
 having no doubts whatever of the final outcome of 
 his errand, still Roger always preferred to carry 
 out a programme as planned. " I '11 stroll around 
 the parks and quietly collect my thoughts, before 
 going in," he decided, after a little deliberation. 
 
 " You are asking to marry Margaret, my 
 eldest daughter ! " exclaimed Mrs. Jeffrey blankly, 
 much disturbed by the communication that had 
 just been made to her. 
 
 " That is my great wish, my hope," returned 
 Roger Austin, with gentle warmth. " I need not 
 tell you that her happiness will be my greatest 
 object in life." It seemed perfectly natural to
 
 LILIES OF THE FIELD AND OTHERS 103 
 
 him, under the circumstances, that Mrs. Jeffrey 
 should be surprised even agitated. Though 
 having a genuine affection for Margaret, Roger 
 was a man of the world ; he knew his own social 
 and financial value. Stating his errand had been 
 the hardest part. Receiving no assistance what- 
 ever from his hostess, and his programme deserting 
 him when most needed, he had been betrayed into 
 an explicit, warm statement of his feelings, which 
 had proved somewhat embarrassing to the bachelor 
 of long standing. 
 
 Now that was over well over, too, Roger 
 thought, and sitting back in the spindle chair he 
 patiently awaited Mrs. Jeffrey's reply, which he 
 fancied he already knew ; in the mean time accept- 
 ing perforce, it must be confessed, the persistent 
 attentions of Miss Weewee. Sneaking into the 
 drawing-room in the wake of her mistress, that 
 discriminating little animal had immediately de- 
 cided to be very friendly with the visitor. After 
 delicately sniffing at his feet, and standing upon 
 her hind legs to lick his hand resting on the arm 
 of the chair, Weewee proceeded to rub the whole 
 length of her sleek dusty black body slowly and 
 luxuriously back and forth against Mr. Austin's 
 light trousers, as she did so emitting loud purrs 
 of satisfaction. 
 
 Occupied with the important disclosure that 
 had been made her, Mrs. Jeffrey failed to notice 
 Miss Weewee's behavior, or even presence, and 
 after several surreptitious, ineffectual attempts to 
 dislodge the cat, Roger resigned himself to her
 
 104 FORTUNE'S BOATS 
 
 ministrations. It was some comfort to him to re- 
 member that it was not likely the interview would 
 be a long one. As it happened, it was consider- 
 ably shorter than he anticipated. 
 
 Mrs. Jeffrey's next remark startled her visitor 
 into the keenest attention. " Mr. Austin, I ap- 
 preciate the honor you have done Margaret a 
 good man's love is always an honor to a woman," 
 she said, and now her voice had regained its usual 
 calm evenness ; " but I could not give my consent 
 to my daughter's marriage with you until I have 
 seen her, and have seen and talked with your sister 
 concerning the matter." 
 
 " My sister ! " exclaimed Roger, sitting up very 
 straight in his great surprise. Then with a warm 
 red flushing over his pale face he was nettled 
 he remarked stiffly, " My sister would, of course, 
 extend a welcome to any woman I might marry ; 
 and she is already fond of Margaret. But I do 
 not consider her permission essential to a decision 
 in this matter. Our family is well known in New 
 York," he rose from the spindle chair, unex- 
 pectedly and ruthlessly terminating Miss Wee- 
 wee's pleasant pastime ; Mrs. Jeffrey also rose, 
 " and the persons to whom I have referred you 
 will, I know, gladly furnish you with full infor- 
 mation as to my character, social standing, and 
 financial ability to support a wife. My actions " 
 Roger was waxing more and more indignant 
 " are in no wise governed by my sister. And pos- 
 sessing Margaret's affection as I do, bringing to 
 you her note of explanation this afternoon it
 
 LILIES OF THE FIELD AND OTHERS 105 
 
 seems to me I have a right to be judged by you on 
 my own merits, without requiring the assistance 
 of my sister." 
 
 For all his gentle, courteous manners there was 
 no prouder man in all New York than Roger Aus- 
 tin, and his pride had just received a shock. He 
 stiffened visibly. 
 
 Mrs. Jeffrey put out her hand with an impul- 
 sive gesture. " Please don't be annoyed," she 
 said quickly. " I meant no discourtesy to you, 
 no offense. I appreciate, as only a mother can, 
 your love for my child, and you may be sure that 
 her wishes in this matter shall have great weight 
 with me. Please let me finish," she urged, as 
 Roger uttered an exclamation. " Margaret went 
 to Washington Square as Miss Austin's compan- 
 ion ; she still holds that position, and this en- 
 gagement, as you speak of it was entered into 
 by her while under Miss Austin's roof. I should 
 prefer hearing from Miss Austin herself her feel- 
 ings in regard to it before I give you my decision. 
 Mr. Austin," the proud uplifting of Mrs. Jeffrey's 
 head reminded Roger of Margaret, "I could not 
 endure having my daughter enter a family where, 
 perhaps, she was not wanted. And I must hear 
 that Miss Austin quite approves of what has hap- 
 pened, and of its happening in her house. I must 
 hear it from her own lips. Perhaps she would be 
 kind enough to call upon me." 
 
 It is doubtful if in all his life Roger Austin 
 had been so surprised, so nonplussed, as now. Be- 
 tween his own astonishment and the quiet deter-
 
 106 FORTUNE'S BOATS 
 
 mi nut ion in Mrs. Jeffrey's manner, objections died 
 upon the suitor's lips. " I shall acquaint my sis- 
 ters with your request," he found himself saying, 
 and, mechanically making his way out of the little 
 drawing-room, he reached the street in a most 
 perturbed state of mind. The afternoon had cer- 
 tainly been unprecedented in his experience.
 
 CHAPTER VII 
 ON AND OFF 
 
 " THEN you are sure, Marian, that you don't 
 object to going?" Roger said, in a tone of relief. 
 It was the morning after his interview with Mrs. 
 Jeffrey, and the brother and sister had been hav- 
 ing a long and confidential talk. " It seemed to 
 me well rather an odd proceeding. But you 
 say it is all right, and, of course, women under- 
 stand these things better than men do. And you 
 have nothing but kind words to say no re- 
 proaches for my marrying after so many years of 
 delay and not a girl of your choosing. This is 
 very nice of you ; Marian, you are one sister in a 
 million ! " Moved by unwonted emotion, Roger 
 stooped and kissed his sister's forehead. 
 
 A pretty color flushed into Miss Austin's faded 
 cheek; she valued highly any sign of affection 
 from her undemonstrative brother. 
 
 " My dear Roger, I should try to be * nice ' to 
 any woman you might make your wife, were she 
 even a Hottentot," the little lady remarked, smil- 
 ing, though there was a blur across the kindly 
 shrewd eyes. " Leave the matter in my hands. 
 I think you '11 find that all will be well." Then 
 as he turned away, " Should you see Margaret
 
 108 FORTUNE'S BOATS 
 
 before you go out, ask her to come to me in about 
 half an hour. I want to offer her my congratula- 
 tions. Most significant she should consider them, 
 too," this was accompanied by a merry laugh, 
 " as coming from the person who knows you long- 
 est and best." 
 
 But with the closing of the door behind her 
 brother the smile faded, and Miss Austin sat gaz- 
 ing sadly into the fire that leaped and cracked in 
 the grate. She was a woman apt to take strong 
 likes and dislikes, and to prove loyal to them ; 
 more romantic than many of her most intimate 
 friends suspected ; a little jealous, yet withal 
 reasonable, assisted thereto by a saving sense of 
 humor. These characteristics came to her aid in 
 this unexpected emergency. 
 
 " We 've lived together all these years I have 
 been sister, friend, confidant. We have been all 
 in all to each other. Now it will be so different ! 
 The young wife will be first the old sister second 
 or third as the new influence wills it," she 
 mused ; then started in surprise when a tear fell 
 splashing on her hand. " This will never do 
 never ! " she ejaculated, with great energy, and 
 sitting up very straight in her chair. " No tears, 
 Marian Austin ! Just use your common sense. 
 For the last fifteen years and more you 've been 
 bothering your brother to get married. You 've se- 
 lected girl after girl for him, and fretted because 
 he would n't, or could n't, admire them as you did. 
 You have grieved to see the gray coming in his 
 hair, with never a wife or child of his own around
 
 ON AND OFF 109 
 
 him ; you know you have. Remember how very 
 much worse matters might have been : he might 
 have gone off and married a most ineligible some- 
 body men, even the very nicest and most par- 
 ticular of them, do such mad, extraordinary things 
 sometimes. I know Margaret I like her we 're 
 accustomed to each other. And judged by herself, 
 her people must be refined. . . . This explains the 
 giving up of club engagements to spend evenings at 
 home with me, forsooth ! You pride yourself 
 on being shrewd, Marian, but you 've been blind 
 as a mole this time. Right under your eyes and 
 you did n't see what was going on ! ... So it seems 
 that, after all, Roger's will be a love match pure 
 and simple. Well, he deserves it, poor fellow ! 
 after waiting all these years. I should n't grumble, 
 I 've had him to myself a good while ; and I will 
 do my share to make the future easy for them 
 both. . . . That 's more than the prospective mother- 
 in-law is doing. Oh, that interview must have 
 been rich ! I could scarcely keep a straight face 
 while the dear fellow told the story. He would 
 never see the humor of it proper person that he 
 is ! That Roger Austin, for whom the ' smartest ' 
 girls of New York city have set their caps and 
 smiled their sweetest whom their papas and mam- 
 mas would have welcomed with open arms as a 
 son-in-law, that he should be put on probation, 
 so to speak, as the suitor of his sister's companion, 
 until I vouch for him ! It is too funny ! " Miss 
 Austin threw herself back in her chair, with a 
 little hilarious stamp of her foot, and laughed and 
 laughed, until the tears came.
 
 110 FORTUNE'S BOATS 
 
 The muscles round her mouth were still quiv- 
 ering when Margaret came in blushing, shy, 
 embarrassed. But the reception she met soon 
 banished all misgivings, and set her at ease. 
 
 " So Roger tells me that you and I are to be 
 sisters ; that you have promised to be his wife," 
 Miss Austin said gayly. Holding out a hand, she 
 drew tall, stately Margaret down to her level and 
 kissed her. " Well, my dear, though I am his 
 sister, I must congratulate you on having won the 
 affection of the very best man in New York city 
 as he has won one of the prettiest girls in it. 
 May great happiness be with you both ! But I wish 
 you had told me of this yourself, Margaret. Is 
 this the reason you 've been so preoccupied ? How 
 long has it been going on ? " 
 
 The question was asked laughingly ; but a deep, 
 hot blush burned the young girl's face, the lids fell 
 over her brilliant eyes. "I I only knew 
 less than two days ago," she stammered. " I did 
 want you to know but it was so hard to tell." 
 
 With a sudden impulse Miss Austin leaned 
 forward and laid her hand on Margaret's knee. 
 "My dear, Roger Austin is many years older than 
 you are ; you are quite sure that you love him ? " 
 she asked very earnestly. With a fleeting surprise 
 she noticed the startled expression that sprang into 
 her young companion's eyes, but it was gone, like 
 a flash, and the vivid rush of color, the haughty 
 uplifting of the head, and the short almost curt 
 reply reassured her sisterly imxiety. 
 
 " Unless I loved him, I should not be going to
 
 ON AND OFF 111 
 
 marry him," Margaret answered proudly, meeting 
 Miss Austin's searching gaze with eyes that never 
 wavered ; and the little lady liked her none the 
 less for resenting the question, for Margaret was 
 one of her favorites. 
 
 " Many times I have wondered what sort of a 
 wife Roger would have after waiting so long for 
 her. Perhaps I have dreaded her advent a little ; 
 and now that the young lady has appeared, I am 
 glad I can truly say that I am well pleased," she 
 observed. 
 
 There was a tenderness in her voice that touched 
 Margaret, completely routing her anger. Slipping 
 to her knees, she laid her glowing cheek against 
 the thin hand lying on Miss Austin's lap. " I love 
 you for saying that ! " she murmured caressingly. 
 " I was afraid you might not like you know I 'm 
 a poor girl and and besides, he 's been all 
 yours for so long." 
 
 Roger's sister took the face of Roger's fiancee 
 between her two hands and kissed the tremulous 
 lips warmly. " My dear, I am well satisfied," she 
 repeated. " Be a good wife to my brother, and I 
 shall love you better and better. Now come take 
 this chair beside me, and we '11 talk about him." 
 
 But it was only when they were out driving and 
 actually turning into the street where the Jeffreys 
 lived that Miss Austin told Margaret of her in- 
 tended call upon her mother. " Now," she con- 
 cluded, as the horses drew up before the apartment 
 house, " I am going to ask you to sit in the carriage 
 while your mother and I have our little confab.
 
 112 FORTUNE'S BOATS 
 
 And then," with a kindly smile and decisive nod 
 of the head, " then I '11 lend you to the family 
 for the rest of the day and for the night. I fancy 
 you '11 have plenty to say to them. Eh ? " 
 
 " You are always so thoughtful ! " Margaret 
 said gratefully ; but before the house door closed 
 behind Miss Austin's figure, Margaret's face had 
 grown very sober. To tell the truth, she rather 
 dreaded that next meeting with her mother and 
 uncle Gabriel and the girls. " They have such 
 queer ideas about things," she told herself, staring 
 gloomily out of the carriage window at the squat 
 gray building on the other side of the street, the 
 ugliness of which did not tend to raise her spirits. 
 
 Slowly and painfully Miss Austin climbed the 
 long stairs. " Just fancy anybody having to go up 
 and down this dreadful height every day in the 
 year," she thought, in weary wonder, toiling up 
 and up, with panting breath and lagging feet; 
 then suddenly realized that she was at her jour- 
 ney's end. 
 
 In the hall, in the small open square before the 
 parlor door, full in the sunshine that streamed 
 through the skylight, were gathered together sev- 
 eral people, some of whom were immediately classi- 
 fied in Miss Austin's mind as " queer." 
 
 They were Italians a man and woman and 
 evidently emigrants : he, short, swarthy, dirty, 
 looking like a sailor, with a bold glance, and in 
 his ears small gold rings, the woman wearing a 
 short-waisted, full-skirted, red dress. A red cot- 
 ton handkerchief was tied over her black hair.
 
 ON AND OFF 113 
 
 and the dark eyes beneath it were timid and ap- 
 pealing. She sat in a chair feeding the infant on 
 her lap from a bowl which a tall girl, with masses 
 of light yellow hair piled high on her head, had 
 just filled full of milk. Clinging to the woman's 
 skirts was another child, not long on its legs, and 
 just then devoting all its hungry energies to a 
 substantial slice of bread and sugar. A little 
 gentleman, wearing a black silk skull-cap that was 
 very much askew, was conversing in Italian with 
 the sailor. 
 
 While Miss Austin stood hesitating whether 
 to ring the bell near at hand or to address the 
 party, which had been too occupied to notice her 
 approach, the tall girl turned, saw her, and came 
 forward. 
 
 Then any doubt of being in the right house 
 that might possibly have entered the visitor's 
 mind vanished. " You must be Margaret's sister 
 you look so like her," she said pleasantly, hold- 
 ing out her hand to Ruth. " I am Miss Austin." 
 
 Rufie's responsive smile brought some pretty 
 dimples into play. "Come right into the draw- 
 ing-room, won't you ? " she asked ; then in passing 
 uncle Gabe, " This is my uncle, the Reverend Mr. 
 Kincaid." 
 
 The Italians followed the introduction with 
 open-eyed attention ; even the bread and sugar 
 repast was suspended while uncle Gabriel hauled 
 off his cap to the little lady, putting it on again 
 more rakishly than ever. Then Ruth, in her un- 
 conscious, stately way, still grasping the empty
 
 114 FORTUNE'S BOATS 
 
 milk pitcher, ushered Miss Austin into the little 
 drawing-room, and departed to find her mother. 
 
 " H'm ! fortunate thing Roger was n't with me," 
 reflected Miss Austin, pursing up her lips at the 
 recollection of the " queer " assemblage in the hall. 
 " He is n't fond of the ' great unwashed ' in such 
 close proximity. That little man must be the 
 philanthropic unele Gabriel that Margaret has 
 talked of. I should think he 'd be rather trying 
 to the family sometimes right there in the pub- 
 lic hall, too ! " Slightly ruffled, she put up her 
 lorgnon and looked about the small room in which 
 she sat, a little more disposed to be critical. But 
 if the shabbiness of the surroundings did not es- 
 cape her notice, neither did its air of refinement. 
 
 " Gentlefolk, without doubt," she thought, her 
 eyes falling with satisfaction upon the bits of rare 
 old china scattered about, on one or two of which 
 was the Jeffrey coat of arms. " Seen better days 
 I thought so furniture shows that. Nice-man- 
 nered girl, too no awkwardness. Well, I sup- 
 pose things might have been a good deal worse." 
 Then she rose to meet Margaret's mother. 
 
 " Yes, I was very favorably impressed," the 
 little lady told her brother that evening. " Mrs. 
 Jeffrey is well bred, sensible, and pleasant. Per- 
 haps a little old-fashioned in some of her ideas, 
 after the old-fashionedness of our dear mother, 
 Roger, but always seeking the truest good for 
 her children, and without the slightest touch of 
 artificiality about herself. You might do worse 
 than have her for a mother-in-law. We got on
 
 ON AND OFF 115 
 
 very well together as soon as I had vouched for 
 your respectability, sir ! " This last with a laugh, 
 in which, however, Mr. Austin did not join. 
 
 Miss Austin's call was not a short one (to the 
 girl waiting in the carriage it seemed intermina- 
 ble), and the two ladies parted in the most friendly 
 manner. 
 
 " Now you will remember," Miss Austin said 
 playfully, yet with decision in her voice, as she 
 and Mrs. Jeffrey stood in the hall for good-by 
 (uncle Gabriel and his Italians had disappeared), 
 " if I let Margaret return home to you, as you 
 insist upon her doing, it is only on the condition 
 that I shall have her very frequently with me. I 
 shall want her to make me long visits. And I 
 will take the greatest care of her, in every way ; 
 on that you may depend. As to the wedding, 
 my brother is not a young man, he cannot afford 
 to wait, so please you and Margaret bear that in 
 mind. You know, there is really no reason in the 
 world for delay," she added, gathering up her 
 silken skirts preparatory to descending the steps. 
 
 Mrs. Jeffrey smiled. " First you must let us 
 get accustomed to the new order of things," she 
 answered. 
 
 There was a slight sadness in the smile and 
 voice, which Miss Austin was quick to feel. 
 " Don't you know the old saw ? You will not 
 lose a daughter but gain a son," she returned. 
 
 For an instant the two pairs of eyes met ; then 
 Margaret's mother laid her firm bare hand on the 
 daintily gloved fingers resting on the banister.
 
 116 FORTUNE'S BOATS 
 
 " You are a generous-natured woman ! " she said 
 earnestly, impulsively ; " don't think I do not ap- 
 preciate that for I do, sincerely." 
 
 Very soberly the little lady went down the long 
 flights; but the face she presented to Margaret 
 was bright and smiling. " You did n't half tell 
 me how charming your mother is ! " she declared, 
 in her vivacious way. "Now, child, go upstairs 
 and make the family a visit, and I will call for 
 you to-morrow afternoon, about this time." She 
 leaned from the carriage to say a few words more, 
 in an undertone. " You have a good mother, 
 Margaret, a wise and good mother. Make the 
 most of her you can never get another and 
 you '11 need her all your life. I lost my mother 
 when I was twenty, so I know whereof I speak. 
 Good-by!" 
 
 Before Margaret had well reached the last 
 flight on her way upstairs, a chorus of voices 
 made her look up, and there, leaning over the 
 banisters, smiling down upon her were her mother 
 and the girls even Ursula. 
 
 " Our paper went to press early to-day and 
 here I am ! " answered that young woman, with 
 joy " almost as if I knew you were coming. 
 Now we can all have a jolly visit together. Come 
 along in, you dear Mamie ! " 
 
 Loving hands drew Margaret up the steps and 
 into the apartment. In a very short space of time 
 she was hugged and kissed, her hat and coat taken 
 off, and herself seated in a comfortable chair. 
 
 " There ! " cried Frances, when this was accom-
 
 ON AND OFF 117 
 
 plished. " Now do tell us what moved Miss Aus- 
 tin to let us have you for such a nice long visit 
 and to bring you here herself." 
 
 " Yes, was n't it odd of her to come ? " agreed 
 the sisters. 
 
 Then Margaret knew that they were unaware 
 of the new state of affairs. " Please, mother, tell 
 them," she asked, blushing deeply. 
 
 " Margaret wrote to me yesterday that she has 
 promised Mr. Austin to marry him," Mrs. Jeffrey 
 said briefly. 
 
 " With your consent, mother," added Margaret 
 deprecatingly. 
 
 " With my consent," repeated Mrs. Jeffrey, in 
 the same even tone. 
 
 " That was why he was coming to see you yes- 
 terday afternoon when I met him ! " cried out 
 Judith. 
 
 And then congratulations were in order. 
 
 But taken altogether, the effect of the an- 
 nouncement upon the family was not such as was 
 expected, or as the person chiefly interested con- 
 sidered it deserved. 
 
 " Why, I thought you people would have been 
 perfectly astonished and delighted and proud. 
 And you take it so coolly every one of you ! " 
 she remarked, aggrieved and disappointed. " I 
 fancy you don't realize what this means for me 
 for us all, in fact for I 'd be able to do a good 
 deal for you girls. I can tell you," growing in- 
 dignant, as she remembered her plans for them, 
 " that men of importance, such as he, don't go
 
 118 FORTUNE'S BOATS 
 
 about marrying girls as poor as I arn, every day 
 iu the year." 
 
 " But he is awfully old for you, Mamie," 
 objected Frances, to whose eighteen years Mr. 
 Austin might as well have been an antediluvian. 
 " Why, he 's grayer than uncle Gabriel ! " At 
 which rather dubious compliment Mr. Kincaid 
 smiled, as he stroked his beard. 
 
 " Shall you have to live with Miss Austin, and 
 have that sly housekeeper and the impudent foot- 
 man always around?" queried Ruth practically. 
 "Do you think you'll like that?" with such ear- 
 nestness that Frances laughed. 
 
 " Well, I found him very nice and kind that 
 afternoon in the park," remarked Judith, to please 
 Margaret. " And he is certainly distinguished 
 looking. You see, Marnie," apologetically, " we 
 hardly know Mr. Austin ; perhaps, on better ac- 
 quaintance, we shall grow quite fond of him." 
 
 " Oh, I '111 sure you will," returned Margaret 
 gratefully. 
 
 " And what of poor Jim ? " demanded Ursula, 
 abruptly, standing pale and stern before her eldest 
 sister. 
 
 " Yes, what of that poor fellow ? " asked uncle 
 Gabriel, speaking for the first time. 
 
 Margaret immediately sat up very straight and 
 grew vehement. " I 'm not responsible for what 
 he thinks or feels about my engagement," she cried 
 out. "And I don't consider that he has a right 
 to call me to account for anything I 've done. 
 You need n't look at me in that way, Ursula. I
 
 ON AND OFF 119 
 
 never told Jim Ivors that I would marry him 
 never I " 
 
 " Not in so many words, perhaps," came from 
 the mother, very quietly and coldly. " But some- 
 times actions convey a promise as distinctly as 
 could the most forcible and fluent words. You have 
 accepted marked attentions from Jim, you have 
 allowed him to remain under the belief that the 
 home he was working for was for you as his 
 wife. You may not have said it, but you have 
 acted it which is the same. You knew of his 
 buying those pieces of furniture you helped him 
 choose them. You have deceived Jim, Margaret. 
 It hurts me to say it, but you have deceived our 
 simple-hearted, faithful, honest friend. That is 
 why I can take no pleasure in this sudden engage- 
 ment. Margaret, were not Mr. Austin a rich man, 
 surrounded by the glamour and show of worldly 
 prosperity, would you so quickly have discovered 
 his many virtues, and Jim's shortcomings? You 
 were very happy in Jim Ivors's attentions before 
 you went to Washington Square. I have no 
 objections to Mr. Austin, I believe him to be a 
 kindly and good man ; under other circumstances 
 I should have welcomed him as a son. What 
 hurts me is that you should have thrown Jim over 
 as you have. Oh, my child, I would far rather 
 have you poor all your life, and noble hearted, than 
 see you the wealthiest, most fashionable lady in the 
 land, and false to your better self ! " The calmness 
 had died out of Mrs. Jeffrey's voice long before 
 she reached this point. She finished huskily.
 
 120 FORTUNE'S BOATS 
 
 Margaret sprang to her feet. " Mother ! 
 mother ! I don't love Jim I should be most 
 unhappy as his wife. Would n't it be wicked to 
 marry him when I care more for Hog Mr. Aus- 
 tin ? " she urged. " It is n't for the money or 
 position, mother, truly it is n't, but because I 
 don't care for Jim. I don't ! / dont ! " She 
 threw her hands out vehemently to emphasize the 
 words. 
 
 Mrs. Jeffrey looked steadfastly into the beauti- 
 ful flushed face, the brown eyes full of a wistful 
 pleading that was hard to resist. 
 
 "You haven't once kissed me for for my 
 engagement. You are n't even glad that I 'in 
 happy," Margaret cried, swift tears brimming in 
 her eyes, her lips trembling. 
 
 Then the mother's arms went wide open, and 
 gathered the eldest daughter to her in a close 
 embrace. " Oh, child, you know well what your 
 happiness is to me ! " she said. And stooping over 
 the two, uncle Gabriel laid a kiss on Margaret's 
 cheek, blew his nose sonorously, and trotted off to 
 his little bedroom without a word. 
 
 " But you must see Jim, and tell him yourself 
 of your engagement. That, at least, is his due 
 which you must give," Mrs. Jeffrey told Mar- 
 garet, and sighed as she said it. 
 
 " Indeed you '11 have to he would never believe 
 it from any one else," drawled Ruth bluntly. " lie 
 told me that one evening some weeks ago that 
 he would never give you up ' unless she herself 
 asks her freedom from me.' That was what he
 
 ON AND OFF 121 
 
 said. And then he added, * But she '11 never do 
 that. Peggie is true to the core ! ' Was n't that 
 it, Ursula? I told you about it. Yes, that's it 
 word for word," as Ursula gave a curt nod of 
 assent and left the room. 
 
 A little shiver went through the lithe young 
 body which Mrs. Jeffrey's arm still encircled. But 
 Margaret lifted her head, and spoke out clearly 
 and with decision. " Well, then, I '11 see him. 
 I 'm sorry to have to give pain to Jim, but if I 've 
 got to, why, it has to be done, that 's all. And the 
 sooner the interview is over, the better." 
 
 But in spite of this brave speech, when, that 
 evening, Frances rushed into the room where were 
 Margaret and Ursula, and, well-nigh breathless 
 with excitement, announced " Jim is here ! He 's 
 in the drawing-room ! Uncle Gabriel and Judy are 
 talking to him, and mother and Rufie are almost 
 crying out in the dining-room. Mother says better 
 go right in," Margaret grew white and looked 
 very much frightened. 
 
 " Oh, Ursula ! " she cried, with a gasp. " Oh, 
 you go in and tell him ! " 
 
 First Ursula induced Frances to leave the room, 
 much to the disgust of the " youngest," who was 
 all eyes and ears, and who told afterward that 
 "cold shivers were running up and down her 
 spine," as the result of Jim's arrival. As soon as 
 she had gone, Ursula, with a return of the stern- 
 ness she had shown in the afternoon (to cover her 
 nervousness), said, "It isn't my place to see Jim, 
 Margaret, it is yours. You said you would see
 
 122 FORTUNE'S BOATS 
 
 him, and you should. You have brought all this 
 upon yourself." 
 
 Margaret was sitting on the edge of the bed, 
 trying to trim a hat. Now she threw it aside, and 
 hastily rose. " Yes, I did say I 'd go and speak 
 to him, and I will," she asserted shakily. " I 'm 
 not afraid of Jim" with an affort to reassure 
 herself " Jim Ivors that I 've known almost 
 ever since I was born. No, indeed ! Of course, 
 I '11 go." 
 
 Passing by the bureau, she caught sight of her 
 pale face in the glass. " What a fright I look ! " 
 she exclaimed, and pinched her cheeks to put back 
 some color into them. " Anybody might think I 
 was afraid," she offered in excuse, " and I 'm not. 
 Why should I be?" 
 
 But at the door the bravado suddenly deserted 
 her. She faced around, her eyes wide and wistful, 
 frightened, her clasped hands working nervously. 
 " He is going to be very angry," she whispered, 
 " very angry and hurt. Oh, Ursula, how can 
 I tell him ! " 
 
 "Don't tell him, Marnie dear, don't!" cried 
 Ursula eagerly, imploringly. " Tell Mr. Austin 
 the whole story and let him go, and you hold to 
 Jim, faithful old Jim ! Deep down in your heart 
 I 'm sure you must love him best." 
 
 But Margaret drew herself up and away from 
 her sister, with a startled, haughty gesture. " Oh, 
 hush 1 " she ordered imperiously, and left the 
 room. , 
 
 The house was very quiet, the family collected
 
 ON AND OFF 123 
 
 in the dining-room trying to read or sew, but with 
 sadly distracted thoughts and interest. And in 
 the little bedroom Ursula sat and waited for Mar- 
 garet. 
 
 By and by she came in, pale, quiet, and com- 
 posed. " Well it 's all over ! He 's gone ! " 
 she announced, sitting down on the side of the 
 bed, and looking steadily at Ursula. " He 's gone, 
 and I suppose we '11 never meet again. He said 
 he would never come here again that he hoped 
 he would never lay eyes on me again ! " 
 
 " Was he very angry ? " asked Ursula softly. 
 
 Margaret nodded. With the greatest care she 
 began smoothing out a piece of ribbon that lay 
 near. " He would n't believe me at first," she 
 whispered, not lifting her eyes from the ribbon. 
 " Then he got very angry and said some 
 mean things. That I 'd ' played ' with him 
 'deceived' him just what mother said. Then," 
 
 Margaret picked a thread or two off her lap 
 and laid them in a paper beside her, " then," she 
 continued slowly, " he got cold and indifferent 
 I think if I 'd gone down on my knees to him, at 
 the last, he would n't have looked at me. Fancy 
 
 Jim ! And he was sarcastic, too said he was 
 so glad I 'd found out in time that I did n't 
 care for him." She put her hands over her face 
 and shuddered. " I could never never forget 
 some of the things he said to me to-night. I 
 could n't tell even you, Ursula, they hurt so ! " 
 
 Presently she lifted her head. " He was n't 
 brutal, you know," she said drearily ; " he did n't
 
 124 FORTUNE'S BOATS 
 
 swear or revile me but he despises me. I 
 I don't think he cared so very much, Ursula. 
 He did n't plead or beg me not to give him 
 up. But all his life all his life he will 
 despise me ! He said that ! " 
 
 "Marnie Marnie, my own dear sister; oh! 
 are you sure sure that after all you don't 
 love Jim best ? " pleaded Ursula, kneeling by 
 Margaret's side, laying her arms about her waist. 
 
 Margaret shook her head. " If I even did 
 he would n't come back now. He would never 
 trust me again he said so ; and I don't want 
 him I don't want him;" she roused up and spoke 
 with more decision. " I love Roger Austin ; I do 
 truly, Ursa. He is so refined, so courtly in his 
 manners, so neat in his dress. Perhaps it 's fool- 
 ish to be influenced by such things, but I can't 
 help it. I know I shall be much happier with 
 him than I ever could have been with Jim. I 
 could n't have gone and lived in that mean little 
 studio all my life, and, perhaps, had to get break- 
 fast day in and day out for him Jim and my- 
 self. Think what an existence ! I could n't do it ! 
 I know you think me horrid, Ursula, I see it in your 
 face, but I can't help it. How did mother ever 
 have a child like me ? Don't tell them I said all 
 this please, Ursula ! They 'd think I was surely 
 marrying Mr. Austin for his money. And I 'm 
 not honestly, truly, I 'm not. I really love him 
 far better than I ever did or could the other 
 man. He was too demonstrative he tired me 
 with his affection. So," with a long breath, " that
 
 ON AND OFF 125 
 
 chapter in my life is closed. So much the better 
 for everybody." 
 
 Suddenly she held out her cold hands for 
 Ursula's quick warm grasp. " Ursa I I 
 know I deserve to feel badly I 've done it all 
 myself," she whispered, with trembling lips, " but 
 go ask mother to come to me. Oh I want her ! 
 I am so unhappy ! "
 
 CHAPTER VIII 
 AN ACQUISITION AND A LOSS 
 
 "JuDT, our cousin Basil-Dazzle would like to 
 see you, right away," Frances said, putting her 
 head into the doorway of the room where were 
 three of her sisters. 
 
 Margaret, who was now at home until her mar- 
 riage, and whose spirits by this time had quite 
 recovered from the effects of her interview with 
 Jim, stood before a big old-fashioned bureau, go- 
 ing through the ordeal, at Ruth's hands, of being 
 " fitted." Judith hovered near, making sugges- 
 tions, encouraging, criticising, and more than once, 
 in her own especial way, pouring oil upon the 
 troubled waters which were certain to arise on such 
 occasions. 
 
 It was one of these times when Frances ap- 
 peared and gave Basil's message. There was 
 some excitement in the " youngest's " voice and 
 face, but Judy was too much occupied with an- 
 other small excitement to pay attention just then. 
 
 " Oh, yes, I know you 're doing your best, 
 Ruth," Margaret was saying, making a strong 
 effort to keep calm and polite. " But all the same, 
 there is something wrong with this left shoulder. 
 It makes me look as if I had a hump. Can't you
 
 AN ACQUISITION AND A LOSS 127 
 
 see it ? " as she spoke, twisting herself to get her 
 hand upon the place. 
 
 " I 'm sure I can't help it," returned Ruth de- 
 spairingly. " I 've made both sides exactly alike, 
 and just according to the pattern. It is n't my 
 fault." 
 
 " Well, perhaps it 's mine, then ; perhaps my 
 shoulder is growing out," suggested Margaret, 
 growing sarcastic. 
 
 Literal Rufie's eyes opened wide. " Oh, do you 
 think so ? " she exclaimed in dismay. " Suppose 
 I measure." 
 
 But Margaret flung away from her, with an 
 indignant, " Indeed, I 'm not crooked ! It 's the 
 stupid old pattern that is at fault. Never mind," 
 with a sudden accession of cold dignity ; " don't 
 bother any more with the waist, Ruth. I '11 try 
 and do without it." 
 
 " But I thought you wanted it for the Austins' 
 dinner this week. You 've worn the yellow the 
 Greenoughs sent you again and again ; and you 
 have n't anything else," Ruth reminded her. 
 
 " I 'd rather wear it a dozen times than carry 
 this hump around on my shoulder. I '11 have to 
 wear the old waist again, that 's all ; " Margaret's 
 martyr-like tone reduced Ruth almost to tears, 
 and sent Judith into a spasm of laughter. 
 
 " You make me feel as if it were my fault that 
 the waist won't fit you. You 're unreasonable ! " 
 declared Rufie, ready to weep, for all her height 
 and stateliness. 
 
 " Don't be such a sensitive plant ! " retorted
 
 128 FORTUNE'S BOATS 
 
 Margaret, beginning with angry, energetic fingers 
 to unfasten the offending garment. 
 
 " Now, children dear, remember Dr. Watts 
 4 don't let your angry passions rise ; ' 'let dogs 
 delight to bark and bite,' etc., etc.," admonished 
 Judy, from the side of the bed whence she had re- 
 tired to laugh at her ease. " Mamie, your hump 
 grows larger and larger, by the minute no won- 
 der Ruth can't fit you. And, Rufie, there is cer- 
 tainly something wrong with that waist. Why, 
 anybody with half an eye could see that. I don't 
 suppose this has anything to do with the difficulty, 
 eh ? " she asked innocently, reaching out a hand 
 and holding up to view a long white thread she 
 had spied on Margaret's shoulder. 
 
 " The basting thread has given way no won- 
 der the shoulder puffed out ! " cried Ruth joy- 
 fully. 
 
 " Why did n't we see it before ! " exclaimed 
 Margaret ; and with renewed vigor and good na- 
 ture the business of fitting was resumed. 
 
 " The atmosphere clears peace reigns once 
 more ! " declared Judy, falling back on the bed 
 with a prodigious sigh of relief. 
 
 " And Basil is waiting to see you. He is in the 
 dining-room with mother," supplemented Frances, 
 who had been a silent witness of the " fuss," as 
 such small altercations were designated in the 
 family. 
 
 " Did he ask for me particularly ? " demanded 
 Judith. 
 
 On being assured that he had, Judy dipped
 
 AN ACQUISITION AND A LOSS 129 
 
 under Margaret's elbow to get a sight of herself 
 in the mirror, patted her fluffy hair a few times, 
 and then walked into the dining-room with her 
 usual air of languid, graceful dignity. 
 
 The new cousin had become a constant visitor 
 at the house since that first evening of his intro- 
 duction, and, despite a certain roughness of manner 
 and a habit of asking intimate questions, he had 
 grown to be quite a favorite. This was without 
 doubt in a great measure due to the genuine 
 interest he displayed in all that concerned the 
 family, and his evident enjoyment of their society. 
 " You 're awfully good to let me come here so 
 often, cousin Etta," he would say. " A big city 
 is a lonely place to be in without friends." And 
 that he rarely spoke of his own affairs, was unwill- 
 ing even to approach the subject, passed almost 
 unnoticed and entirely uncommented upon by his 
 simple kindly relatives. 
 
 " Oh, here you are ! Thought you were never 
 coming," Basil remarked, rising to meet Judith 
 he had been sitting astride a chair, talking to Mrs. 
 Jeffrey. " I guess you 'd have dropped everything 
 and come in quick enough, had you known what 
 I 've got here," he added, with a shrewd smile. 
 
 " Indeed ! Would I ? That depends," Judith 
 answered indifferently, looking around the room 
 for the piece of work she had thrown aside to go 
 and be umpire at the " fitting." 
 
 " Oh, don't begin sewing right away," objected 
 Basil. " What was it you said the other day that 
 you 'd love to have ? "
 
 130 FORTUNE'S BOATS 
 
 " A fortune to help ray poor people," promptly 
 replied Judith, hunting through the work-basket 
 for a needle. 
 
 The new cousin scowled. " Seems to me you 're 
 always thinking of money ! " he said shortly. 
 Then as Judy shrugged her shoulders with care- 
 less unconcern, he stooped, hauled a basket from 
 under the table, and set it before her. " Look in 
 there," he bade her briefly. 
 
 Judith looked, and her indifference immediately 
 vanished. " Oh, it is a doggie a dear, darling 
 puppy ! " she cried out in enthusiastic, girlish 
 delight. " Oh, mother ! girls ! come see it." 
 
 " It 's a Japanese spaniel they 're not picked 
 up every day and I 've brought it especially for 
 you," observed Basil, fairly beaming with satis- 
 faction. " You said you would like to own a dog ; 
 and this one 's young, so you can train him as you 
 please." He lifted the puppy out of the basket 
 and set him on the table, round which the girls 
 (Margaret and Ruth had joined the group) 
 crowded, exclaiming over his many perfections. 
 
 " He is a beauty ! And as he is a Jap, I '11 name 
 him Count Ito," declared Judith. " Don't all of 
 you think that is suitable ? " 
 
 The count was indeed a thoroughbred : his silky 
 black coat curled beautifully, his nose was of the 
 shortest, the sauciest, and most snubby of snubs, 
 and a reigning belle might have envied him his 
 eyes, large, brown, and soft as velvet. When he 
 cocked his youthful head on one side, with a shrill, 
 friendly little bark, and then fell to chewing Ju-
 
 131 
 
 dith's finger, she caught the little creature up in 
 her arms and kissed him in an ecstasy of owner- 
 ship and delight. " You 're the dearest, sweetest, 
 cutest little doggie in all the world ! " she cried. 
 "I have never before had a pet all of my very 
 own. Thank you ever and ever so much, Basil ! " 
 lifting to the new cousin a flushed, happy face. 
 
 " Oh, that 's nothing," Basil said modestly. " I 
 am glad you like him." Then added in an under- 
 tone, confidentially, unwisely, drawing a little 
 nearer, " Now we are all right again you and I 
 
 are n't we ? You know," he explained, seeing 
 perplexity in Judy's face, " you know, you got 
 provoked with me because I did n't offer before 
 Jim Ivors did to go with you that first evening 
 I came here. Eemember ? Well, I did n't know 
 you then I would n't do that now. The dog is 
 a peace-offering see ? Now we 're good friends, 
 are n't we ? " 
 
 Judith's eyes opened wide in amazement and her 
 pale cheeks flamed ; she set Count Ito down hard. 
 " What ! you offer me this dog as a bribe to be 
 friends with you ? " she cried breathlessly ; she 
 was very angry. " You have made a mistake " 
 
 Judy's graceful head went up ; "I 'm not of 
 the sort to be won over by presents. Take back 
 your dog." She gave the sprawling count a shove 
 toward his former owner. 
 
 " Why but " stammered Basil, in astonish- 
 ment. " If you are n't the queerest girl ! I thought 
 women liked to receive presents." 
 
 " I 'm not ' women,' I 'm only one woman ; and I
 
 132 FORTUNE'S BOATS 
 
 answer ' not when they are intended as bribes,' " 
 retorted Judith. " I am not a child to be coaxed 
 into friendliness by a present. I despise that sort 
 of thing ! " Her eyes flashed contempt at the dis- 
 comfited cousin. 
 
 " I will not take it back," declared Basil sulkily. 
 
 " Mother ! girls ! " Judith raised her voice. 
 " Basil has brought all of you this lovely dog," she 
 said. 
 
 " Why, I thought 't was yours," put in Frances. 
 
 " So it is, but she won't keep it," ruefully ex- 
 plained Basil. 
 
 Mrs. Jeffrey saw the furrow between Judy's eye- 
 brows, her compressed lips, and kindly came to 
 the rescue. " Come over here, Basil, and tell me 
 how to take care of the count," she called. " I 
 know that these foreign dogs have to have dif- 
 ferent treatment from ours." 
 
 But very soon Basil came back to Judith. Sit- 
 ting at the table playing with the contents of her 
 work-basket he said, in a low aggrieved voice, 
 " D' you know, Judy, you 're awfully hard on a 
 fellow. The other girls 're pleasant enough, but 
 you why you don't treat me even halfway decent 
 just because I happened to offend you that first 
 evening. I want to be friends with you. In fact," 
 with a sudden burst of feeling, " I 'd rather be 
 friends with you than with any girl I know than 
 with any girl in the whole world. There, now ! " 
 
 His tone implied that he was paying her an 
 immense compliment, but Judith was not at all 
 impressed. Quite unmoved, and without a word,
 
 133 
 
 she threaded her needle and continued sewing on 
 the little warm frock she was making for one of 
 her poor children. 
 
 Basil's light eyes gazed perplexedly at the grace- 
 ful down-bent head, the slender fingers flying in 
 and out of the heavy dark material in her lap. 
 " Wonder if she 'd treat me differently if she 
 knew ? " he thought, and scowled fiercely. " Look 
 here, Judy," he said presently, with an earnestness 
 in his voice that had some slight effect upon the 
 stony-hearted young person to whom his remarks 
 were directed, " look here, I want to be friends 
 real honest, true friends with you. Tell me 
 how to set about it, will you ? You would n't go to 
 the theatre the other evening when I took the rest 
 of the family. You said you had something to do, 
 but I know better. Now you won't take the dog ; 
 and I went to an awful lot of trouble " (" and 
 expense," he nearly added, but caught himself in 
 time) "to get just the kind I thought you'd like. 
 You 're hard on me, that 's what you are. I did n't 
 mean the pup as a bribe, as you call it. I simply 
 wanted to do something for you that you 'd like. 
 If you won't accept attentions or presents, tell 
 me something I can do for you." As he spoke, in 
 his mind Basil recalled a long list of young ladies 
 who had by no means been loth to extend their 
 friendship to him, and, while conscious of a vague 
 wonder at his present humility, yet repeated, " Tell 
 me of something I can do for you." 
 
 Judith dropped her work and met her cousin's 
 gaze directly. " You can go to the night school I
 
 134 FORTUNE'S BOATS 
 
 told you about the other day, and teach the boys 
 wood-carving," she said demurely. " You do it so 
 well." 
 
 " Eh ? what oh, but every night in the 
 week ? " he cried, flushing crimson, considerably 
 taken aback. 
 
 "No; two nights in the week, from seven to 
 nine o' clock," returned Judith crisply. A little 
 sarcastic smile that curved her lips stung the young 
 fellow. " Some people make glib offers that they 
 never intend to have accepted. I might have 
 known yours were of that order," she said. 
 
 " Oh, but, Judith, tell me something reason- 
 able," he objected warmly. " I don't know any- 
 thing about those boys ; I would n't know how to 
 teach 'em ! " 
 
 "Time you learned, then," was the uncompro- 
 mising reply, and Judy turned coldly from him. 
 " Mother, will you show me how to put in this 
 sleeve ? " she asked. 
 
 Just then the front door was heard to close ; 
 some one came along the hall and paused in the 
 doorway. For an instant the family gazed at the 
 newcomer in unrecognizing silence, then, " Gabriel 
 what have you been doing to yourself ? " almost 
 screamed Mrs. Jeffrey, rising and taking a step 
 forward in her surprise. 
 
 " Oh, uncle Gabe, your beautiful beard ! " 
 cried the girls, in one piteous wail. Miss Wee wee 
 stood on her hind legs in Count Ito's basket, which 
 she had been investigating, and gazed critically at 
 her master. And leaning forward in his chair,
 
 AN ACQUISITION AND A LOSS 135 
 
 elbows on his knees, chin in his palms, Basil sur- 
 veyed the little gentleman with grim curiosity. 
 
 Sure enough, the pointed, glossy brown beard 
 which had for so many years adorned Mr. Kin- 
 caid's face, and been a source of comfort in medi- 
 tation, was now gone, revealing in its absence a 
 chin more gentle and benign than remarkable for 
 strength. 
 
 "Oh, Gabriel! how could you do it?" de- 
 manded Mrs. Jeffrey tragically ; and every one 
 waited in silence for Mr. Kincaid's reply. 
 
 Uncle Gabriel made a deprecating movement of 
 his thin hands. " My dear, I I did it for 
 the best," he remarked tremulously. Divesting 
 himself of his long-skirted overcoat, he drew out 
 his cap and proceeded to fit it over his head with 
 shaking fingers. This done he faced his family, 
 the usual smile gone from his lips, the jaunty air 
 from his manner. " There was a great deal of 
 gray in my beard, Etta, a great deal. Judith, 
 you noticed it " (the family immediately turned 
 a reproachful glance upon Judy, who looked self- 
 convicted) ; " and I think that has interfered with 
 my getting a parish," uncle Gabriel explained, his 
 eyes traveling from one to another of the assem- 
 blage, mutely asking sympathy and approval. 
 " You know, wardens and vestrymen don't like 
 to place their parish in charge of an old-looking 
 man. One can't altogether blame them for that. 
 My hair well, we call it that by courtesy ; 
 there 's only a fringe left," a gleam of amuse- 
 ment flitted over uncle Gabe's expressive face,
 
 136 FORTUNE'S BOATS 
 
 " so there 's no use considering that ; and quite 
 young men are bald in these days. But a beard 
 like mine, thick and noticeable," with a reminis- 
 cent sigh, " and almost all gray, does make a man 
 look older. As you all know, I 've been asked to 
 preach in place after place, and I think I have 
 given them good sermons," throwing an appealing 
 glance at Judith, who nodded emphatically. " But 
 nothing has come of these visits, these sermons 
 polite attentions, some compliments, perhaps, but 
 no parish. This failure of a field of work has 
 troubled me greatly. And after serious reflection 
 
 very serious reflection I came to the conclu- 
 sion, induced by a remark I accidentally overheard, 
 
 it was not intended to wound me, and it showed 
 me iny duty, I came to the conclusion that this," 
 he made a motion to caress his beard, then remem- 
 bering the loss, dropped his hand heavily to his 
 side, " that it interfered with my usefulness. So 
 to-day I had it taken off." 
 
 " I don't see how anybody could possibly have 
 found fault with that beautiful beard ! " cried 
 Francie, still inconsolable. 
 
 " I think he looks older without it," drawled 
 Kutli, and was indignant at the sharp nudge her 
 twin gave her to be silent. 
 
 " But why did you do it now in cold weather ? " 
 remonstrated Mrs. Jeffrey. " After wearing a 
 beard for so many years you will certainly have 
 a sore throat or worse without it. Really, 
 Gabriel, this is a piece of recklessness. "Why 
 couldn't you have waited until the summer?"
 
 AN ACQUISITION AND A LOSS 137 
 
 " Because," Mr. Kincaid put his hands in his 
 pockets and jingled his keys, in an attempt to be 
 jocular, " because I have been asked to preach 
 in Enfield next Sunday, and I should like to be 
 called to that parish. There 's work there wait- 
 ing for some one, why not for me? What 's 
 personal appearance compared to one's useful- 
 ness? That is the first object to be considered, 
 especially by a clergyman a minister of the 
 Gospel. I don't regret what I 've done, no," 
 stoutly, " it was the right the only thing to do, 
 when once I understood it. You know, my dears," 
 peering at his women folk, in spite of his own 
 opinion, anxious for their approval, " this inac- 
 tivity wears upon me." He grew earnest. " I 
 should prefer a parish where I might have the 
 privilege, with our Lord's help, of cheering, 
 strengthening, and uplifting of loving and com- 
 forting the souls committed to my charge. What 
 is a eh slight personal loss compared with 
 that?" 
 
 " Well, your surplice is ready ; I did it up for 
 you only yesterday," Ruth informed him. " And," 
 cheerfully, " anyway, uncle Gabe, you can grow 
 another beard. 'Twill take time, but you can 
 do it after you have settled down in your parish. 
 That would n't prevent your working hard, you 
 know, or people from liking you." 
 
 Mr. Kincaid shook his head. " No," he said 
 slowly. " I think I will never let my beard grow 
 again. You know I shall be getting older every 
 day I '11 not be able to afford it. A man al-
 
 138 FORTUNE'S BOATS 
 
 ways looks younger with a shaven face. Eh?" 
 He turned to Basil for confirmation. 
 
 " Oh, sure ! and it 's fashionable, too," replied 
 that individual, with easy acquiescence and a 
 broad grin, which last brought him a flash of 
 disapproval from Judith's eyes. 
 
 " The train I looked it up goes early on 
 Sunday morning," continued uncle Gabriel, quite 
 unconscious of the new cousin's facetia at his ex- 
 pense, " and I think I should like Judith to go 
 with me. The railroad fare," apologetically, " is 
 high, or I should have you all go and she has 
 the critical faculty " (here Basil gave a grunt 
 which set Frances giggling, and which Judith, 
 very properly, ignored) ; " she could tell me after- 
 ward if if I did well or ill." 
 
 " Certainly I '11 go with you, uncle Gabriel, and 
 be glad to," Judy assured him, with a smile which 
 the new cousin would have been delighted to have 
 had directed at himself. 
 
 "Thank you, my dear," the little man said 
 gently, as he left the room. 
 
 Something in his voice, a certain unwonted sad- 
 ness, appealed to several of those who heard it. 
 " Poor Gabriel ! " sighed Mrs. Jeffrey, and Frances 
 dashed after Mr. Kincaid. 
 
 " Dear old boy ! Him does feel badly over it," 
 she declared, in the foolish loving talk common 
 between them, and thrusting her hands through 
 his arm she brought him to a sudden halt. 
 
 Uncle Gabriel patted her shoulder. " Nothing 
 should stand in the way of the Lord's work," he
 
 AN ACQUISITION AND A LOSS 139 
 
 said quietly. " And when I discovered that the 
 gray in my beard interfered with my getting a 
 parish there could be no other reason " with a 
 wistful unconscious egoism that the niece fully 
 shared " why, it was but right that the beard 
 should go. It is a trifle, Frances, not deserving 
 of consideration, but human nature is weak, very 
 weak ! And I 've worn that beard since I was a 
 very young man. There are memories connected 
 with it ; my little son's fingers " Uncle Ga- 
 briel's lips began twitching, his voice was husky. 
 He hastily kissed Frances on the forehead. " I 
 appreciate your sympathy, it comforts me. But 
 go, now," he whispered, pushing her gently from 
 him. " And don't mention to the others of my 
 weakness." Stepping into his little room, Mr. Kin- 
 caid drew the portiere across the door ; and Frances 
 slowly retraced her steps to the dining-room. 
 
 In her absence there had been an addition to 
 the number. Ursula sat on the floor making ac- 
 quaintance with Count Ito, and, incidentally, de- 
 fending him from the attacks of Miss Wee wee, 
 who jealously resented the little dog's advent. 
 The count's knowledge of cat nature being as yet 
 nil, he had voluntarily given up the chewing of 
 Ursula's finger to waddle consequentially across 
 to Miss Weewee, on friendly thoughts intent. 
 His reception was, to him, both unexpected and 
 painful, for with back uplifted, flashing eyes, and 
 swelling tail, Miss Weewee hissed, and swiftly 
 dealt the too confiding visitor a stinging blow in 
 the face. Yelping, the puppy backed away as fast
 
 140 FORTUNE'S BOATS 
 
 as he could, and was caught up in Ursula's arms, 
 amid cries of sympathy and bursts of laughter 
 from the lookers-on. 
 
 It was in the midst of this hubbub that Frances 
 walked in. 
 
 " Oh, Francie, there 's a letter for you, on the 
 table," Ursula said, without looking up. " I took 
 it from the postman. Oh, girls ! is n't this the 
 most fascinating little dog that ever was ! Basil, 
 you deserve a vote of thanks from us all for giving 
 him to us ! " And again she fell to admiring the 
 count's silken coat, and what she was pleased to 
 call his " starry eyes." 
 
 Meanwhile the " youngest " had pounced upon 
 her letter and read it. " Oh, mother ! " she cried, 
 with a little gasp of excitement, her brown eyes 
 brilliant, " just think ! it 's from Mr. Rose's sister 
 Mrs. Erveng about what we spoke of that 
 first evening he came here. You know, I told you 
 about it. He said the other day that she was out 
 of the city, and she mentions here that she was 
 in Boston. Listen, mother!" 
 
 " Oh, let us all hear it," urged Margaret. " I 
 know Mrs. Erveng, and like her immensely, too. 
 And I '11 know her better by and by. Read it 
 out, Francie eh, mother? We don't mind 
 Basil ; he is our cousin, and no better off in worldly 
 goods than we are ourselves." Since her engage- 
 ment Margaret sometimes assumed a little conse- 
 quential air that was rather exasperating to the 
 family, and that now brought a broad smile to 
 Basil Fabrey's lips.
 
 AN ACQUISITION AND A LOSS 141 
 
 " Oh, don't mind me in the least ; sail right 
 ahead with the letter. I 'd like nothing better 
 than to listen," he declared. 
 
 Ursula asked laughingly, "How old are you, 
 Miss Mamie ? you talk like a grandmother ; " and 
 Judith hastily whispered to her twin, " Would n't 
 you believe we were all about so big?" holding 
 her finger and thumb about an inch apart. 
 
 At a nod from her mother, and with a little pre- 
 liminary flourish of, " Now, ladies and gentlemen 
 (Count Ito, your humble servant !), lend me your 
 ears," Frances read Betty Erveng's letter aloud : 
 
 MY DEAR Miss JEFFREY, My brother Jack 
 tells me you are willing to give me some lessons in 
 the gentle art of making a room look homelike 
 and pretty. I am sadly in need of such know- 
 ledge, and shall be delighted to be taught, though 
 I must warn you that you will have a fearfully 
 and wonderfully stupid pupil to deal with. I felt 
 I ought to say this, but I hope it will not frighten 
 you. I promise you ' I '11 surely be good.' That 
 is what my small son says, in all honesty, but the 
 temptations of the world sometimes upset the little 
 man's resolutions. Let us hope that his mother 
 may do better ! Could you come to me to-morrow 
 morning about ten ? Then we might pull the fur- 
 niture to pieces and be able to put it together 
 again with less danger of interruption than there 
 would be later in the day. I intended to write to 
 you weeks ago in regard to this matter, but have 
 been making a rather long visit in Boston, with
 
 142 FORTUNE'S BOATS 
 
 the children, returning home only a few days ago. 
 Hoping to see you to-morrow, 
 Yours cordially, 
 
 ELIZABETH ROSE ERVENG. 
 
 " Now, is n't that nice and friendly ? " finished 
 Francie, almost in the same breath in which she 
 had read the letter. " Mother, I '11 go to-morrow, 
 may n't I?" 
 
 " She is almost the very nicest member of a very 
 fine family," remarked Margaret, still somewhat 
 superior. 
 
 " Oh, I like Jack Rose ! " asserted Mrs. Jeffrey, 
 and Judith and Frances, almost as if some one 
 had maligned their favorite. 
 
 " So do I and Paul Rose, too," said Ursula, 
 bending over the count's silky ears. 
 
 Paul and Alan had made their first visit to the 
 Jeffreys under Jack's leadership, and had called 
 several times since then, together and alone. 
 
 " Well, I think he is conceited ; and he makes 
 fun of people," objected Margaret. 
 
 " No, he does n't make fun of people At least, 
 I 'm sure he never has of us," declared Ruth, with 
 such emphasis that everybody laughed, much to 
 Rufie's surprise. 
 
 " They 're all wonderful creatures, those Roses 
 perfectly wonderful that should be put in a 
 glass case ! Little tin gods on wheels ! " Basil's 
 tone was not pleasant. He stood up, shook down 
 the creases in his trousers, and ivm-hcd for his hat. 
 " Well, I 'in off," he remarked brusquely.
 
 AN ACQUISITION AND A LOSS 143 
 
 " No can't stay to tea to-night, cousin Etta. 
 Good-by, all ! " He waved his hat carelessly to the 
 group in the dining-room; then turned back in 
 the doorway and paused. " Good-by, Judith ! " 
 he said pointedly. 
 
 " Good-by ! " she returned coolly, hunting in her 
 mother's work-basket for something she did not 
 need, and with averted head, to hide a smile.
 
 CHAPTER IX 
 GIVING LESSONS 
 
 IT was with cold hands and a fast beating heart 
 that Frances Jeffrey sat in Mrs. Erveng's drawing- 
 room, waiting for the mistress of the house. Now 
 that the longed-for opportunity had come, the 
 " youngest's " courage began to desert her. Later 
 in the day, giving the family a vivid and (save for 
 one incident) detailed account of her visit, she said, 
 " When I saw that room, I felt as the Queen of 
 Sheba did when she came to Solomon and beheld 
 all his greatness and wealth ! There was no more 
 spirit in me ! " 
 
 As Francie's eyes roamed around the pretty 
 room in which she sat, her opinion of her own 
 ability fell lower and lower. " The conceit of my 
 coming here to teach her anything when she can 
 make a place look like this ! I '11 soon get taken 
 down and I deserve it ! " she thought in self- 
 abasement, and was even contemplating sneaking 
 out of the house and away, when there came the 
 tap tap of boot-heels descending the polished 
 stairs and along the hall, and Mrs. Erveng en- 
 tered. 
 
 For all that she had been married several years 
 and had two children upstairs in the nursery, Betty
 
 GIVING LESSONS 145 
 
 Rose beg pardon ! Betty Erveng still looked 
 a veritable girl. The responsibilities of wifehood 
 and motherhood had softened her brusqueness and 
 enlarged her sympathies, while still leaving her the 
 originality and good spirits that had always made 
 her what her brother Jack and many others con- 
 sidered as " splendid company " ! 
 
 " Good-morning ; I am so glad you could come ! " 
 Betty said, such cordiality in her voice and manner 
 that her visitor's shyness vanished almost before 
 they were seated on a lounge together. 
 
 But Frances had something to say, too. " Mrs. 
 Erveng, I feel as if I had come here under false 
 pretenses and was a perfect fraud ! " she hastily 
 declared, growing very rosy over the confession. 
 " Perhaps you think I have wonderful taste in 
 in arranging a room I don't see how I ever 
 could have talked so conceitedly to Mr. Rose ! I 
 feel I should tell you that I could not, I really 
 could tit, contrive anything half so pretty as this," 
 with a little wave of her hand, and a despairing 
 glance around the drawing-room. 
 
 Betty threw back her head and laughed such 
 a contagious laugh that Francie's lips, too, began 
 to widen before she at all realized what she was 
 smiling at. 
 
 " Did you imagine that / arranged this room ? " 
 Betty asked. " Why, I could n't have made it 
 look as it does to save my life ! This is my sister 
 Nora's work Mrs. Whitcombe. She has the 
 most exquisite taste in such matters, and I have 
 absolutely none. No, really, that is true, as you
 
 146 FORTUNE'S BOATS 
 
 will soon find out for yourself. All the same, I 'ra 
 continually changing the furniture all over the 
 house. One does get so tired of seeing the same 
 chairs and tables and things always in the same 
 places. Don't you think so? And I can't keep 
 bothering my sister to help me tear my house to 
 pieces and put it together again every week. So 
 I thought, from what my brother mentioned, that 
 perhaps you would take pity on a fellow creature 
 less gifted than yourself, and give me some lessons. 
 Some to-day, some others next week, and the next 
 week, and so on, whenever the fever for a change 
 of furniture should take hold of me. Will you ? " 
 
 " Oh, I should be very glad to, if if you 
 think I could," Frances said doubtfully. 
 
 "I am quite sure you could," asserted Betty 
 confidently. " Has n't my brother told me of 
 your pretty and cosy rooms, your planning and 
 handiwork ! Jack has often spoken to me of you 
 and your sisters, Miss Jeffrey." Betty's friend- 
 liness won the last bit of Francie's heart that 
 had not, with girlish impetuosity, already been 
 bestowed upon her. 
 
 "He is my favorite brother," went on Betty, 
 "and, of course, I feel a great interest in his 
 friends and work. I know all about Miss Ursula's 
 writing I always read her stories in the Leader ; 
 and about Miss Judith, and your uncle all 
 the family, in fact. And I have met your eldest 
 sister a number of times ; I mean the one who is 
 engaged to Mr. Austin. How handsome she is I 
 So I don't at all feel as if we were strangers. I
 
 GIVING LESSONS 147 
 
 hope you '11 not feel so, either. Now, won't you 
 come upstairs with me, and take off your things ? 
 I am getting the children ready to go out for their 
 morning walk and play in the park. After that 
 we can attack the furniture." 
 
 The Ervengs' nursery was a large bright room, 
 in which wide spaces of the wall were allowed to 
 appear between the disposition of the simple furni- 
 ture. These spaces were covered with pictures of 
 all shapes and sizes, unframed, and most of them 
 pasted or glued on to the walls, low enough to the 
 floor to be on a level with the vision of a small 
 child. Some of the pictures were in bright colors, 
 others in black and white, and the subjects were 
 varied. Not all of childish subjects were they, 
 but all interesting, and in a way, in themselves, an 
 education for the little folk whose room they orna- 
 mented. The " Boy Christ in the Temple " had 
 a place among them, and there were prints of 
 Schenk's pathetic " Sheep lost in a Snow-Storm," 
 of Rosa Bonheur's " Lion and Cubs," and of what 
 Betty's little son persisted in calling " ' T'umpets 
 an' 'Ingin' Boys " Delia Robbia's " Trum- 
 peters " and his " Singing Boys." 
 
 The same young gentleman was now astride a 
 stick and careering wildly around the apartment, 
 with his nurse in hot pursuit. The chase, however, 
 came to a sudden stop at the entrance of Mrs. 
 Erveng and Frances. 
 
 " Why, Milliard ! what does this mean ? " de- 
 manded Betty. 
 
 " He 's tore the lion off the wall, ma'am," ex-
 
 148 FORTUNE'S BOATS 
 
 plained the nurse, panting with her exertions ; 
 while the unabashed offender threw his heels and 
 the end of the cane up into the air, and waved the 
 picture. 
 
 " Him was tummin' off, muwer, I on'y helped 
 him a 'ittle bit," he protested. 
 
 " Instead of pulling the lion off, you might have 
 got Ann to paste it on properly," Betty informed 
 her son. 
 
 The wee man's eyes danced with mischief, a row 
 of small even white teeth came to view in a broad 
 smile. "But I jus' fraught he'd like to live an- 
 uver place, muvver he 's been so long over there," 
 he urged, in excuse. 
 
 Mother and son looked at one another for a 
 minute or two, and then laughed aloud. There 
 was perfect understanding between them. "Oh, 
 you humbug ! " cried Betty. Catching up her son, 
 she tossed him high in the air, until his blouse 
 skirts and his yellow curls flew out around him, 
 to his infinite enjoyment. " Now, sir, march off 
 and get the paste, and we '11 put the poor lioness 
 and her cubs right where they belong ! " she or- 
 dered, when the small boy was once more on his 
 feet. " Some other day, if you remind me, we can 
 change the pictures, and find another place for 
 Mrs. Lion, but not to-day. I want to get you and 
 Alice off for your walk. Now, hurry with the 
 paste." 
 
 " This is one of my theories," Betty told Fran- 
 ces, with a wave of her hand toward the pictures, 
 
 and," laughingly, "that small son of mine 
 
 ..
 
 GIVING LESSONS 149 
 
 has been the victim of all my theories, and yet is 
 a pretty good-looking specimen, is n't he ? " gaz- 
 ing with pride at the little fellow's straight active 
 body, his fine color, bright eyes, and yellow curls. 
 " I can throw Liard up to the ceiling, double him 
 up, stand him on his head anything ! He en- 
 joys it, thrives on what one of his aunts desig- 
 nates as his mother's ' roughness ' ! But I can't 
 do that with my little daughter. She is too shy and 
 timid nervous, and so fragile that sometimes 
 I hardly know how to treat her. I get so afraid 
 that that I may not always have her ! Those 
 great solemn eyes of hers frighten me ! She should 
 have been Nannie's child. Oh, Miss Jeffrey," 
 with enthusiasm, " I have the dearest, best elder 
 sister that was ever put into the world ! Perhaps 
 you have heard Jack speak of her Mrs. Maxwell 
 Derwent. I never, never could have brought up 
 these children, even so far as they 've gone, with- 
 out her help. I want you to meet her some day." 
 
 " Come, sweetheart ! " Betty held out her hands 
 to the delicate little creature who was hanging on 
 to her nurse's skirts. " Come to mother, and 
 we '11 go help Liard to put Mrs. Lion and her 
 babies back on the wall. Come, Miss Jeffrey, 
 won't you, and witness the performance." 
 
 Sitting on the floor, her little daughter in her 
 lap, Betty directed her sturdy young son in the 
 pasting and proper adjusting of the lion and her 
 cubs. The boy was full of talk and laughter, 
 bubbling over with fun and good spirits. But the 
 little sister sat in solemn silence, shrinking back
 
 150 FORTUNE'S BOATS 
 
 and hiding her face in her mother's shoulder, when, 
 in an access of brotherly affection, Liard offered 
 to let her paste " Mrs. Lion's " head on. Then 
 hats and coats were donned and the little folk dis- 
 patched for the morning's play in the neighboring 
 park. 
 
 " Now, Miss Jeffrey, suppose we begin our les- 
 son," Betty suggested, leading the way to her sit- 
 ting-room. " There ! I fancy you will not fall in 
 love with this arrangement ; I had the ordering of 
 it," she said, laughing. " Room for improvement, 
 isn't there?" 
 
 " Well I think, perhaps, we might put the 
 lounge and that beautiful piece of statuary so 
 and so," Frances returned hesitatingly, and in- 
 dicating with motions the positions to which she 
 referred. 
 
 Betty laid a hand on her visitor's arm. " The 
 whole arrangement shows want of taste," she de- 
 clared, " only you are too polite to say so. Now I 
 am going to ask you always to be honest perfectly 
 frank with me. I prefer that, even if it should 
 hurt my vanity. The arrangement of this room is 
 entirely my own ; is it hopeless ? " 
 
 " No, indeed ! " cried Frances eagerly. " It 
 it is n't quite as artistic as might be, perhaps ; but 
 it is far from being commonplace. By pulling the 
 lounge this way," suiting the action to the word, 
 " and changing the other things about a little, the 
 room would be veiy pretty. That wide windowed 
 front and the corner seats are odd." 
 
 " My husband and I are very fond of this old
 
 GIVING LESSONS 151 
 
 house," Betty said, with a demure reminiscent 
 smile. In the room directly under the one in 
 which she and Frances then stood, Betty had once, 
 with her brother Phil's unasked assistance, under- 
 taken to engage Mr. Erveng, senior, as a publisher 
 for her father's long delayed scientific work, so 
 called the " Fetich." " Now if you will give me 
 your ideas and let me make the changes ? " Betty 
 asked. " I can always get so much clearer an 
 understanding of anything like this by actually 
 working it out myself. And should any piece of 
 furniture prove too heavy for our strength, I '11 call 
 in our Figaro our factotum our man of all 
 work. His name is Peter, but he is such a fat 
 fussy little creature that I think Figaro suits him 
 best, so I call him that. Now, where shall we 
 begin?" 
 
 There was nothing that Francie so enjoyed 
 beside singing as changing or arranging the 
 furnishings of a room. And now she threw her- 
 self into this favorite occupation with a zest and 
 interest that infected Betty, and caused that 
 young matron, as she expressed it, to "evolve 
 ideas, so brilliant as to astonish herself! " They 
 pulled lounges all over the room until precisely 
 the right location for them was found ; discovered 
 new positions for chairs, tables, book-shelves, 
 piano ; changed the pictures and bric-a-brac, and, 
 altogether, thoroughly enjoyed themselves. 
 
 It was near the end of the morning's work, the 
 finishing touches were being given, Betty filling a 
 vase with roses, Frances on a step-ladder putting
 
 152 FORTUNE'S BOATS 
 
 the last picture into place, when two visitors canie 
 in, unexpected and unannounced. 
 
 " What a happy transformation ! " cried the 
 foremost one a sweet-faced, gentle- voiced woman, 
 with brown eyes and light brown hair. 
 
 " Oh, Nan ! you dear thing ! " cried out Betty, 
 dropping the roses and rushing forward to welcome 
 her. "You've come to lunch, of course. And 
 Jack! Well, this is nice, to have you both. 
 Miss Jeffrey," to Frances, perched at the top of 
 the step-ladder, " this is my sister, Mrs. Maxwell 
 Derwent. I think you are already acquainted with 
 this young man." 
 
 " Yes," Jack answered for Francie, " Miss Fran- 
 ces and I are old friends." Then, as the two sisters 
 disappeared into the next room for Nannie to take 
 off her " things," Jack went to the foot of the step- 
 ladder and looked up at Francie, an unmistakable 
 expression of content in his quiet honest face. 
 " I am so glad to find you here," he said. " I 
 hope you two," with a little jerk of his head in the 
 direction Betty had taken, " like one another." 
 
 " Oh, I think she is charming ! " Frances de- 
 clared enthusiastically. " I 've had a beautiful 
 morning ! And it 's all due to your kindness." 
 
 It was Jack's opinion that she, herself, was very 
 charming as she sat there looking down upon him 
 with such happy brilliant eyes, and the corners of 
 her mouth curving merrily upward. From Betty's 
 laughing introduction, her friendly nod at Frances, 
 he knew that the liking between the two girls was 
 mutual, and this gave him peculiar satisfaction.
 
 GIVING LESSONS 153 
 
 He had some time ago decided that he wanted 
 these two to be good friends. 
 
 " Seems to me the kindness is on your side ; you 
 have worked wonders in this room," he said, glan- 
 cing around him. " Let me help you down. Have 
 you looked at these etchings ? My brother-in-law 
 prides himself on their excellence." 
 
 In chatting and looking over the etchings, the 
 few minutes of Betty's absence from the room 
 passed very quickly, and, to one at least, very 
 pleasantly. 
 
 " I wish you had brought baby Max. He is 
 such a jolly little King Cole," Betty was saying as 
 she and Nannie returned. 
 
 " My dear, I have brought Felix, John, and 
 Margaret ; I think you will find them enough with 
 your two," laughed Mrs. Derwent. 
 
 " I can't accustom myself to calling that small 
 chap anything but ' Son ; ' the name seems to be- 
 long to him," remarked Jack. 
 
 " That is the result of allowing a nickname ; 
 it is so difficult to drop. How many of our inti- 
 mate friends, do you suppose, ever remember that 
 Madel's name is Valentine ? " Nannie said. " You 
 must know, Miss Jeffrey," she explained to Fran- 
 ces, " that there are only four in our family by the 
 name of Felix. My twin brother, Felix Rose, whom 
 we commonly call Fee,' " the old-time tender- 
 ness came again into Nan's voice as she spoke of 
 her dearly loved " twinnie," " then his son, small 
 Felix, whom his uncle Phil has dubbed ' Feefo,' 
 and the funny name sticks. Number three is our
 
 154 FORTUNE'S BOATS 
 
 brother Phil's our eldest brother's eldest son ; 
 he is another Felix. But as he lives with his 
 parents in Chicago, he does not add to the confu- 
 sion of names here. My sturdy eldest boy is also 
 Felix. I mention him last, but he was really the 
 first to be named for his uncle." Nan said this 
 with a little unconscious pride that made Betty 
 smile. " When a baby, we got into the habit of 
 calling him ' Son ; ' but now, as he grows older, 
 I think we should drop that," went on Nan. " I 
 have some faith in the influence of names, and I 
 want both all my sons to live up to those they 
 bear, to walk uprightly, as do those of the same 
 name who are preceding them. My second son is 
 the namesake of his grandfather, my father, and of 
 his uncle Jack ; my youngest son of his father." 
 
 " My eldest hope unites in his small person his 
 father's name and his mother's lungs ; do hear 
 those gentle yells ! " remarked Betty, as a succes- 
 sion of lusty shouts arose from the narrow walk 
 beneath the window, which ran from the high iron 
 gates that inclosed the Ervengs' front yard to the 
 low piazza of the house. 
 
 " Muvver ! Muvver ! comin' ! " was all that 
 could be distinguished. 
 
 " We '11 hear the whole story in a few minutes ; 
 they are on the way up," Betty observed pla- 
 cidly. Then as, for the first time, her eyes fell 
 upon Jack's head, " Jack Rose ! your hair is a 
 sight ! " she exclaimed. " It is standing up in the 
 wildest fashion! What have you been doing, 
 writing or worrying, or both ? That is one of the
 
 GIVING LESSONS 155 
 
 eccentricities of genius, Miss Jeffrey " Betty 
 never could resist a joke at Jack's expense " of 
 this genius, at any rate. Whenever he begins to 
 think very hard, or to worry about anything 
 he can do that, too Jack's hands go at his hair, 
 with this result." She pulled her reluctant brother 
 around for Frances to have a good view of him. 
 
 " Betty ! " exclaimed the elder sister, but laugh- 
 ing; and "Oh, come now, Betty!" remonstrated 
 Jack, in a ruffled tone. He got very red, and 
 threw a deprecatory glance at Frances, while 
 hastily trying, with both hands, to flatten down 
 his refractory locks. 
 
 But Francie's sharp eyes had noticed the condi- 
 tion of Jack's hair when first he entered the room, 
 and she had had her laugh then. Ursula's de- 
 scription of this peculiarity of the young editor had 
 prepared her for it, and now, with a swift glance 
 that in some mysterious way conveyed to Jack the 
 assurance of her sympathy, she said, " Don't you 
 think that all people who write you know, 
 literary folk have some such little peculiarity? 
 I know uncle Gabriel always gets his cap away 
 over on one ear when he is writing editorials. 
 And Ursula likes to hold her chin with one hand 
 while she writes with the other." 
 
 " Here come the children ! " cried Betty, as the 
 door flew open. 
 
 So it was, and with them a tall lady, very beau- 
 tiful, very stately, and slow and languid of manner 
 haughty, some might have called her. 
 
 " Aun' Nonie ! " announced Liard and the two
 
 156 FORTUNE'S BOATS 
 
 sturdy handsome boys who followed at his elbow, 
 in one big voice. Nannie's small daughter, Mar- 
 garet, brought up the rear of the procession, with 
 a protecting arm thrown around her shy little 
 cousin Alice. 
 
 " I called to see you, Nan, and hearing that you 
 were here, came down. I thought we could all visit 
 together," explained Nora, sinking into a chair, 
 " Oh dear ! " putting a hand quickly to her ear as 
 the boys gave an unexpected whoop of joy over 
 some new possession Nora had no children. 
 
 " I 'm delighted to have you, Nonie," cried Betty. 
 *' Three of the family why, this is my red-letter 
 day! Now you chat with Nan while I give an 
 order. I '11 be back in a minute or two." As she 
 went by Nannie, Betty could not resist the rapid 
 whisper : " Do see Nonie's eyes open ! She is 
 wondering how / ever arranged this room ! " 
 
 " Miss Jeffrey ! oh, no, I can't let you go," 
 she said quickly to Francie, who had followed her 
 out into the hall. " Now, please stay and have some 
 lunch with us. Oh, but you must really. I've 
 just thought of something! Help me put some 
 dainty touches to the lunch-table, won't you ? Mrs. 
 Whitcombe's table always puts mine to shame ; 
 now, help me give her a surprise ! Here are 
 flowers left from the sitting-room vase. And in 
 this cabinet are china and glass, Hester will show 
 you. And do just as you would in your own home. 
 Yes, Jack, yes; I'm coming. Excuse me, Miss 
 Jeffrey ! " 
 
 Leaving Frances, Betty, in response to her
 
 GIVING LESSONS 157 
 
 brother's call, went hurriedly into the next apart- 
 ment, which was separated from the dining-room 
 by heavy portieres closely drawn. 
 
 " What a pretty home ; and how happy they all 
 seem to be ! " thought Frances, as she gave some 
 loving extra touches to a bunch of roses and deli- 
 cate fairy ferns. The table was ready, and looked 
 so pretty that the young person whose good taste 
 and deft hands had worked the magic began to 
 sing softly to herself. " How I wish mother and 
 the girls could see this ! " she said, and again fell 
 to humming her tune, until she glanced at the 
 " grandfather's " clock which ticked at one end of 
 the room. " It 's late ; ought I to tell the maid to 
 announce luncheon ? " she thought uneasily ; " I 
 wonder where Mrs. Erveng is?" And just then 
 she heard Betty's voice ; it came from the other 
 side of the portiere. 
 
 " Paul ought to be ashamed of himself to make 
 us all this trouble ! " she was saying, and most 
 emphatically. " Nannie or Felix should give him 
 a good talking to ! " 
 
 " You know he won't listen to Fee," came in 
 troubled tones from Jack, " and Nan is too anxious 
 about Max " 
 
 With fingers in her ears Francie ran out of 
 the room, into a little hall which led off from the 
 dining-room, and at the end of which was a window 
 overlooking the yard. 
 
 Here Betty found her, a little later. " Why ! 
 I 've been looking for you," she said. " I thought 
 you were in the dining-room."
 
 158 FORTUNE'S BOATS 
 
 " I was," Frances explained, blushing hotly, 
 " until I heard you and your brother talk- 
 ing. Then I came away as quickly as I could." 
 
 " About Paul ! " cried Betty. " What did you 
 hear ? " Then, when Frances had told her, " Well, 
 I would n't tell every one, but I will you ; as 
 long as you heard that, you should hear the rest. 
 Oh, indeed," hastily, " I know 't was my fault 
 for speaking so loud," as Francie began a pro- 
 test. " And I really do not mind your knowing 
 it at all. Jack tells me that Judge my brother 
 Paul visits at your house, so perhaps you ought 
 to know. I think that Jack is the cleverest 
 with Felix of the Rose boys, and he is the 
 most faithful, unselfish creature ! But the rest of 
 the family, and a good many other persons, too, 
 think there never was such a brilliant, clever 
 young man as Paul. He has heard that ever since 
 he was a little chap, and it has just spoiled him. 
 He won't study ; he thinks he can make up by a 
 spurt at the last, and that 's dangerous, you know ; 
 he might get plucked. Paul is a great favorite with 
 certain of his classmates and well, that makes 
 him spend more money than he has any right 
 to. And Jack and I are afraid he is in with 
 a pretty dissipated set. They keep late hours ; 
 Paul is out night after night, though papa does n't 
 know of it. He will not let one of us offer a word 
 of remonstrance. Even Felix he won't listen to. 
 And the last time Nan spoke to him about his be- 
 havior, Paul got very angry would n't go near 
 her for weeks ! Nannie, mind you, who has been
 
 GIVING LESSONS 159 
 
 almost a mother to him ! I feel dreadfully mean 
 to have told you all this about Judge, though it 
 is every word true," Betty cried out, the color com- 
 ing into her face. " I hate people that talk against 
 their own flesh and blood, and I would n't have 
 done it now except for my having a feeling that 
 perhaps you might, in some way or other, be 
 able to help us with Paul. Still, I should n't have 
 burdened you with our family troubles. Please 
 don't mention what I have told you to any one ! " 
 
 Frances had listened with the deepest interest. 
 " Oh, may n't I tell Ursula?" she asked eagerly, 
 " only Ursula. She knows your brother Paul ; 
 she thinks he is very clever. When he comes to 
 the house they talk together a good deal about 
 books, you know. And the other afternoon he 
 met her near the office and walked home with her. 
 Ursa has such a nice way of saying things ; 
 she might be able to say something " Francie 
 stopped, embarrassed, coloring vividly. 
 
 " Ursula ? Ursula ? Who said something to me 
 lately about your sister Ursula?" Betty asked 
 herself thoughtfully. " I don't mean about her 
 stories that was Jack. I do believe," slowly, in 
 a tone of conviction, " that it was Paul. It was ! 
 Yes, Miss Jeffrey, tell your sister Ursula. But no 
 one else, please ! " 
 
 " Indeed I will tell only her," promised Frances 
 earnestly. 
 
 " Muvver, I are hung'y," clamored Betty's 
 small son, arriving on the scene, and recalling his 
 parent to her duties as hostess.
 
 160 FORTUNE'S BOATS 
 
 " Are you, little man ? Well, I fancy everybody 
 else is, too," she said, going hastily into the dining- 
 room. " Hester, announce luncheon at once. Come, 
 Miss Jeffrey. And thank you very much for mak- 
 ing such a success of the table. My sister Nora 
 approves of all the changes we 've made this 
 morning, which speaks well for your taste. She 
 is very critical. Ah, here they all come ! " 
 
 Immediately after luncheon Frances took her de- 
 parture, and Jack walked part of the way home 
 with her. He was kind, and, as Ursula was fond of 
 saying, very "fatherly" in his manner, though more 
 silent than usual. But Frances understood the 
 silence she knew now the cause of that troubled 
 expression in Jack's eyes, and while provoked with 
 Paul, was yet unconsciously well pleased to share 
 Jack's secret, and full of sympathy for him. 
 
 " 1 am very glad that you and Betty got on so 
 well together," he said, as they stood for a few 
 minutes at the corner of a street for good-by. 
 " She tells me you 've promised to go to her again 
 next Thursday morning. If I can arrange my 
 work that day to leave the office, perhaps," dif- 
 fidently, blushing a deep red, " perhaps I '11 drop 
 in, to see what you two have done." 
 
 Frances nodded gayly. " Yes, come, and we '11 
 set you to work ; we '11 get you to do all the mov- 
 ing," she told him saucily. And, of course, cheered 
 by the prospect of pulling and lifting his sister's 
 furniture, Jack made his adieux, and went away 
 with a much brighter face. 
 
 He came running back to say something more.
 
 GIVING LESSONS 161 
 
 " Oh, I forgot," he said hurriedly. " Please tell 
 your sister Ursula for me that if she '11 have the 
 manuscript of her novel all ready by Monday, I will 
 send for it. I've talked to my a publisher 
 about the story, and he would like to see it. I '11 
 take the manuscript to him myself, if she will 
 trust me with it." 
 
 " Ursula's novel ! Oh, jolly ! splendid ! " cried 
 out Francie, her eyes fairly dancing with delight. 
 " Trust you well, I should say so ! It 's very, 
 very kind of you to take it yourself ! She will be 
 overjoyed! " Then the two shook hands again in 
 another good-by. 
 
 As soon as Ursula was in the house that after- 
 noon, Frances delivered her message ; and great 
 was the family rejoicing, for all agreed in Rufie's 
 opinion that the novel had only to be read to be 
 at once accepted. 
 
 " Mr. Rose is the kindest man ! " exclaimed Ur- 
 sula. "And he has a good memory, too ! Why, it 
 is weeks since I mentioned to him that I was finish- 
 ing my novel, and I rarely see him at the office ; 
 you know we 're in different parts of the build- 
 ing. Yet he remembered ! Now that it 's coming 
 to test, I am very discouraged over my story. I 
 feel as if it were not worth any one's reading. 
 Oh, mother ! girls ! uncle Gabe ! suppose the 
 publisher won't have it, after all the years of 
 writing, of hopes, of fears that I we all have 
 put into it ! Would n't it be crushing ! I should 
 want to run away and hide myself somewhere in 
 a desert ! " Ursula actually grew pale at the dis- 
 mal prospect she had conjured up.
 
 162 FORTUNE'S BOATS 
 
 " Don't cross the bridge before you come to it, 
 my dear," advised uncle Gabriel. " You have put 
 of your best into the story ; you can't do more 
 than that. Now wait for the publisher's verdict 
 as patiently as you can. And, above all things, 
 don't worry. That is an insult to God our Fa- 
 ther." 
 
 " But the story is good ! you know it is, Ursa ! " 
 cried the girls ; and Mrs. Jeffrey's arm stole across 
 Ursula's shoulder, her hand patted Ursula encour- 
 agingly. 
 
 Frances and Ursula shared the same room, and 
 it was when they were alone in it that night that 
 the "youngest" told her sister about Paul Rose's 
 shortcomings. 
 
 To her wonderment Ursula received the news 
 very quietly. 
 
 " Why, I thought you would 've been so sur- 
 prised," Francie complained. " You act almost as 
 if you 'd known it already." 
 
 " Well, I did in a way," Ursula reluctantly 
 admitted ; she was sitting half turned away from 
 Frances, and spoke over her shoulder. " I 've seen 
 quite a good deal of Paul lately, he has walked 
 up town with me a number of times," she said. 
 " I encouraged him to do it, to get him out of 
 the company of Harry Legare, one of our editors, 
 who is a friend, a bad friend, of Paul's. Le- 
 gare has charge of the music and drama depart- 
 ment of the Leader. He writes well, and is one of 
 the finest musicians in the city, but a bad lot, 
 for all that ! He might have made his mark in the
 
 GIVING LESSONS 163 
 
 world, but for his dissipated habits. Every now 
 and then he disappears from the office, is gone a 
 couple or three weeks, on a drunken bout, and 
 then some friend of his does his work for him. 
 Paul is doing it now, going to operas, theatres, 
 concerts, and writing critiques for the Leader. 
 He is doing it well, too, as well as Legare could, 
 I 'm told. But neither Jack nor any of his family 
 know this ; h will not tell them." 
 
 Ursula turned a little farther round, just a 
 trifle. " There are two sides to the story, Francie, 
 and Paul feels that his family are not treating him 
 well," she continued. " He is above all things a 
 musician; he would like to make music his life 
 profession. And he should, he loves it so ; he 
 certainly should. But his father will not hear of 
 such a thing ; he intends Paul to be a lawyer and 
 go into his brother Felix's office. The place is all 
 made ready for him and Felix would push 
 him ahead. But to make Paul Rose a lawyer 
 would be like trying to put a square peg into a 
 round hole. He is a musician, every fibre of his 
 being is filled with music, he loves it ! And you 
 have heard his voice ? " 
 
 " Yes ; he has a beautiful voice," agreed Fran- 
 ces soberly. She had not expected Ursula to take 
 Paul's part. " But," she said presently, returning 
 to her charge, "being a musician needn't make 
 him idle in college and fond of low company." 
 
 " No, it need n't," Ursula conceded, sadly, it 
 seemed, to the sharp ears of the young listener. 
 " But, Francie, not every one can bear disappoint-
 
 164 FORTUNE'S BOATS 
 
 ment well. Paul likes his own way, which in 
 this instance I truly think would be the best way 
 for him, and because he can't have it, will go no 
 other way. Because he can't make music his pro- 
 fession, he has lost all interest in his studies. He 
 will not exert himself to do credit to his fine mind, 
 or remember the obedience he owes his father. 
 Paul is n't at all a bad fellow, Francie, indeed he 
 is not." Ursula grew earnest. " He has someone 
 traits. But he has got in with a bad set Le- 
 gare's set, and they will drag him down if - - if 
 some one does n't save him. They make much 
 of him those horrid dissipated men ! they 
 flatter Paul, they 'd like to get entire hold of him ; 
 make money out of his musical talent, make him 
 as evil as themselves ruin him, in fact. And 
 then would they care ? But they shan't, Francie; 
 they shall not ! " Ursula sprang up suddenly, 
 and going hurriedly to the closet which she and 
 Frances occupied between them, stood within the 
 door, busying herself with a skirt that hung there. 
 
 There was perplexity in Fraucie's eyes. " Then 
 you '11 say something to him - - if you get a 
 chance ? " she asked hesitatingly. 
 
 Ursula wheeled round and faced her, with 
 moist eyes and a tremulous but smiling mouth. 
 " Yes ; we '11 save him ; we certainly will save 
 him, if we can," she said warmly.
 
 CHAPTER X 
 
 AND SO IT CAME 
 
 " RUFIE, do you know that I saw Jim Ivors last 
 evening ? Poor fellow ! I can't say that he has im- 
 proved either in looks or manners during the last 
 three months," Judith told her twin one after- 
 noon. 
 
 " Oh, did you ? Where ? Was Mamie with 
 you ? " queried Ruth, all interest at once. 
 
 The two girls were sitting together ; Ruth was 
 sewing, and Judy had laid down her book to speak. 
 In the next room Frances was singing : 
 
 " And the moon and stars are saying 
 To the dreaming forest near, 
 'E'en the nightingale is trilling, 
 ' Spring is coming, Spring is here 1 * 
 E'en the nightingale " 
 
 The song finished abruptly, and the " youngest " 
 appeared between the portieres which divided the 
 rooms. " What 's that you said about Jim ? " she 
 asked eagerly. 
 
 " I thought you were warbling of Spring," and, 
 "Well, your ears are sharp enough to hear the 
 grass grow ! " exclaimed the twins. 
 
 " I can't help hearing things, if I am singing," 
 protested Frances. " And you two are not the 
 only ones in the family that are interested in Jim.
 
 166 FORTUNE'S BOATS 
 
 What is it about him ? Hurry and tell us before 
 Marnie gets home." 
 
 "It isn't so very much to tell," Judith said. 
 "You know last evening Basil took Marnie and 
 me to see some pictures. And while we were 
 walking through one of the galleries, whom should 
 we come face to face with but Jim ! I was so glad 
 to see him ! -But he gave us one look, then delib- 
 erately turned his back and began talking to a man 
 who stood near him. I expected that, at least, he 
 would 've bowed, and Basil openly expressed his 
 surprise ; you see, he does n't know everything ; 
 though he must have noticed that Jim never conies 
 here any more. Perhaps I made a motion to stop 
 
 I don't remember ; I was so confused for the 
 minute, but Marnie gripped my arm 't was 
 like a vise and fairly pushed me past Jim. Her 
 face got very red, and her head went up; you 
 know that proud way she has. Then presently 
 she said abruptly, ' I 'm going to have another look 
 at that " Portrait of a Lady " by Earncliffe. I 
 think it 's fine I Don't come until you 're ready,' 
 and forthwith marched herself into the east room 
 
 one we had already been through. She had no 
 sooner gone he must have been watching than 
 Jim came up and spoke to us asked after mother 
 and you girls and uncle Gabe." 
 
 " And what else ? " asked Francie, as her sister 
 paused. 
 
 "Nothing pleasant," Judy answered soberly. 
 " Jim looks wretched ! You know he never %\ us 
 particular or neat, at his best, and last night he
 
 AND SO IT CAME 167 
 
 looked positively unkempt. His hair was untidy, 
 his clothes shabby, and the beard he 's just started 
 gives him a wild gaunt appearance. You remem- 
 ber his kind merry face and how full of fun he 
 was ? "Well, now he has a fierce expression in his 
 eyes truly ! All because he is so unhappy. He 
 had a good deal to say, in a rough excited way, 
 and he showed us his picture, * Off the Coast of 
 Maine.' It 's sold, you know : the ticket was on it ; 
 and, really, it 's the finest thing he has ever done. 
 People are talking about the picture, and there 
 was always a little crowd around it while we were 
 in the room. Jim pretended to be very gay ; he 
 talked very fast, and laughed at nothing. But 
 that did n't deceive me one bit ; the louder the 
 poor fellow laughed, the plainer I saw how sore 
 his heart was. I feel so sorry for him ! " 
 
 " Poor Jim ! " Frances said softly. 
 
 In her deliberate way Ruth laid her work in her 
 lap, folded her slender capable hands, and looked 
 straight at Judy. " / think Margaret is acting 
 very queerly," she remarked. " She would n't 
 have Jim, and she would have Mr. Austin, said 
 right out that she cared the most for him and 
 yet she keeps putting off the wedding. She 's 
 done it twice now. Miss Austin got quite pro- 
 voked with her about it this morning when she 
 called to take Marnie to Washington Square. 
 Margaret talks a lot about there being so much to 
 be done before she could get married, but that 's 
 just nonsense ! She is n't going to have so many 
 clothes mother could n't afford it but that we
 
 168 FORTUNE'S BOATS 
 
 could have everything ready by the end of April, 
 as Miss Austin wanted. And don't you think," 
 Rufie lowered her voice, and glanced from one to 
 the other of the girls, "don't you think Marnie 's 
 changed ? grown prim and er proper ? She 
 used to be so jolly so full of fun when Jim 
 was coming to see her. Don't you remember ? " 
 
 " Perhaps she 's cultivating repose of manner, in 
 view of the position she '11 hold in society as Mrs. 
 Roger Austin," suggested Judith slyly. " You 'd 
 better take lessons from her, Rufie," with a mis- 
 chievous glance at her stately twin ; " you know 
 Marnie has 1-a-r-g-e plans for our future. Once 
 married, she intends to take us in hand and ' intro- 
 juice ' us, as Captain Costigan would say, to the 
 dazzling four hundred, of which she will then be 
 a member." 
 
 Frances laughed, but Ruth looked blank. " Of 
 course Marnie means it well, but I don't know 
 that I 'd care to go much into society," she said 
 seriously. "You know, people have to dress so 
 much, and we could n't afford that. And 't would 
 be a perfect nuisance to have to be altering one's 
 gowns all the while, as Margaret's been doing 
 since she 's become so fashionable. The times I 've 
 cleaned and remodeled that yellow waist for her ! 
 I could n't stand doing that sort of thing for myself 
 all the time. I suppose she won't like my refusing, 
 but I don't see anything to laugh at in what 
 I 've said, Judith," she ended, turning on her sister. 
 " You giggle at nothing ! " 
 
 " I don't wonder Margaret is getting stiff and
 
 AND SO IT CAME 109 
 
 prim, as you say," broke in the " youngest " in a 
 most mollifying tone, and hastily suppressing a 
 strong desire to laugh with Judith. " It 's the 
 force of example that 's making her so. Mr. Aus- 
 tin" none of the girls called Margaret's intended 
 husband by his first name, " nobody is by to feel 
 hurt at my saying it, is there ? " Francie threw a 
 hurried glance over her shoulder " Mr. Austin 
 is very nice, very refined, very everything that 's 
 elegant, but, oh ! " clasping her hands, " oh ! so 
 utterly wooden and proper that he 'd subdue 
 the high spirits of Count Ito or any other irrepres- 
 sible four-footed animal, to say nothing of a sen- 
 sitive human being. I should die or become idiotic, 
 if I had always to live with him. Would n't 
 Marnie feel dreadfully if she heard me!" Frances 
 tried to look contrite. 
 
 " Yes, I know I know," Judy nodded, with 
 quick comprehension. " And I think Marnie does 
 feel it. The other day, after he 'd gone he had 
 been here over an hour she came into our room, 
 and positively, she looked bored ! Do you re- 
 member, Ruth ? you were there. Marnie put her 
 arms up over her head and just yawned. I could n't 
 resist it ; I said, ' Don't you want to do something 
 wild as a relief, scream, or stand on your head, 
 or turn a somersault?' She got as red! She 
 ' caught on,' as poor Jim used to say, gave me a 
 withering glance, and sailed out of the room, all 
 offended dignity." 
 
 "Oh, was that what you meant? I wondered 
 at your saying it," cried Ruth.
 
 170 FORTUNE'S BOATS 
 
 " What ! only got it now ? Well, some people 
 have to have things hammered into their heads ! " 
 declared Judy, falling back in her chair as if ex- 
 hausted. 
 
 " I don't pretend to be as smart as you are or 
 as conceited, either," retorted Ruth indignantly ; 
 then the next moment she almost melted into 
 tears. "I should think you'd be ashamed of 
 yourself, Judith Jeffrey, to say such mean unkind 
 things to your own twin sister ! / would never 
 treat you in such a way." 
 
 Judy walked over and calmly seated herself on 
 Ruth's lap, put a finger under that young person's 
 chin, and turned her face up into full view. " Oh, 
 no, you poor, innocent, injured lamb ! You 'd 
 never call names ' conceited ' is n't anything, I 
 suppose," she remarked, shaking a finger within 
 an inch of Rufie's classical nose. " My poor feel- 
 ings are of small account." 
 
 "But you don't care, and I do," whispered 
 Ruth, still inclined to be tearful. " I know you 've 
 more brains than I, but I can't help it ; I did n't 
 make myself." 
 
 " Now, Rufie ! just stop saying such silly things ! 
 You know very well you 're twice as capable as 
 I am," cried the other girl warmly, wishing she 
 had not made her saucy speech. " What can I do 
 that you can't ? strum a little on the banjo and 
 visit my poor people ; where do the brains come 
 in there, I 'd like to know ? Mother always says 
 that you and Francie are her capable children ; 
 I 'm afraid you 're fishing for compliments, young 
 woman."
 
 AND SO IT CAME 171 
 
 " Indeed, I 'm not," earnestly protested the ac- 
 cused; "I'd much rather be like you," which 
 humble confession sent Judy's arms around her 
 twin, her head nestling into Rufie's neck. 
 
 " Two old spoonies ! " teased Frances. " Well, 
 I suppose I might as well go back to my prac- 
 ticing. Oh, here is uncle Gabe ! Your rivir- 
 ence looks as pleased as if you had good news," 
 she declared, dancing up to the bright-faced little 
 gentleman. "I know I know!" clapping her 
 hands softly, her head on one side, like some saucy, 
 inquisitive bird. " Girls, he 's been called to the 
 parish of Enfield. You 've got your parish, sir, 
 eh?" 
 
 A shadow flitted across Mr. Kincaid's face and 
 was quickly gone. " No, no, you 're mistaken ; 
 another man is going to Enfield," he said hastily. 
 " I stopped at Brenton's book-shop on my way up 
 town. A good many of the clergy drop in there, 
 and one can generally get an idea of what 's going 
 on. And there I heard that Patterson has been 
 called to Enfield." 
 
 " Oh, uncle Gabe ! " cried out the three girls, 
 deeply disappointed. 
 
 " Well er of course I 'd have been very 
 glad to take the parish," observed the reverend 
 gentleman quickly, and in rather embarrassed 
 fashion, " but well, really they might have done 
 worse than get Patterson. He is a very fine young 
 fellow very fine ! Bright, up-to-date ; and he 
 knows how to preach, too." 
 
 Judith had been eyeing Mr. Kincaid intently.
 
 172 FORTUNE'S BOATS 
 
 41 Uncle Gabriel ! I do believe you ' ve had a hand 
 in putting him there ! " she cried out, in sudden 
 suspicion. 
 
 " Why what makes you eh ! my dears," 
 stammered the little man, stepping back ; and in 
 embarrassment scratching his head so violently as 
 to send the skull-cap careering wildly over the 
 slippery surface of his bald pate. 
 
 " Now, sir, there 's no use in rumpling your 
 locks and trying to look as if we 'd maligned you," 
 Frances informed him, saucy, but anxious to know 
 the truth. " You 'd better tell us. We '11 be sure 
 to hear it from somebody or other, and why not 
 from you, at first hand ? " 
 
 And recognizing the force of her argument, Mr. 
 Kincaid proceeded to impart the desired informa- 
 tion. Waving a chair aside, with hands in his 
 pockets he humped his narrow shoulders com- 
 fortably against the side of the door. " Well," 
 he began, " a few days after I 'd preached at St. 
 Mark's, at Enfield, I met Graves you know, 
 Judy, the senior warden, who was so attentive to 
 us ; met him down near my river office. He 
 stopped, and we chatted awhile. ' That was a very 
 fine sermon of yours last Sunday, doctor,' Graves 
 said, he knows I 'm not a D. D. ; but he will call 
 me ' doctor,' " uncle Gabriel explained, " ' one 
 of the best sermons we've had. In fact, there's 
 only one other, of all the sermons that've been 
 preached for us since our rector died, that comes 
 up to yours.' That was what Graves told me. 
 Very gratifying eh, my dears ? Ha ! ha ! "
 
 AND SO IT CAME 173 
 
 Uncle Gabe threw a bright glance at his audience, 
 and cheerfully jingled his keys. 
 
 " I told you 't was a good sermon," Judy re- 
 minded him. 
 
 " Well, then, why " questioned Euth, but 
 paused. 
 
 " So you did," remarked Mr. Kincaid, ignoring 
 Rufie's unfinished sentence. " Graves said some 
 other things, equally complimentary. I really 
 think he is a man of a good deal of discrimina- 
 tion ; " the keys jingled again. " Just as we were 
 parting he said, * Oh, by the way, d' you know 
 anything of the Reverend Arthur Patterson? 
 What sort of a man is he ? ' 
 
 " Oh, the mean, deceitful creature ! Oh, the 
 serpent ! " cried Francie wrathfully. 
 
 Uncle Gabriel regarded her with surprise. 
 " Why, Frances ! " he remonstrated ; then con- 
 tinued, " As it happened, I knew several things 
 about Patterson, all good. And, of course, I 
 proceeded to tell them. It was n't until some time 
 after Graves had left me, not until I was walk- 
 ing up town in the afternoon, that it occurred 
 to me that maybe Patterson was the other man, 
 whose sermon came up to mine. I 'm very glad I 
 did n't think of it sooner," the little gentleman 
 said simply, " because, though, of course, I should 
 have said just the same things that I did say, still, 
 human nature is weak, you know, my dears, and 
 I might not 've been able to put such genuine 
 warmth into my praise of Patterson. And that 
 would 've been an injustice to him."
 
 174 FORTUNE'S BOATS 
 
 " Very likely what you said, with his good ser- 
 mon, got Mr. Patterson to St. Mark's," observed 
 Judith. 
 
 " I don't care what anybody says that Graves 
 was a sly mean thing ! Why, under the circum- 
 stances, 'twas adding insult to injury to come to 
 you for information about Mr. Patterson," declared 
 Francie ; and Ruth chimed in with such an im- 
 pressive, solemn, " Ye k s, uncle Gabe, / think so, 
 too," as nearly set Judy laughing. 
 
 " Well I don't know," Mr. Kincaid said re- 
 flectively ; from force of habit his hand went up 
 and stroked his shaven chin. " I 'd have liked well 
 enough to have that parish, I'd have carried 
 those people on my heart ; but if it is n't for me 
 and, you know, a Higher Power than that of man 
 settles these matters if it is n't for me, why, it 's 
 very pleasant to think that perhaps I 've had a 
 hand in putting a fine young fellow into a field of 
 work where he can do his best. And he needs it, 
 girls ; Patterson was in a pretty tight place. Just 
 out of the Seminary, no funds, and with a mother, 
 a confirmed invalid, to support! Yes," jiugling 
 his keys merrily, " I 'm honestly glad the poor 
 fellow has got St. Mark's." 
 
 " Was it rejoicing over Mr. Patterson's good 
 fortune that made you look so pleased ? " inquired 
 Judy. " We thought you had something nice to 
 tell us." 
 
 " Well, Jared 's got a good situation, at last ; 
 an excellent place, out West. He goes to fill it 
 in a week or two, and earlier, if if a certain
 
 AND SO IT CAME 175 
 
 matter can be arranged," Mr. Kincaid announced, 
 with great satisfaction. He thought it wise not 
 to explain that the " certain matter " referred to 
 was the finding on his part and advancing to his 
 protege of a sum of money sufficient for traveling 
 expenses to the Western city. 
 
 " Goodness ! that must be the * forty eleventh ' 
 situation he 's had since you 've known him ! " cried 
 Frances. 
 
 " I think he 's lazy ! " declared Judith. 
 
 " Oh, no, my dear, you 're very much mistaken," 
 replied the little gentleman, with decision. " Jared 
 is very anxious to keep at work, but he has been 
 most unfortunate, so far. This new opening, how- 
 ever, promises well. I only hope that I I hope," 
 hastily correcting himself, " that we can arrange 
 for him to go out West. I wish he was n't quite 
 so large or I so small," added Mr. Kincaid, under 
 his breath, with Jared's ever scanty wardrobe be- 
 fore his mind's eye. 
 
 Just then came an interruption, one of the 
 tragic interruptions that sometimes claim us in a 
 tranquil, most unexpected hour. 
 
 A violent ring of the bell echoed through the 
 apartment, and before Ruth could reach the door 
 Gretchen stood there, awaiting her young mistress, 
 with eyes that looked rounder than ever, and in- 
 expressible excitement in her broken sentences. 
 " Miss Youdit' KT boy kill ! " 
 
 " What 's that ? " cried Judy, appearing at the 
 sound of her name ; and all the little party surged 
 out into the narrow hall to hear what the frightened 
 woman at the door had to tell.
 
 176 FORTUNE'S BOATS 
 
 She was bareheaded, and over her shoulders 
 was thrown a little shawl, under which she tried 
 vainly to hide her large bare arms, her sleeves 
 being rolled well above her elbows. " Oi was at 
 me washin', miss, you '11 plaze to excuse me," she 
 said breathlessly, tugging at her sleeves. "Oi 
 rin loike a deer when the pore mother axed me ! 
 It 's liT Johnnie Quayle, miss, he 's run over 
 wid them horse-cyars. Yes, sor, t'ree blocks down 
 an' two across. It 's meself don' know if he 's 
 kilt. Only he 's callin' for yese, miss ; an' the 
 pore mother 's that crazy " 
 
 " Rufie, tell mother when she comes in. Come 
 with me, uncle Gabe, will you ? Yes, I 'in ready," 
 cried Judith, tossing on a hat, and slipping into 
 her coat, buttoning it as she ran down the steps. 
 
 " 'T is the laidy he 's been callin' for," " Sure, 
 't is Miss Judit' an' the liT parson," cried several 
 in the crowd that had gathered around the injured 
 boy, and a way was instantly made, through which 
 Judith and uncle Gabriel passed. 
 
 Johnnie had been carried into the area-way of a 
 house that, many years ago, had been the home of 
 a city magnate ; the space allowed for a front yard 
 was more generous than that of its neighbors. 
 That space was now occupied by as many of the 
 crowd as could squeeze into it, their attention 
 divided between the little boy's fainting mother 
 and her son ; and on the wide area step sat a 
 woman holding the child across her lap. In him 
 Judith scarcely recognized the robust, rough, in- 
 dependent little chap, to whom on visits to his
 
 AND SO IT CAME 177 
 
 mother she had given pennies for treats, and whose 
 chubby freckled face she had so often patted. 
 Suffering and intense excitement had flushed 
 Johnnie's cheeks a dull crimson, deepened his blue 
 eyes into brilliant, tearless black, and painted 
 under them and around his temples heavy purple 
 shadows that, for the time, changed and spiritual- 
 ized into startling beauty the commonplace little 
 face. 
 
 Full grown for his four short years of life, the 
 boy more than filled the capacious lap on which he 
 lay, with arms thrown wide apart, and his head 
 hanging over backward, so that he surveyed the 
 crowd upside down. One sturdy leg in a shabby, 
 buttonless shoe, and a torn stocking that gave a 
 liberal view of a brown plump little knee worked 
 incessantly up and down, the other, limp and 
 crushed, the car wheel had gone over it, was 
 supported by friendly hands, and covered with a 
 light cloth. 
 
 A look of recognition came into Johnnie's eyes 
 as Judith sank down beside him on the step and 
 gently lifted his head. The constant pitiful 
 " A-a-h ! A-a-h ! " half moan, half cry, that issued 
 from his parted scarlet lips ceased for the space of 
 one long, indrawn, sobbing breath, then, wriggling 
 his head back into its former position, Johnnie 
 again took up his cry. 
 
 " Is there no doctor here ? Oh, why wait for the 
 ambulance ? Oh, uncle Gabriel, do get a doctor ! " 
 entreated Judith. 
 
 But uncle Gabriel was beside the poor mother.
 
 178 FORTUNE'S BOATS 
 
 Some one had long ago handed a chair over 
 the railing of the next stoop, and on this was 
 supported Johnnie's mother, half fainting, yet 
 garrulous with nervousness and grief. The car 
 had come to a stand ; the horses, no doubt glad of 
 the rest, flung sidelong, inquisitive glances at the 
 crowd and rubbed noses ; the conductor held the 
 reins, and over the area railing, side by side with 
 a big policeman, hung the driver, white-faced, 
 anxious, and remorseful he had little ones of his 
 own at home. 
 
 " It ain't my fault I swear it ain't. I 'd 'a' give 
 my right han' sooner 'n have this happen," he 
 earnestly protested. " lie 's a daring young un 
 that boy ! Day after day when I 'in passin' he '11 
 run out a'most under the horses' feet, then race off 
 an' stan' jeerin'. To-day he done it once too often 
 his foot slip, an' 'fore I could help it, though 
 God knows I inos' jammed that brake off tryin' 
 to stop, there he was, under the w'eel ! 'T ain't 
 my fault, I tell you the children had ought to be 
 kep' off the streets." 
 
 " Kep' off the streets ! " cried out Johnnie's 
 mother shrilly ; dashing the tears from her face, 
 she sat up to answer him. " Kep' off the streets, 
 is it ? Jes' lemme see youse do it ! Six child'en 
 in two liT rooms, an' me washin' an' iron in' for 
 a livin', wid clo'es lyin' roun' an' cookin' goin' 
 on ; six quar'lin', squirmin' young ones underfoot 
 from mornin' to night jes' youse try it. Oh, 
 youse men can talk, but wese women know^ ! 
 An', anny way, ain't child'en got a right to breathe
 
 AND SO IT CAME 179 
 
 the fresh air ? Ye cyan' keep 'em cooped up all the 
 time ; an' there ain't no place roun' here for 'em to 
 play 'cep' the street. An', now," falling back with a 
 wild burst of tears, " nowyouse has knock the life 
 out of 'im me Johnnie me foine liT b'y the 
 best of the whole six ! 'T was he was allays bring- 
 in' me the kindlin's he 'd be pickin' up, an' the liT 
 bit er coal. Allays thinkin' of his mother, Johnnie 
 was. Sez he to me, this blessed mornin'," tear- 
 fully addressing the bystanders, who listened in re- 
 spectful, sympathetic silence, " sez 'e watchin' 
 me scrubbin' to the wash-tubs sez 'e, ' Mama, 
 w'eu I 'm a big man, I '11 tek care er you youse 
 shan' wurk so hard.' That 's the very wurds he 
 says, ' Mama, I '11 tek care er you,' and now he 's 
 gone he 's gone ! An' what '11 Tim Quayle be 
 sayin' to me Johnnie 's the one of all the child'en 
 he set most store by. O-o-w! O-o-w! " Throwing 
 her apron over her face, Mrs. Quayle wept loudly, 
 with Johnnie's reversed vision fixed upon her, his 
 moaning " A-a-h ! " sounding in her ears. 
 
 "Don't give up hope, my friend," kindly urged 
 uncle Gabriel. " We don't yet know the extent 
 of your little boy's injuries ; let us hope they may 
 be less serious than you think. At any rate, he 
 still lives ; for that we should be thankful." 
 
 " An' 't is thankful I am to yese for yer kind 
 wurds, sor," came in muffled accents from behind 
 the apron. " An' Miss Judit' was allays that good 
 it 's Johnnie '11 be glad she 's wid 'im." 
 
 The ambulance came dashing round the corner, 
 and an alert young doctor sprang to the ground
 
 180 FORTUNE'S BOATS 
 
 and made Lis way to where Johnnie lay. There he 
 found a medical man already on the spot. 
 
 While uncle Gabriel was endeavoring to soothe 
 and comfort Mrs. Quayle, and while Judith knelt 
 beside Johnnie, wiping the moisture of pain from 
 his cold forehead, patting his chubby hand, and 
 whispering caressing words into his apparently 
 heedless ear, a tall girl and two men had come into 
 the crowded area and joined her. 
 
 " Oh, Marnie ! is n't it dreadful for the little 
 fellow ! " Judith said, in a hurried undertone, to 
 the girl ; then turning eagerly to one of the men, a 
 dependent, imploring note in her voice that de- 
 lighted her hearer, " Oh, Basil, you '11 get a doctor 
 won't -you ? " she asked. " The ambulance is so 
 long in coming, and the poor child is suffering 
 agony." 
 
 " I '11 get one, sure ! He '11 be here in a jiffy ! " 
 replied the new .cousin confidently ; and dashed 
 away as fast as the pressure of people around him 
 would allow, unheeding Mr. Austin's hastily ut- 
 tered, " Give him any price only bring him ! " 
 
 While walking leisurely toward the Jeffreys' 
 house, Mr. Austin and Margaret had been accosted 
 by a small urchin (one of Judy's " boys ") and 
 given a vivid account of the accident and Judy's 
 presence there, which sent them, and Basil, who 
 came along at the moment, a good deal out of tlu ir 
 way and directly to the area gate. 
 
 In the few moments of Basil's absence they 
 seemed very long Roger Austin, standing look- 
 ing intently upon two figures that were before him,
 
 AND SO IT CAME 181 
 
 was stirred by a strong and most unusual emotion. 
 The chief figure was Margaret, kneeling beside 
 Johnnie, her sailor hat pushed back, well off her 
 head, her brilliant eyes soft with unshed tears, 
 her beautiful face full of tender pity as she stroked 
 the grimy little hand spread out upon her palm. 
 Once she bent and laid the clammy fingers against 
 her glowing cheek, and in the thrill of a swift 
 vision that came to him a hitherto unthought 
 of joy Roger, for the first time in his life, re- 
 cognized the unbreakable common brotherhood of 
 man, and an intention which for weeks had been 
 floating vaguely in the back of his brain suddenly 
 crystallized itself into a fixed, generous resolve. 
 
 Though hardly in the fraction of time that he 
 had stipulated, Basil, nevertheless, speedily brought 
 a physician, to whose practiced eye the extent of 
 Johnnie's injuries was soon apparent. 
 
 Judy's lips quivered when his report was whis- 
 pered to her. She hastily retreated under the 
 basement archway, and put her hands over her face. 
 " Oh, poor little Johnnie ! your romping, active 
 days are over ! " she cried. Then turning impul- 
 sively to the person who had followed her steps, and 
 whom intuitively she knew to be Basil, " Oh, is n't 
 it hard that he should have to be a cripple for life," 
 she said huskily, "because there are not enough 
 places provided for poor children in New York, 
 not enough safe playgrounds for them in this great 
 city of rich men and women ! Oh, it is cruel ! " 
 Judy's hand clinched, her voice shook. " Of course 
 he was on the street where else was he to go to
 
 182 FORTUNE'S BOATS 
 
 play? Is it natural to expect a healthy, active 
 child, full of mischief, to stay all day shut up in 
 one stuffy room ? the Quayles' other ' room,' as 
 they call it, is nothing but a good-sized dark closet 
 where as many of them as can sleep. Is it natural 
 to expect Johnnie to stay indoors, in a room full 
 to overflowing with crying children, wash-tubs, wet 
 clothes hanging in every direction, when the 
 street, large, free, and airy is open to him ? It 's 
 only human to seek light and air and exercise 
 all animals crave it ; and because no allowance 
 was made for Johnnie's humanity, he is now suffer- 
 ing may die ; or if he live, be a poor lame 
 creature all the rest of his days. This," she threw 
 a hand over her shoulder in the direction of John- 
 nie, " this accident is n't God's doing ; it 's man's 
 not doing his sin of omission. If you had 
 known the little fellow in health perpetual mo- 
 tion, almost you 'd realize, as I do, what this 
 lameness will be to him if he live ! " Judith 
 leaned her head against the wall, and several tears 
 ran down from under the hands that sought to con- 
 ceal them. 
 
 " ' Tis hard lines on the little chap," Basil said 
 thoughtfully ; a great tenderness was in the light 
 blue eyes that gazed so steadily at Judy. " Don't 
 cry, Judy, don't ! " he urged presently, laying 
 his hand on her arm ; there was almost a sharpness 
 in his voice, but Judith took no offense. "I I 
 can't stand seeing you cry. Perhaps you '11 get 
 your playground some day. Ah ! " in a tone of 
 relief, " here 's the ambulance at last ! "
 
 AND SO IT CAME 183 
 
 Upon the arrival of the brisk young doctor, and 
 his report, imparted with business-like brevity, 
 Mrs. Quayle suddenly gathered strength. Putting 
 aside the glass of water and other restoratives that 
 had been offered her, she rose to her feet. She 
 considered that the time for action had come, and 
 proved herself equal to it. " If it 's to horspittle 
 he 's goin', I 'm goin' wid 'im," she announced, 
 with a certain dignity of manner, spite of her 
 swollen eyes and broad tear-blurred visage. 
 
 "You won't gain anything by going now you 
 won't be allowed in the ward. Better come in the 
 morning; better for him and for you, too," replied 
 the young doctor shortly. 
 
 " It 's now I 'm goin' wid 'im," repeated Mrs. 
 Quayle firmly. " He ain't nothin' but a baby ; an' 
 I '11 be hold in' 'im. Then I '11 be knowin' what all 
 the doctors 'd be sayin' of me b'y. D' ye s'pose," 
 her voice rose passionately, " that I 'd be facin' 
 Tim Quayle widout that ? The other child'en '11 
 have to git on 'thout me " 
 
 " Sure I '11 be lookin' afther the child'en," and 
 " Don't yese be worryin' 'bout them we '11 be 
 carin' for 'em," broke in kindly neighbors of 
 Johnnie's mother, neighbors who through sympathy 
 and a share of curiosity had left their work, 
 and, some of them, come many blocks to be with 
 her. 
 
 " Hear her considerin' Tim Quayle, an' he, the 
 lazy oidlin' feller, forever hangin' roun' the docks, 
 doin' nothin', an' she workin' like a horse to 
 keep the roof over him an' the child'en," com- 
 mented some other neighbors.
 
 184 FORTUNE'S BOATS 
 
 Unconscious of these last remarks, Mrs. Quayle 
 accepted one of the offers to look after her children 
 in her absence. " I '11 be doin' as much, an' more, 
 fer yese, Mrs. Brady, whin your toime of throuble 
 comes,". she declared, with warmth. "An' it's the 
 dinner ye '11 be findin' set on the back er the stove," 
 she added. " Will yer plaze to be telliu' Tim I '11 
 be home whin he sees me, an' not before. The 
 Howly Mother an' all the saints bless ye, Miss 
 Judit'," as the girl came close and pressed her 
 hard work-worn hand. "It's the friend of the 
 poor ye are, an' no mistake." 
 
 With sustained dignity Mrs. Quayle walked to 
 the ambulance, into which uncle Gabriel assisted 
 her; then Johnnie was handed in, quiet enough 
 now ; the young doctor had given him a hypoder- 
 mic of morphine. 
 
 " O-o-w ! me liT Johnnie ! O-o-w ! Mavourneen, 
 mavourneen, 't is loike the dead ye look ! " cried 
 the poor mother, bursting into a paroxysm of tears 
 as she received the round quiet little figure into 
 her arms. 
 
 " Now, see here - - I can't have that noise ; 
 you 've got to be quiet," commanded the hospital 
 doctor, at which a murmur of disapproval ran 
 through the crowd. The young physician sprang 
 to his seat, gave the signal, and the ambulance 
 went swiftly up the avenue and out of sight. 
 
 The party of five walked in almost unbroken 
 silence to the Jeffreys' home. Ruth admitted 
 them to the drawing-room, where were Mrs. Jef-
 
 AND SO IT CAME 185 
 
 frey, Frances, and Ursula, with many questions as 
 to their absence. 
 
 "When it got to be long past tea time and none 
 of you put in an appearance, I grew nervous," the 
 mother said. " The whole affair was so hurried 
 that Ruth and Francie could tell very little of 
 what had carried you two off," nodding at uncle 
 Gabe and Judith, the last of whom sat white and 
 heavy-eyed, " and Margaret's absence added to 
 my anxiety." 
 
 Then the story was related by the girls and uncle 
 Gabriel, the other two men supplying a word here 
 and there as the tale progressed. Judith told her 
 part with feeling, but quietly and apparently with 
 perfect self-control, until nearly at the end ; and 
 then, without warning, she sprang up, leaving a 
 sentence unfinished. " I can't go on," she ex- 
 plained, with shaking lips, spite of a desperate 
 effort to keep them steady. " I think I 'm tired. 
 Mamie, you tell the rest." 
 
 She turned hastily to leave the room, when, to 
 the surprise of all, Mr. Austin made a detaining 
 gesture. " Don't go just yet, Judith," he asked. 
 " I 've something to say to you presently." 
 
 Then, when Margaret had brought the sad story 
 to a close, Roger rose from his chair, and taking 
 a step forward, addressed Judith. " You have 
 more than once spoken to me of a cherished 
 scheme you have in mind and are most desirous of 
 having carried out," he said. There was an earnest 
 ring in his voice, and such a curious, restrained 
 excitement in his usually calm manner as immedi-
 
 186 FORTUNE'S BOATS 
 
 ately secured the attention of the small audience. 
 " Your idea, as I understand it, is that there should 
 be more public playgrounds for the poor children 
 of this city, and right in the heart of the city. 
 You maintain that such places would be for their 
 great gain, a gain both of body and soul, I think 
 you said. After carefully considering the idea, 
 I will say now that I agree with you. And as a 
 practical proof of my belief in the good such a 
 playground would be on this crowded East Side, I 
 am prepared to give for that purpose three lots of 
 ground which I now own." He paused, for Mar- 
 garet had risen and come swiftly to his side. 
 
 " Oh, Roger, how kind you are ! " she exclaimed, 
 and impulsively took one of his hands in hers. 
 
 Uncle Gabriel and Margaret's lover had not 
 been drawn toward each other. In the inner re- 
 cesses of his mind Mr. Austin regarded the little 
 clergyman as but one remove from a fool, and, in 
 the exercise of his philanthropy, detrimental to the 
 Jeffreys ; while uncle Gabe's private opinion of his 
 future nephew-in-law was that he was dull, cold- 
 hearted, and worldly. But now the little man quite 
 forgot his prejudice in admiration of Roger's gen- 
 erosity. 
 
 " That 's a noble gift, sir, a noble gift one 
 that does you credit ! " he declared warmly. " I 
 envy you the ability to give so generously. It is 
 a great privilege, for " uncle Gabriel's hand was 
 lifted " ' He that hath pity upon the poor lend- 
 eth unto the Lord.' ' 
 
 At Mr. Austin's unexpected words Judy had
 
 AND SO IT CAME 187 
 
 risen quickly to her feet, with the color flaming in 
 a soft red sti'eak on each cheek, wide-eyed and 
 bewildered. " Mother, Ursula do you suppose 
 he means it? Is it true ? Oh ! is it really true? " 
 she asked imploringly, incredulously, doubting the 
 evidence of her own ears. 
 
 " Oh, how generous ! " " How kind ! " came 
 from various ones in the little audience. 
 
 With a rare public demonstration of affection 
 Mr. Austin drew Margaret's hand within his arm 
 and gently patted it ; and with her standing beside 
 him, continued his remarks. He was realizing in 
 a larger, fuller degree than ever before in all his 
 life the beauty and joy of giving. 
 
 "Yes, it is quite true," he said, smiling at Ju- 
 dith ; his eyes were bright, and a tinge of color had 
 come into his anemic face. " The lots are situated 
 in a closely populated district of the East Side, 
 and, at present, are occupied by houses ; but they 
 shall be pulled down. And as the space of the three 
 lots, put together, is not enough for your purpose, 
 we must see what we can do to make it larger. 
 I '11 lay the matter before some men, and try and 
 get them interested. It is possible of course, 
 you understand that I am not speaking with any 
 certainty whatever but it is possible that they 
 may be induced to cooperate, and so enable us to 
 carry out the scheme " 
 
 " Ay ! " shouted Basil, jumping to his feet and 
 slapping his hand violently on his pocket ; then 
 meeting the surprised eyes that turned upon him, he 
 sank back in his chair and scowled fiercely, with a
 
 188 FORTUNE'S BOATS 
 
 sulky expression on his face that seemed to say, 
 " Don't anybody dare to tell me I said that ! " 
 
 By this time Judith had reached Roger's side, 
 and was clasping his hand firmly with her eager, 
 nervous fingers. " Oh, God will bless you for this 
 splendid gift ! " she cried ; she could scarcely speak. 
 " I can't thank you, my heart is so full that the 
 words won't come. Thank him for me, Mamie ! 
 Mother, Ursula, tell him what a great, great boon 
 this playground will be, what a blessing to the 
 children ! They will have a right there ; there 
 they can play without being in anybody's way, 
 without danger of being knocked down, run over, as 
 Johnnie " Dropping Mr. Austin's hand Judy 
 ran to her mother, and slipping to her knees, buried 
 her face in that lady's shoulder. " Oh, mother ! 
 mother ! I am so glad, I am so glad ! " she de- 
 clared, and, by way of proving it, burst into a 
 passion of tears which even Mrs. Jeffrey's tender 
 touch, her soothing voice, could not immediately 
 check. 
 
 " Good-by ! " a voice whispered presently into 
 Judy's ear. 
 
 The voice came from somewhere back of the 
 spindle chair, and belonged to Basil Fabrey. 
 
 Judith lifted her face, still wet with tears ; p:il<>, 
 tired, heavy-eyed, but calm, save for a slight 
 trembling of the under lip when she spoke. " I 'm 
 ashamed to have broken down under such splendid 
 news just what I've been longing for. I don't 
 know what ails me to-day ; you '11 think me a 
 regular cry-baby ! " she said deprecatingly.
 
 AND SO IT CAME 189 
 
 Basil went down on one knee to be on a level 
 withher r and their eyes met. Then, rosy red from 
 chin to forehead, Judy hastily put her face again 
 upon her mother's shoulder, and, shielded from 
 public view behind the high back of the spindle 
 chair, Basil stooped still lower and quietly kissed 
 the hand she had held out for good-by. The next 
 minute, making short work of his adieux to the 
 rest of the family, he was rushing down the steps 
 in hot pursuit of Mr. Austin, who had preceded 
 him. 
 
 " Oh, I say ! Austin, hold on ! " Basil shouted ; 
 and on reaching that dignified gentleman thrust 
 a hand familiarly through his arm. " I want to 
 talk to you about that playground business," he 
 remarked, somewhat out of breath with his late 
 exertions. " I know of one ' bloated capitalist ' 
 that wants to drop some cash in just such a scheme. 
 I '11 walk a block or two with you and explain."
 
 CHAPTER XI 
 
 JARED 
 
 THE family were out Ursula and Frances 
 spending the evening with the Ervengs ; Mrs. Jef- 
 frey and the other three girls dining in Washing- 
 ton Square. So it happened that uncle Gabriel 
 was quite alone when Jared Watkins called. In 
 the kitchen Gretchen was poring over a German 
 paper that Mr. Kincaid had given her. After a 
 very juvenile frolic Count Ito was asleep in his 
 basket under the table, and on the fire-escape 
 outside the kitchen window, with her tail close 
 wrapped around her dainty white paws, was Miss 
 Weewee, taking the air, and, under the guise of 
 meditation, casting inquisitive glances into her 
 neighbors' back windows. At the flat-topped desk 
 in the dining-room sat uncle Gabriel, writing by the 
 fast fading light of a late April afternoon. The 
 article was for the next number of the Italian 
 paper, the subject Garibaldi, a hero dear to the 
 little man's heart, and his pen was traveling 
 over the pages of his pad with genuine enjoyment. 
 Yet he heard and recognized the stealthy knock at 
 the front door, and immediately rose to answer it. 
 
 " That 's all right, Gretchen, you need n't trouble 
 to go to the door," he called, with characteristic
 
 JARED 191 
 
 consideration, and in German. " It 's some one 
 for me ; I '11 let him in," and hastened to admit 
 his protege. 
 
 " Ah, good-evening, Jared ! Glad to see you ! " 
 he said heartily. " Come in, my friend, walk 
 right in. I '11 take you to my room to have our 
 talk. It V pretty small should n't wonder if we 
 two big men 'd be rather crowded. Ha ! ha I But 
 we '11 manage somehow. Tell you what, you can 
 sit on the bed, and I '11 hang my feet out of the 
 window. That '11 give more space eh ? Ha ! ha ! 
 This way, Jared ! " 
 
 Mr. Kincaid took the lead, turning up the light 
 for the visitor to see his way across the drawing- 
 room. It was Jared's first admittance within the 
 flat, and he followed his patron leisurely, as he 
 went casting, from under beetling brows, glances 
 sly but sharp to right and left ; glances which, by 
 the time he reached uncle Gabriel's bedroom, had 
 fixed in the protege's mind the exact location of 
 the few articles of value in the little parlor. 
 
 " Take a seat, Jared ; this chair 's about the only 
 one here that would bear such a heavy weight as 
 you. Light weights may not be imposing, perhaps, 
 but I 've found one advantage they possess," - the 
 little man's eyes were twinkling behind his glasses ; 
 he was in good spirits this evening, "they agree 
 better with old, infirm furniture than do you heavy 
 people. Ha ! ha ! This would n't hold you I 'm 
 perfectly safe in it," as he spoke, twisting round a 
 weak-backed revolving chair, which had lost its 
 thread and wobbled aimlessly from side to side.
 
 192 FORTUNE'S BOATS 
 
 Mr. Kincaid confidently seated himself in it. 
 " Little place, but cosy is n't it ? " he asked. A 
 comprehensive wave of the hand indicated his small 
 domain. 
 
 Having settled his huge bulk to his satisfaction, 
 and placed on the floor beside his chair a dirty- 
 looking carpet-bag which he had carried, Jared 
 was now letting his shrewd eyes wander around his 
 friend's bedroom. It was cosy, in its arrangement 
 showing evidence of a woman's touch and thought, 
 but, save for the fine copy of Andrea del Sarto's 
 head of Christ which hung upon the wall, and for 
 Mr. Kincaid's new spring overcoat which lay over 
 the foot-rail of the bed, everything in the apart- 
 ment was of the simplest, and indeed shabby. The 
 picture had been presented to uncle Gabriel years 
 ago ; the overcoat had come in rather an unusual 
 way in payment of a piece of writing from a 
 clothier who was short of ready cash. From the 
 same source and on the same terms had come the 
 new suit of clothes in which the protege was now 
 arrayed. 
 
 Jared appraised the furnishings at a very low 
 figure, but the comfort which they represented 
 appealed directly to him and embittered his soul. 
 
 " You 're fine an' comfortable. What more d's 
 a man want 'n something to eat an' drink an' a 
 place to sleep? " he said ; he had a rough, abrupt 
 manner. His tone grew querulous. " This 'd be 
 a palice a palice to me ! " he declared. " You 'd 
 ought to see where / slop' las' night ! a shelf 
 'gainst the wall, an' two of us on it at that. Guess
 
 JARED 193 
 
 there was more 'n two ; " this grimly, and with a 
 reminiscent scratch of his upper arm. 
 
 " Why, how 's that ? I gave you er I told 
 you to get sleeping accommodation at the Mills 
 Building," Mr. Kincaid exclaimed, in surprise. 
 
 Jared started, and hastened to retrieve his mis- 
 take. " You did gi' me some money, parson ; 
 you 're the best and only friend I 've got 
 in the world ! " he asserted, with a sidelong, em- 
 phatic movement of his brawny hand. " You 've 
 been a friend to me when everybody else 'd turned 
 the cold shoulder. You did gi' me money yester- 
 day for a Mills bed, an' it was my intention to 've 
 gone there, but, parson, I ain't an angel, an' I ain't 
 dead, consequently I had to eat. An' by the time 
 I 'd satisfied myself an' " here he dropped his 
 voice and tried to look modest, with a shrewd eye on 
 his audience, " an' given a bite to a poor wretch 
 as bad off as myself, there were n't much left ; not 
 more 'n enough to get a shelf in one of them 
 sleepin'-hells along the river-side. 'T ain't your 
 fault, parson it 's all mine. I 'd no business to 
 be givin' a meal to that man with the money you 
 gi' me for another purpose. Oh, I know it I 
 know it," waving his hands at the distressed little 
 clergyman, who was trying vainly to interrupt his 
 protege's flow of words. " But I 've got a heart, 
 parson a heart, sir if I am a bad lot, an' I 'd 
 've slep' on that shelf every night in the week 
 ruther 'n refuse a meal to that onfortunate crea- 
 ture." lie paused, with an air of being overcome 
 by his feelings.
 
 194 FORTUNE'S BOATS 
 
 " Why, certainly, Jared, certainly ! " exclaimed 
 'Mr. Kincaid eagerly. He put out his thin hand 
 and patted the other man's broad shoulder. " My 
 friend, / would never be the one to blame you 
 for such an unselfish piece of kindness," he said. 
 " I 've always felt that you had a good heart, 
 Jared. And there '11 be no more sleeping on a 
 shelf against the wall for you let us thank a mer- 
 ciful Heavenly Father for that, Jared ! No more 
 being hungry, with an empty pocket, and without 
 a home. This opening in Denver is full of promise 
 fu-l-l of promise ! There you '11 be able to put 
 the old unhappy past entirely behind you bury it, 
 in fact, and with God's help make a new name for 
 yourself, a new and honorable name, my friend. 
 It 's an excellent opening in Denver, and I know 
 you '11 make good use of it, Jared. I expect 
 great things of you in this new situation great 
 things ! Don't you forget that." Uncle Gabriel's 
 bright face beamed with kindness, his voice rang 
 hopefully. 
 
 But the little red eyes under Jared's sullen brows 
 were filled with an ugly light. " * A new life ! ' : 
 he cried out roughly, almost fiercely. " I tell you, 
 there ain't no new life for me. I 've gone wron^ 
 - I 'm a jail-bird an' that settles it ! Down in 
 the gutter I'm to stay where I belong. Don't 
 say a word, parson : that 's just the way it stands. 
 There 's no gettin' up in the world again for me 
 God won' help me, an' man won' let me." Jared 
 was in downright earnest now. " I tell you that 's 
 true! " He brought his first down on the little table
 
 JARED 195 
 
 near him with an unexpected bang that made Mr. 
 Kincaid jump. " Anderson said he 'd gi' me I 
 mean len' me half the money to get to Denver. 
 To-night I went to him for it, all ready to start," 
 motioning to the carpet-bag beside him, " as the 
 train goes at midnight. I went to him for the 
 money he 'd promised what 's he tell me ? He 
 ain't got no money to lend he can't spare it! 
 That 's all. Yes, sir, says he can't do it ! 
 Lyin' cheat ! Interested in me ? Bah ! I tell 
 you, parson, he don' care a Go " 
 
 " Jared ! Jared ! no swearing ! " broke in Mr. 
 Kincaid firmly, barely in time to arrest the oath 
 that trembled on his protege 's lips. 
 
 Jared glared, then dropped his head ; a little 
 whine came into his voice. " I ask your pardon, 
 sir, hope you '11 forgive me. It 's the bad com- 
 pany I used to keep that 's learned me them ways. 
 But I 'm tryin' to do different since I 've known 
 you. 'T ain't easy, but I 'm tryin' ; you 're my best 
 friend, parson ; you won' be hard on a poor 
 feller?" 
 
 " I do believe that you 're striving to be a better 
 man, that you 've turned from the evil ways, and 
 are seeking after God. Yes, Jared, I believe that," 
 Mr. Kincaid said kindly, instantly mollified. "And 
 I '11 never be hard upon you, my friend, never, of 
 that you may be sure. For I know by my own 
 experience that even with the strongest resolution, 
 it is often far from easy to overcome the old Adam 
 within us." The near-sighted, unsuspicious little 
 gentleman failed to notice the expression, half
 
 196 FORTUNE'S BOATS 
 
 amusement, half contemptuous, that contorted 
 Jared's mouth at his remark, and to conceal which 
 he coughed behind his hand. 
 
 " And now I '11 tell you something pleasant," 
 uncle Gabriel continued gayly, " something very 
 pleasant ! It 's a pity Anderson has dropped out ; 
 but it 's his loss as much as yours, Jared, for it is 
 a great privilege to be able to help a fellow crea- 
 ture to stand once more upon his own feet. A man 
 who knew what he was talking about says that 
 * Liberty is that place in life in which we can do 
 our best.' This place in Denver is going to be 
 liberty to you, Jared, for you will be free to do 
 your best in it, free from the evil associates that 
 sometimes tempt you here, and with your past a 
 dead past, indeed. Those who meet you out there 
 will know you only as you show yourself an 
 honest man, as I firmly believe you now to be, and 
 deserving of respect. At your very best you will 
 be out there, with God's help, your best of body, 
 mind, and soul. See ? Why, Jared, you may yet 
 rise to be one of the firm. 1 expect it of you 
 nothing less ! Ha ! ha ! " 
 
 Pulling open the top drawer of his chiffonier it 
 was never locked Mr. Kincaid took out a pocket- 
 book. Its once smooth surface was scratched and 
 worn with the service of years, its form limp and 
 flat, and from among its musty folds Jared's patron 
 drew a roll of bills. By the provision of a friend 
 long dead uncle Gabriel, twice a year, re- 
 ceived a small sum of money. Its expenditure 
 should have added to his personal comfort and
 
 JARED 197 
 
 lightened the pecuniary cares which sometimes 
 pressed heavily upon him ; but it was mainly spent 
 in giving aid to the suffering poor that came to 
 him for help. Now, separating one bill (it was all 
 the cash that he expected to own for weeks to 
 come) from the roll, the little gentleman laid it 
 away in the pocket-book, then turned to Jared with 
 a happy countenance. 
 
 " From a chance remark of Anderson's yester- 
 day, I feared that he might back out at the last 
 moment," uncle Gabriel said. " So I prepared for 
 such an emergency I was determined you should 
 have this chance, Jared ! On my way up town 
 this afternoon I called upon a man I know, and 
 made an arrangement with him to do some work. 
 He 's been after me for some time to take it, but 
 it 's work on a dictionary and eh rather con- 
 fining, with my other indoor labors, editing those 
 papers, I mean, so I 'd fought rather shy of the 
 job. My friend agreed at once, and I got him to 
 advance me some money on my future work. That 
 is in here," he motioned to the roll of bills, " and 
 as well a small amount which conies to me semi- 
 annually. Altogether there 's enough to take you 
 to Denver, Jared, and to allow you a little over for 
 meals on the cars, and for a bite when you get to 
 your journey's end. As you say, not being an 
 angel or dead, you must eat. Ha ! ha ! Pretty good 
 for you, Jared ! Now, see." Mr. Kincaid began 
 counting the money out on the little table near 
 which sat his protege. 
 
 " It was my intention to go to the station with
 
 198 FORTUNE'S BOATS 
 
 you," lie continued, shedding the bills from his 
 fingers with the slow awkward touch of one unac- 
 customed to such handling. " But your train goes 
 at midnight, and I've an article to finish for my 
 Italian paper, and some proofs to correct, dic- 
 tionary proofs I began work right away that 
 must be given in to-morrow morning, and it '11 take 
 well most of the night to get it all finished. 
 Else I certainly would go up with you " 
 
 At sight of the money a hard glittering light 
 had sprung into Jared's ferret eyes, a greed that 
 set his heavy mouth twitching. The big fingers 
 spread upon his knees worked with longing, and, 
 before uncle Gabriel had well finished his count, 
 they were outstretched and had closed hungrily 
 upon the bills. " God bless you, parson ! " he ex- 
 claimed breathlessly. He brought the two fistfuls 
 of money together and held them extended before 
 his almost incredulous eyes. " I ain't seen so 
 much for years years years ! " he said 
 thickly. With trembling fingers he shook the bills 
 into an even pile and laid them lovingly away in a 
 dilapidated wallet which he produced from some 
 remote pocket. Then he lifted his huge figure 
 erect and faced his patron. " There 's nobody been 
 so good to me since I was born as you 've been," 
 he declared, with an unusual, and genuine, earnest- 
 ness in his voice. " I ain't had any too much of 
 such treatment ; mostly it 's been kicks an' cuffs 
 an' hard words. If I 'd met you years agone, 
 maybe I 'd been a better man ! Parson, you 're the 
 right sort you are ! God bless you ! " He wrung
 
 JARED 199 
 
 uncle Gabriel's hand, and the little man patted 
 him on the arm with the other hand. 
 
 " If you could know the great pleasure it gives 
 me to do this for you, Jared ! " he said, beaming 
 affectionately upon his protege. " All I ask is that 
 you keep straight, and make a new, honest name 
 for yourself in Denver. That 's all I ask. And, 
 perhaps, out there, one of these days, you '11 have 
 opportunity to pass along to others in trouble some 
 of what you call my ' kindnesses ' to you asking 
 them to pass it on to some one else. Eh, friend ? 
 In that way one can do a good deal of book-keep- 
 ing without having a very long pocket. "Was n't 
 it Benjamin Franklin said something like that ? 
 Wise old Ben ! I am very sorry I can't go to the 
 station with you, Jared ; I 'd like so much to 've 
 seen you off. Let me see I wonder if I could ? " 
 he finished, with a questioning glance at the table 
 where lay a bundle of proofs waiting to be re- 
 vised. 
 
 Jared scowled heavily. " Is it 'cause you don' 
 trust me, parson, that you 'd be goin' along ? " he 
 asked, in an injured, sulky tone. " You 've got 
 your writin' to do, an' the Lord knows good- 
 ness knows," he hastily corrected himself at Mr. 
 Kincaid's upraised finger, " goodness knows I 've 
 been bother enough to you without you takin' the 
 time vallyble time to go all the way to the 
 train with me. 'T ain' necessary ; you don' think 
 I 'd spend that money on anything bat the 
 tickets " - 
 
 " Why, Jared ! " broke in Mr. Kincaid, deeply
 
 200 FORTUNE'S BOATS 
 
 pained to have in any way, however uninten- 
 tionally, hurt his protege's feelings. " Why, my 
 friend, whatever in the world put that absurd no- 
 tion into your head ? Don't you know that I trust 
 you ? Well, I do. I trust you, Jared, I trust you 
 thoroughly ! There ! Now sit down and we '11 
 chat a little longer before you go. You know we 
 shan't have the opportunity again in a hurry. Eh ? 
 Sit down." 
 
 But pretty soon Jared made another attempt to 
 leave. " I guess I 'd best be toddlin'," he said, ris- 
 ing from his chair. " I 've a few things to see to ; 
 an' I don' like to be keepin' you from your work, 
 sir." He held out his big hand. 
 
 " Oh, but your letter of introduction to the Rev- 
 erend Mr. Maynard ! " cried uncle Gabriel. " We 
 almost forgot that ! I wrote one but where 've 
 I put it ? " Hastily he turned over the contents 
 of the chiffonier drawer, and tumbled the papers 
 about on his table. " Oh, perhaps it 's in the din- 
 ing-room ; I remember now that I wrote it out 
 there. Just sit do\vn again and make yourself 
 comfortable, Jared ; I '11 be back in a minute." 
 
 But Jared did not sit down during his patron's 
 absence. He continued to stand, and his eyes were 
 fixed, with a horrible fascination, upon the open 
 chiffonier drawer, where on a heap of disarranged 
 collars, cuffs, and handkerchiefs lay uncle Gabriel's 
 old pocket-book, in full view. The man's hand 
 went out, the fingers working, clutching at the 
 empty air, then fell by his side, and turning his 
 back he stared unseeingly down upon the table.
 
 JARED 201 
 
 Suddenly Jared wheeled around, made a stride 
 to the drawer, snatched out from the pocket-book 
 the bill Mr. Kincaid had left there, and stoop- 
 ing, shoved it inside his shoe the new shoes that 
 uncle Gabriel had given him. " He had n't ought 
 to left me alone, alone me a jail-bird ! " he 
 muttered fiercely. His breath grew short, a wild 
 excitement came into his manner. " It 's mos' too 
 easy ! " he declared, with a nervous contortion of 
 the mouth that was intended for a smile. Seizing 
 the overcoat that lay over the foot-rail, with a few 
 rapid sweeps of his hand it was folded and depos- 
 ited in the carpet-bag. Darting into the drawing- 
 room he swooped down upon a valuable little 
 bronze match-box which Miss Austin had given 
 Margaret, and in a trice that also was stowed away 
 in the same receptacle. The whole thing was done 
 with marvelous dexterity and quickness, and when 
 Mr. Kincaid reentered the room, Jared received 
 him with the stolid composure which was that 
 gentleman's habitual experience of him. 
 
 " Here it is," uncle Gabriel remarked, handing 
 the letter of introduction to his protege. " Put it 
 in a safe place, Jared, and deliver it just as soon 
 as you arrive in Denver before you even get a 
 meal. Mr. Maynard is a good man, an excellent, 
 good man ! and a faithful friend of mine. He '11 
 be a friend to you, too, Jared. You must go ? I 
 suppose you 're right to get on board the train 
 early and have a good night's rest. Well, friend," 
 the little man's voice grew very gentle and affec- 
 tionate, " we 've known each other for a consider-
 
 202 FORTUNE'S BOATS 
 
 able length of time ; now our paths are diverging, 
 and we may never meet again let us pray before 
 we part." 
 
 Jared's face darkened, he made an involuntary 
 movement toward the door ; but the hand upon his 
 arm drew him back. The two men knelt down 
 beside the narrow white bed, side by side, and with 
 one hand resting upon Jared's clenched fist uncle 
 Gabriel prayed " O God, who knowest us to be 
 set in the midst of so many and great dangers 
 that by reason of the frailty of our nature we 
 cannot always stand upright; grant to us such 
 strength and protection as may support us in all 
 dangers, and carry us through all temptations ; 
 through Jesus Christ our Lord, Amen." 
 
 Then they rose up, and Mr. Kincaid led his 
 friend out into the public hall, and there they 
 parted. " Good-by, Jared ! God's blessing be with 
 you ! " was uncle Gabriel's benediction. 
 
 Jared looked up at the bright kindly face smil- 
 ing down at him over the banisters, at the brown 
 near-sighted eyes across which lay an undeniable 
 moisture, and a curious sound escaped his lips. It 
 was intended for " Good-by," but was really a 
 cross between a grunt and a groan. 
 
 " Poor fellow I He feels the parting ! " thought 
 the little clergyman with gratification the pro- 
 tege was not given to emotion and he went back 
 to his room and began his work of correcting the 
 dictionary proofs arduous work, of a kind he 
 particularly disliked, and which he had yet cheer- 
 fully undertaken for Jared's sake.
 
 JARED 203 
 
 Ponderously, with lagging feet, went Jared down 
 the stairs he had so often trod. Never again would 
 he go up them, he told himself ; at that very 
 moment he turned suddenly and retraced a step or 
 two, then hurriedly and impatiently resumed his 
 downward way. At the door of the house he again 
 paused, with his hand on the knob, swayed by 
 two strong emotions ; the expression of his face 
 frightened a little child who ran past him. " He 
 trusted me ! " " He had n' ought to 've lef ' me 
 there he knew I was a jail-bird ! " Good and 
 evil fought within the man's breast and pre- 
 sently, with an awful oath, he swung the door 
 open, and striding out into the sweet April night 
 was lost in the darkness. 
 
 Evil had triumphed. 
 
 Uncle Gabriel came home late the next evening. 
 The dictionary had held his attention for the 
 greater part of the day, so that he had found quite 
 a company of poor Italians awaiting him at the 
 river office when he finally reached there. He 
 had listened to their tales of woe, no less volubly 
 told for the delay ; had counseled, comforted, and 
 calmed what Francie saucily designated as his " con- 
 stituents," settling disputes, encouraging the timid, 
 and in general straightening out difficulties. He 
 had gone to a restaurant and ordered a cheap 
 dinner, and then given it, untouched, to a poor 
 hungry creature who eyed him wolfishly from the 
 door. Without a cent in his pocket, the little man 
 had walked up town, and now had reached home,
 
 204 FORTUNE'S BOATS 
 
 tired, empty, and weighed down by an unusual and 
 unaccountable depression that was hardest of all 
 to bear. 
 
 Frances ran down a couple of the long flights of 
 stairs to meet Mr. Kincaid. " Dear blessed old 
 boy ! Him looks dreffle tired ! " she declared ; 
 standing a step or two above her uncle, she turned 
 his face up between her hands, and kissed him. 
 " Did n't have a thing to eat, not even from a 
 lunch wagon, did him ? I thought not ! You 're 
 bad yes, you are bad ! not to take better 
 care of yourself when you know we all love you. 
 Never mind," she snuggled her piquante little face 
 against uncle Gabe's for a moment, in token of 
 forgiveness ; " come on upstairs with me. I had 
 a feeling that you 'd come home all tired out, and 
 I 've just cooked you a little supper all by my 
 own self. It's waiting for you a nice cup of 
 beef tea just as you like it and a chop brown 
 and juicy, done to a turn. Does n't the mere hear- 
 ing of it make your mouth water ? And you '11 eat 
 it right away, won't you ? " 
 
 " Why, of course I '11 eat it right away never 
 you fear ! " laughed uncle Gabriel. " I 'm as 
 hungry as a hunter. Take care, or I '11 gobble you 
 up, as a relish. Ha ! ha ! " They were going up 
 the steps together, his arm around Francie's waist. 
 " Any letters for me ? Anything from Jared ? " 
 he asked. " He said he 'd post a line in time for 
 me to receive it by the last delivery this evening." 
 
 " He 's back here waiting for you. And lie 
 looks dreadfully ! " Frances whispered, relieved
 
 JARED 205 
 
 to have accomplished her errand. " Mother sent 
 me to tell you " 
 
 Mr. Kincaid started violently. " What ! Jared 
 back? What 're you saying?" he cried in con- 
 sternation. Dashing up the steps he reached the 
 public hall, and came face to face with his protege. 
 " You here, Jared ! What does this mean ? " de- 
 manded uncle Gabriel, surprise and agitation giv- 
 ing an unusual peremptoriness to his tone. 
 
 Jared hastily put out an appealing hand ; his 
 other hand held the carpet-bag which he had car- 
 ried the night before. " Parson, let 's go where 
 I can talk to you," he begged hoarsely, and one 
 glance at his drawn, sodden face, his desperate 
 eyes and fierce mouth, completely routed Mr. Kin- 
 caid's short-lived anger. 
 
 " Certainly, certainly," he agreed. " Come to 
 my room. Francie, run and open the other door 
 forme. Eat?" His hunger forgotten, he looked 
 blank at his niece's reminder. " Oh ! yes, by 
 and by, by and by, my dear. I could n't now. 
 Come, Jared." 
 
 When the two men were in Mr. Kincaid's little 
 room and the portiere drawn, Jared sat down 
 heavily in the chair which his patron silently 
 pushed toward him, and opening the carpet-bag, 
 drew out of its depths the overcoat which he had 
 packed into it the night before. With this in 
 one hand and the bronze match-box in the other, 
 he looked up at his friend. " I stole these las' 
 night," he said, dully doggedly. " Stole 'em 
 from you while you was out of the room, gettin'
 
 206 FORTUNE'S BOATS 
 
 the letter of interduction. What you goin' to do 
 'bout it?" 
 
 Uncle Gabriel threw a hasty glance at the closet 
 within which he had supposed his coat hung ; 
 bewilderment, incredulity, deep pain, appeared in 
 rapid succession on his expressive face. 
 
 " An' I stole the ten dollars out of the pocket- 
 book in the drawer," went on Jared, in the same 
 dull monotone. " What you goin' to do 'bout 
 it?" 
 
 With shaking fingers Mr. Kincaid opened the 
 drawer, opened the pocket-book, and hunted through 
 every compartment. It was empty. He turned 
 and faced the thief. " And I trusted you ! " he 
 said sadly, brokenly. Sitting down on the bed, he 
 put one hand before his eyes ; his lips were moving, 
 but no sound came from them. 
 
 Leaning forward in his chair, Jared watched 
 uncle Gabriel intently ; and presently it entered 
 into his dull mind to comprehend what his friend's 
 quiet meant. " He 's prayin' for me ! " he thought, 
 with a heavy start, his sodden face turning a dark 
 red. And then the strange Power which had la-Id 
 and tormented him throughout the last twenty-four 
 hours, and finally brought him again to his long- 
 suffering friend, now forced him to full confession. 
 
 " Yes, you trusted me ! " he broke out, when he 
 could no longer bear the silence. " You 're the 
 only person what 's ever trusted me, the only one. 
 An' you had n' ought to done it. You knew what 
 I'd been;, you should n' 'vc trustrd im- one min- 
 ute alone with anything that could be stole. I ain't
 
 JARED 207 
 
 like you ; I ain't one of the good kind, though I 've 
 pretended it many a time to blind you. I 'm a 
 bad egg bad as ever they come - - an' you 
 might 's well know it all. I did n't mean to go to 
 no Denver." He saw Mr. Kincaid's violent start, 
 but went doggedly on with his story, pausing now 
 and then between the sentences. " I meant to get 
 all the money I could out of you, then scoot with 
 it go on a tremendous spree an' never lay eyes 
 on you again. . . . When you lef ' me alone I took 
 all I could. I 'd 've got more, if you had n' come 
 back so quick. ... I intended to pawn the things 
 soon 's I went out, but, somehow, I did n't, I kep' 
 puttin' it off. But I spent a good pile of the 
 money, besides the ten I took out the purse ; that 
 went first, an' what you gi' me for meals on the 
 cars,"- the peculiar contortion that did Jared ser- 
 vice for a smile flashed across his ugly mouth and 
 was gone. " I e't an' I drank my fill for once ! 
 I went to the theyater I made a night of it 
 a terrible night ! An' maybe you think I had a 
 tearin' good time ! " 
 
 Jared rose from his chair ; gripping the foot-rail 
 of the bed with one brawny hand on which the big 
 veins stood out, he waved the other at Mr. Kin- 
 caid ; his heavy face worked convulsively, his voice 
 grew thick and agitated. " Talk about your hell 
 punishment," he cried, " there can't be no worse 
 hell than I carried roun' with me last night an' to- 
 day. I 've done worse things in my life than steal 
 from a parson, but I 've never had no such tor- 
 ment here to contend with," touching his breast.
 
 208 FORTUNE'S BOATS 
 
 " I tried to get away from it I ain't used to bein' 
 chicken-hearted but I could n' I could n' ! 
 That 's why I come back. I did n' want to come, 
 but I had to. I never thought that all you'd 
 done for me, every kind word you 'd spoke, every 
 prayer you 'd prayed with me, every cent you 'd 
 took from yourself to give to me would 've rose up 
 an' tormented me like it done." The sorrowful 
 gaze of his friend was more than Jared could bear ; 
 hastily he turned his own eyes away. " I could n' 
 eat enough, I could n' drink enough, no matter 
 how much I poured down, to forget you ! I could n' 
 pawn your overcoat, I could n' spen' the rest of 
 the money. Here " he threw the bronze match- 
 box upon the bed and uncle Gabriel's overcoat 
 after it. Then, slowly, reluctantly, only God 
 could know at what struggle, he laid beside 
 them all that was left of the roll of bills, his 
 friend's gift of the night before. "That's the 
 best I can do," he said gruffly. " Now, I '11 be off. 
 You won't want no such devil's spawn 's I am 
 round you again." Picking up the carpet-bag, he 
 pushed aside the portiere to go out, but Mr. Kin- 
 caid's hand arrested him. 
 
 A kindness that was divine shone in the little 
 gentleman's eyes, and sounded in his voice. " You 
 are the child, not of the devil, but of God, Jared, 
 sinful and erring; but always the child of 
 God! Don't you ever forget that! He would 
 never refuse forgiveness to one of his penitent 
 children; and how should I dare drny to you the 
 forgiveness that I ask of Him for myself every
 
 JARED 209 
 
 day? I forgive you, Jared, for I believe you to 
 be truly sorry for what you've done." 
 
 " Sorry ? " cried Jared vehemently ; his heavy 
 under lip shook. " Parson, I 've never been so 
 sorry for anything I done in all my life ! You 
 might know when I come back ! " His gesture 
 toward the articles on the bed spoke volumes. 
 
 " Suppose that matter could be arranged just 
 suppose it were possible would you go to Den- 
 ver and try to make a better name for yourself ? " 
 Mr. Kincaid asked slowly. 
 
 Jared made an impatient movement. " No sense 
 bringiu' that up, parson. I 've had my chance an' 
 lost it," he answered roughly. " We won' say any 
 more 'bout that." 
 
 "Yes, but we will," gently persisted uncle Ga- 
 briel. " I have no more money of my own not a 
 cent ; but, perhaps, perhaps, I could borrow enough 
 to er make up what is missing. So that you 
 might still go out and fill the situation." 
 
 The protege's jaw dropped, he made a step for- 
 ward. " What! you 'd do this for me, after what 
 I done ? " he cried out incredulously. 
 
 Uncle Gabriel nodded; tears were in his eyes. 
 " You 've been an under dog all your life ; now 
 I want you to have the chance to be something 
 better," he said. 
 
 " Good Lord ! " ejaculated Jared. Dropping 
 into a chair, he laid his arms on Mr. Kincaid's 
 table and buried his face in them ; several heavy 
 sobs shook his big frame. 
 
 " If I do this, can I trust you to make honest
 
 210 FORTUNE'S BOATS 
 
 use of the opportunity ? " asked uncle Gabriel 
 presently. 
 
 Jared lifted his face. All his stolid composure 
 was gone ; his eyes were wet, and the heavy lips 
 and chin worked with emotion. " Ay, parson, 
 you can ! " he cried hoarsely, striking his hand on 
 the table to lend emphasis to the words. " I '11 
 force, myself to be trusted ! I 'd be worse 'n a 
 brute beast, if I did n' make you some returns for 
 all you 've done for me ! Gi' me this one chance 
 more, an' le' me show you what I can do. I '11 pay 
 you the money I stole, I will I will ! I '11 
 pay you back every cent, an' I '11 try harder 'n 
 I ever tried before to be honest. Only," his 
 hands went out imploringly, " only don' let 'em 
 put me where I '11 handle money ; there 's a devil 
 in here as well 's a heart ! " motioning to his breast. 
 "Keep money out of my way, an' I swear," he 
 lifted one big brawny shaking hand, "I swear 
 to you, not by God, parson I 've broke too many 
 promises of that sort but by the memory of the 
 only creature in the world that I never ill-treated, 
 never wronged by the memory of my liT baby 
 girl that died years ago." Two big tears ran down 
 Jared's face. " She loved me, that liT thing, 
 an' I never laid a rough finger on her. I 'd 'a' gi'n 
 my life to save hers, but she had to go. Annie is 
 the best I know, parson, an' I swear to you by her 
 that I '11 try to live honest if I ever get to Denver. 
 You can ask your God to help me, parson " 
 
 " My God, and your God, too, Jared," came 
 in the little gentleman's earnest, hopeful voice.
 
 JARED 211 
 
 " Have courage, my friend ; and have faith in 
 His mercy. The Christ who, in the midst of His 
 own agony, yet heard and pardoned the penitent 
 thief, will never turn from you. And, if it be 
 allowed in the other world, don't you think your 
 little Annie is pleading for you? Come, friend, 
 let us lift our hearts to Him." Kneeling down 
 beside Jared, with an arm thrown across the man's 
 bowed shoulders, uncle Gabriel poured out his 
 soul in prayer. And the deep fervor, the simple 
 speech, and childlike, absolute faith in the mercy 
 and love of God, in the human sympathy of 
 Christ, brought a light into the soul of the poor 
 sinner in whose behalf the prayer was offered. 
 
 The noon train which left the city the next day 
 for the West bore with it Jared Watkins, taking 
 with him uncle Gabriel's blessing, an unfamiliar 
 sense of respectability, and in his heart a new 
 hope which, with God's help, would bear fruit in 
 the future.
 
 CHAPTER XII 
 
 " IN THE DAY'S JOURNEY " 
 
 " THEN it is understood that I am to have both 
 Margaret and Ruth," Miss Austin said, as she rose 
 to end her visit with Mrs. Jeffrey. " I 'm sorry to 
 separate the twins," she added, smiling, " but it '11 
 be for only a week or ten days, and, as you say, 
 Judith could not leave her duties just now. Our 
 country place is most beautiful in May ; and some 
 very charming people will be in the house party, so 
 I can promise the girls a fine time." 
 
 " You are exceedingly kind to give them this 
 pleasure," remarked Mrs. Jeffrey ; and " You 
 know, Miss Austin, our things Mamie's and my 
 clothes are very plain and simple," added Rufie, 
 in her honest, downright fashion, and somewhat 
 anxiously. 
 
 Miss Austin's smile broadened. "Don't be 
 troubled about that, Ruth," she said. " Were you 
 dressed in rags, one might look in your eyes and 
 forget them all ! Now, then," patting the shoulder 
 of the blushing girl, " run and find Margaret for 
 me, will you? Remind her that I'm waiting to 
 carry her off with me for the day." 
 
 "It's settled mother says \vc may go! And 
 Miss Austin is waiting for you to go to Washing-
 
 IN THE DAY'S JOURNEY 213 
 
 ton Square and spend the day. We 're to start for 
 Lenox the end of this week," announced Ruth, with 
 most unusual excitement in voice and manner, as 
 she sailed into the room where were Margaret and 
 Frances. " Miss Austin does n't mind our things 
 being plain, and she says we '11 have a lovely time ! 
 Why, are n't you glad ? " she asked, her eyes 
 opening wide at the expression of her eldest sister's 
 face. 
 
 Margaret was pinning on her hat, but now with 
 an impatient jerk she caught the " sailor " from 
 her head, and tossed it on the bed. 
 
 " No, I 'm not glad ! I don't want to go one 
 step. And I don't want to go to Washington 
 Square to-day either," she declared, with consider- 
 able emphasis. Sitting down suddenly, she stared 
 gloomily at the floor, supporting her face in her 
 hand a face that of late had lost much of its 
 roundness. The peach bloom of her cheeks was 
 paler, too ; the brilliant eyes were more brilliant 
 than of old because of the dark shadows which con- 
 tinually lay under them, and yet with an expression 
 in their depths now and then that was wistful, trou- 
 bled, almost pathetic, and quite unlike Margaret. 
 
 " I don't want to go ! And I wish she would n't 
 keep inviting me to Washington Square," repeated 
 Marnie, twisting her shoulders pettishly. 
 
 Frances and Ruth opened their eyes at one 
 another. 
 
 " Why, Mr. Austin 's there, and you 're going to 
 marry him. I should think you 'd like to be where 
 he was," remarked Rufie bluntly. "I thought
 
 214 FORTUNE'S BOATS 
 
 people that loved each other engaged people 
 always wanted to be together. I 'm sure Jim used 
 to look overjoyed " 
 
 "Don't!" cried Margaret sharply, throwing 
 out her hand " talk such nonsense ! " she added, 
 to cover her first exclamation. Springing up, she 
 hastily pinned on her hat. " You 're talking the 
 silliest! of what you know nothing at all about. 
 I do wish you 'd all leave my affairs alone," she 
 said irritably. " I declare, I 'd like to run away 
 somewhere, where I would n't see a creature I knew 
 some far-away place where people could n't be 
 forever tormenting me ! " Snatching up her gloves, 
 Margaret walked stiffly to the door, but there 
 turned and looked penitently at the two she had 
 just scolded. " Girls, I am the Grossest thing ! 
 Don't mind what I said," she begged ; then went 
 off to join Miss Austin. 
 
 " What 's the trouble ? Do you suppose she 
 does n't care for him any more?" solemnly asked 
 Eufie, as Margaret disappeared. 
 
 " Oh, she must ; did n't she give up Jim for him 
 dear old Jim who loved her so faithfully ! " 
 Frances answered. " I think it 's so queer that 
 she shoidd prefer Mr. Austin," she continued 
 thoughtfully. " Of course he 's very nice ; and he 
 does give Mamie the most beautiful presents ! 
 but well, to my mind he does n't seems at all 
 the sort of person for her. He is so stiff so 
 formal with her and she with him; positively 
 she acts most of the time as if she were afraid 
 she 'd do or say something that he would be
 
 IN THE DAY'S JOURNEY 215 
 
 shocked at. People that love each other don't act 
 that way." 
 
 " You and Ursula don't care for Mr. Austin, 
 and Judy only likes him since he fell in with her 
 playground scheme. Mother is most polite to him, 
 but she loved Jim. I know uncle Gabe would n't 
 break his heart if Mr. Austin never came here 
 again. Nobody in the family cares for the poor 
 man but I do. I think he 's very nice ! " de- 
 clared Ruth sturdily. " He does n't seem half so 
 old to me as he did at first ; and he is certainly 
 very kind ! Think of his giving those houses for 
 the playground, and of his interesting other people 
 to give more houses, so as to have a large space. 
 And of the money he 's collecting to begin the 
 work with ! Do we know any other person that 
 would Ve done all that ? And another thing " 
 she turned her gray eyes searchingly upon Frances 
 
 " what do you know about people being in love ? 
 Or how they should act ? " 
 
 " I don't know ; but I can suppose can't I ? " 
 retorted the " youngest," with a sudden accession 
 of color. 
 
 " H 'm ! " remarked Rufie suspiciously. She had 
 no secrets herself, and was inclined to be jealously 
 averse to any reservation of confidence between 
 sisters. Frances was well aware of this little weak- 
 ness ; and now, anxious to avert further question- 
 ings and to restore good humor, she leaned forward 
 and became confidential. " I '11 tell you a secret 
 
 not a creature but mother knows it. I got a 
 letter this morning from Mr. Custis, you know,
 
 216 FORTUNE'S BOATS 
 
 the organist of our church, and what do you 
 think ! He asks me to come over to the church 
 this afternoon and sing for him ! He wants to 
 hear my voice. And if it suits him, he may give 
 me a position in the choir ! Would n't I be the 
 luckiest girl if I secured that ! I do get so tired of 
 being a sponge upon my sisters Ugh ! please 
 don't gobble me quite up, Miss Ogre ! " pretending 
 to shiver with fright before Ruth's indignant ex- 
 pression. " I 've been fairly pining to ask Mr. 
 Custis to try my voice ; but I could n't get up the 
 assurance to approach him. And now if he has n't 
 done the asking himself ! This is my opportunity 
 if only I don't get frightened almost out of my 
 wits, and quite out of my voice ! " 
 
 " Mr. Custis is n't acquainted with us how 
 do you suppose he came to send for you ? " asked 
 Rufie, with interest. 
 
 Frances nodded wisely. "I mother and I 
 think that, perhaps, it may 've come through Jack 
 Rose Mr. Rose. The Roses go to our church, 
 and Ja Mr. Rose used to be in the choir; he 
 knows Mr. Custis. See?" 
 
 " He is another very kind man, that Mr. Rose," 
 decided Ruth. " He got you that arranging of 
 Mrs. Erveng's rooms ; he helped uncle Gabriel to 
 send that man Jared off to Denver ; he took Ursa's 
 novel to his own publishers ; and I should n't 
 wonder at all if he were at the bottom of this, as 
 you say. I like him, too, though he is so quiet." 
 
 "Quiet ! " exclaimed Frances in surprise. " Why, 
 he 's never seemed so very quiet to me. He talks
 
 IN THE DAY'S JOURNEY 217 
 
 quite enough ! " she added, with a slight lifting of 
 the head, " as if," so Ruth told Judy later, " as 
 if I 'd said something against him ! " " And 
 think how clever he is, Ruth, and so modest with 
 it ! Ursula says he is of a great deal of impor- 
 tance in the office, and we know what his books 
 are. / think it is an honor to have such a man for 
 a friend ! " Francie's cheeks were warm ; and to 
 carry off her embarrassment and blushes she hastily 
 caught up a piece of Ruth's sewing that was lying 
 on the bed. " Come on out in the dining-room, and 
 I '11 help you with this gown," she offered. " I 've 
 a little time to spare before I begin practicing. 
 I 'm not due at the church until a quarter past 
 five. If you and Margaret are to go to Lenox at 
 the end of this week, we '11 all have to help get you 
 ready." 
 
 " Oh, we 're not going to make any desperate 
 effort," Rufie said, with calm decision. " Miss 
 Austin understands that we can't afford to dress 
 as fashionable people do. Is n't it perfectly sweet 
 of her to include me in the invitation as well as 
 Mamie ? " 
 
 Prompt to the minute of the time Mr. Custis 
 had appointed, Frances arrived at the old brown 
 church across the square. By her own choice she 
 went alone. " I 'd so much rather not have any of 
 the family along, mother," she had urged. " I am, 
 dreadfully nervous now, and I know 't would make 
 me still more nervous to have one of you dear 
 people sitting there listening to me and just on the
 
 218 FORTUNE'S BOATS 
 
 quiver lest I should fail. Of course it 's silly to 
 feel so but just let me have my way to-day, 
 won't you? Mr. Custis said his wife would be at 
 the church ; and she '11 be enough." And with a 
 very brave and independent front, but thumping 
 heart, the young lady had started out on her ven- 
 ture. 
 
 On reaching the church Frances found that hers 
 was not the only voice Mr. Custis was to try that 
 afternoon. And as she sat in the organist's cosy 
 office listening to the clear, strong notes that 
 floated in from the choir-stalls, a cloud of intense 
 self - depreciation settled down upon her. She 
 hardly heard Mrs. Custis's friendly remarks ; and 
 when, after a while, the organist came in and said 
 pleasantly, " Now, Miss Jeffrey, it is your turn ; 
 will you step into the church ? " Frances felt as 
 if her feet could scarcely take her there. 
 
 " Do you really think there 's any use in my 
 attempting to sing this afternoon?" she asked 
 despairingly. " At my very loudest I could n't 
 sing as that lady did who has just gone out. And 
 I hate to take your time for nothing." All the 
 saucy brightness was gone out of her face, it was 
 white, her eyes were beseeching, her lips dry and 
 trembling indeed, she was trembling from head 
 to foot. 
 
 " It may be just as well for you that your voice 
 is n't like that lady's," Mr. Custis said dryly, 
 turning over the music Francie had brought with 
 her. " Don't feel that this is your only opportu- 
 nity of singing for ine," he added kindly, to
 
 IN THE DAY'S JOURNEY 219 
 
 reassure her. " If you fail to-day, you can come 
 again, and again. Just take a seat in that stall 
 while I play over this voluntary." He did this 
 to give her time to collect herself. " I '11 be at 
 your service in a few moments." 
 
 The " voluntary " was the adagio from Beetho- 
 ven's Fifth Symphony ; and as Frances sat listen- 
 ing to the noble strains, her courage returned. She 
 thought of those at home, to whom her success 
 meant so much. " I owe it to them to do well," 
 she thought, reasoning herself into confidence, 
 gazing absently down into the body of the church, 
 where the afternoon shadows were fast gathering 
 .and shrouding the pews in soft mysterious dark- 
 ness. " They 've all been so generous, so dear to 
 me ! And I 've always wanted to sing in church." 
 Her fingers went over her eyes for a few minutes ; 
 her head bowed. And when, as the last note of 
 the adagio died away, Mr. Custis asked, " Do you 
 know Dyke's arrangement of ' Lead, Kindly 
 Light ' ? Could you sing it ? " Francie immedi- 
 ately rose and held out her hand for the music. 
 
 "I'll try to sing it," she said, with a brave 
 attempt at her own bright smile. 
 
 The hymn was a favorite at home, she knew the 
 music by heart, and with the sheets drooping 
 limply over the hands clasped before her, she stood 
 and sang to the empty pews. 
 
 Francie's voice was of exceptional timbre, and 
 sweet to the highest note, full, flexible, and true, 
 possessing the dramatic quality, and, as well, that 
 rarer quality of magnetic, personal sympathy with-
 
 220 FORTUNE'S BOATS 
 
 out which no voice, however wide its range, is per- 
 fect. 
 
 In the opening lines a tremor betrayed that ner- 
 vousness still lingered with the singer, but the dear 
 familiar words brought confidence, and soon all 
 but the sheer delight of expression was forgotten. 
 Up and up soared the clear young voice, filling 
 every corner of the building with its pure melody, 
 falling upon the greedy ears of a listener who had 
 slipped into a pew near the door, and delighting 
 the critical, difficult taste of the organist. 
 
 Mr. Custis followed every note with the interest 
 and growing excitement of the " born " choir- 
 master over a musical "find," a rara avis, than 
 which there is none more eager. While Frances 
 with all the fervor and worship of her heart was 
 singing, 
 
 ..." remember not past years. 
 So long Thy power has blest me, sure it still 
 
 Will lead me on 
 O'er moor and fen, o'er crag and torrent, till 
 
 The night is gone, 
 
 And with the morn those angel faces smile, 
 Which I have loved long since, and lost awhile." 
 
 Mr. Custis's brain was busy with her future 
 training, advising her, selecting solos which would 
 call out the beauty of her voice, and, in fancy, 
 hearing her sing them, in that very stall in which 
 she now stood. 
 
 He was delighted with Francie's rendering of 
 the hymn, but when it was finished and she turned 
 to him with wistful, questioning eyes which it was 
 hard to resist, his only answer was, " Now, sing
 
 IN THE DAY'S JOURNEY 221 
 
 this," in a tone so business-like and non-committal 
 that the poor child's heart sank. " This " proved 
 to be Mascheroni's " For all Eternity ; " several 
 other pieces followed, and a trial of reading at 
 sight. Frances had been well taught, and she did 
 her best, though always handicapped by the con- 
 viction that she was doing her worst. Mr. Cus- 
 tis's remarks, therefore, when the test was over 
 and they were once more in the choir-room, were 
 an overwhelming surprise. The choir-master was 
 a tall man, with the fine-cut features, proud yet 
 gentle air, and noble bearing that one is apt to 
 attribute to the knights of old a Percevale or 
 Galahad. And the soul within was exceptionally 
 upright and pure, ever filled with the chivalry and 
 kindly courtesy of one who was a follower of a 
 greater, nobler King than Arthur. 
 
 " Miss Jeffrey, you have a beautiful voice ! I 
 am delighted with it ! " he said, smiling down into 
 the anxious face with which Frances awaited his 
 opinion. " You are very young yet ; put in some 
 years of steady, unremitting study and hard work, 
 and with good health, I have no doubt whatever 
 that your voice will one day bring you fame and 
 a fortune. In the mean time, I should like to have 
 you in my choir. As our appropriation for music 
 is not large, I cannot offer you more than four 
 hundred dollars a year. This, I know, is less than 
 your voice deserves ; but perhaps the training and 
 experience which you would gain here may count 
 for something. You may be sure that I shall give 
 you the benefit of every advantage in my power,'*
 
 222 FORTUNE'S BOATS 
 
 he added warmly, "though " again smiling "I 
 don't expect to be able to keep you here by and 
 by, when better offers begin to come to you as 
 they certainly will." 
 
 But Frances scarcely heard his last remarks. 
 " Oh ! " she exclaimed, with a gasp of delighted 
 astonishment. " Four hundred dollars ! Why, 
 Mr. Custis, I think that is a great deal ! Oh, this 
 is splendid ! " The blood came glowing into her 
 cheeks, her eyes sparkled, and all her even white 
 teeth flashed into view as she threw back her head 
 in a laugh, so happy and contagious that, with a 
 merry glance at each other, the organist and his 
 wife followed suit. 
 
 " I never expected this ; I thought I was sing- 
 ing so badly ! " Frances said joyously ; then, 
 coming back to a sense of Mr. Custis's offer : " I 
 should be very, very glad to sing here, and I think 
 I will. But, of course," with a bright, appealing 
 glance at her new friend, " I could n't decide upon 
 that before talking it over with mother and my 
 uncle. I know they '11 be delighted ! " Again her 
 mouth was all a-smile. " And I will write to you 
 very soon about it, Mr. Custis. You 've been so 
 kind and patient with me ! " she finished grate- 
 fully. Then Mr. Custis and his wife returned to 
 the office, and Francie made her way through the 
 church to the door, in her delight hardly knowing 
 if she were carried along by feet or wings. 
 
 In the vestibule she turned back and knelt for 
 a few minutes in a dark corner of one of the pews. 
 And while the girl's head was bowed upon her
 
 IN THE DAY'S JOURNEY 223 
 
 hands, a shadowy occupant of another pew not far 
 away arose and slipped noiselessly out of the 
 church. In the light of the May afternoon the 
 shadow resolved itself into a very substantial man, 
 wearing gray clothes and a gray soft hat. The hat 
 shaded a shrewd hard face, and was doffed with 
 some grace when its wearer advanced and met 
 Frances at the foot of the church steps. 
 
 " Excuse the liberty I take in addressing you," 
 he hastened to say suavely, as the girl drew aside 
 from him with a startled face. " I 've just had 
 the pleasure of hearing you sing," he motioned 
 to the church, " and I 'd very much like to have 
 a little conversation with you about your voice. I 
 will not detain you long." 
 
 Her one swift glance at the man's face had not 
 pleased Frances. " You are a stranger to me ; 
 and I prefer not to talk with you about my voice," 
 she said, with a bluntness that would have done 
 credit to Rufie ; and straightening her slim young 
 figure, she marched rapidly past him, into the little 
 park that lies before the church. But ere she 
 reached the tulip-bordered fountain, her new ac- 
 quaintance was beside her. 
 
 " I beg that you will listen to me for your 
 own interest," he urged. Then, finding that Fran- 
 ces would neither take nor look at the card he held 
 out, he proceeded to introduce himself and state 
 his object as briefly as possible. " Harwood is my 
 name Townley B. Harwood. I 'm well known 
 in this city, and am especially interested in musical 
 matters. I 'm bringing out a new light opera very
 
 224 FORTUNE'S BOATS 
 
 soon, and your voice would suit the leading 1 part to 
 a T. I could get any number of fine sopranos, 
 they're not scarce, but your voice is just about 
 what I want ; and I 'd like to make you an offer. 
 I 'm a perfectly respectable man, I assure you, 
 miss ; I could bring you piles of references from 
 the very best people in New York. And I 'm in a 
 position to make you a very liberal offer. That 's 
 my style, miss ; I believe in * live and let live.' 
 I '11 make you a liberal offer, and I '11 bring you 
 before the public in a way to insure your fortune. 
 That's what I '11 do!" 
 
 Francie slackened her pace, and threw a half 
 glance at Mr. Harwood. " I 'm much obliged for 
 your offer," she said politely ; " but I can't accept 
 it. I am going to sing in a church." 
 
 " In a church ! " cried the musical dii'ector, with 
 an air of such utter incredulity as quite impressed 
 his audience. " With your voice, content yourself 
 with singing in a church ! Why, miss, that would 
 be doing an injustice to yourself and the world. 
 On the stage is where you belong the operatic 
 stage. Why, with that voice you 'd have the 
 easiest kind of a walkover to world-wide fame, 
 not to mention a tremendous fortune. If }*ou 
 are n't ambitious for yourself, just think of your 
 relatives," urged this Machiavelian musician. 
 " Maybe you 've got a mother ; now, would n't she 
 take big pride in your success? for successful 
 you 're bound to be. Maybe you 've got other 
 family ; think of all you would do for them with 
 the gold that 'd pour into your lap ! And give up
 
 IN THE DAY'S JOURNEY 225 
 
 all that to sing in a church, like anybody with a 
 tuppenny whistle of a voice, and for a paltry two 
 or three hundred a year ! Churches never pay 
 liberally. Why, 't would be wicked sheer, reck- 
 less wickedness that 's what 'twould be! " He 
 grew quite heated, nevertheless keeping a wary eye 
 on the prize he was so anxious to secure. 
 
 " Oh, I am to get more than that ! I 'm to get 
 four hundred ! " cried Frances proudly ; eager to 
 defend Mr. Custis and her beloved church from 
 the imputation of stinginess. 
 
 " Ah, really ! how generous ! " remarked Mr. 
 Harwood scornfully. " D' you know what / am 
 offering you ? thirty -five dollars a week to sing 
 three evenings in the week ! D' you know how 
 much that is a year ? Over eighteen hundred dol- 
 lars ! Compare that with four hundred." 
 
 He caught a glimpse of Francie's astonished 
 face, and quickly followed up his advantage. 
 *' And just as soon as we see what you can do 
 I know you '11 do well I '11 give you more pay ; 
 forty, maybe fifty dollars a week. I tell you I 'm 
 a liberal man, you could n't get into better hands. 
 Fifty dollars a week 'd be two thousand, six hun- 
 dred a year a little fortune in itself ! You 'd 
 soon get rich. And from the light opera on 
 you '11 go to grand opera become another great 
 American prima donna, like Eames and Nordica 
 in Parsifal, Faust, Lohengrin." He paused, 
 with a sly, self-congratulatory chuckle. 
 
 He had struck a note that stirred Francie's blood 
 until it bounded through her veins, that gave dis-
 
 226 FORTUNE'S BOATS 
 
 tinct form to what had been vague, almost uncon- 
 scious longings on her part, and roused into full 
 clamorous life all the strong dramatic instincts of 
 her nature. 
 
 " What would you require me to do ? " she de- 
 manded breathlessly, wheeling round upon Mr. 
 Harwood. 
 
 The musical director was an old stager. Full 
 well he knew the irresistible combination which 
 that brilliant vivid little face and warm eager 
 personality would prove with Francie's fine voice ; 
 and with this first distinct sight of his incipient 
 prima donna, he congratulated himself anew on 
 his luck in having " discovered " her. 
 
 " You would n't have to do much," he hastily 
 replied to Francie's inquiry ; " just to sing three 
 evenings in the week Mondays, Wednesdays, and 
 Fridays ; we alternate with another opera. Three 
 times a week that 's all. And I 'm sure singing 
 comes as easy as dancing, to you." Then he gave 
 a few particulars, but with such reservations, such 
 adroit prevarication, and instant acquiescence to all 
 objections raised, that in the end Frances was left 
 with a confused impression that was very far from 
 the truth. 
 
 " I know you '11 never regret it, my dear young 
 lady," the opera-bouffe manager said unctuously. 
 " One of these days, before very long, you '11 be 
 telling me, ' Mr. Harwood, you 're my best 
 friend ! ' See if you don't ! Now, miss, if you '11 
 kindly give me your imnie and adiln-ss," lie drew 
 out his notebook. " There '11 have to be a little
 
 IN THE DAY'S JOURNEY 227 
 
 agreement between us just a form a mere 
 form," with an airy wave of his hand, " and I 'd 
 like to know where to send it to you." 
 
 " I did want to do some good with my voice," 
 Frances said wistfully, wavering between two de- 
 sires as she glanced across at the old brown 
 church. 
 
 " Good ! " repeated Mr. Harwood, apparently 
 in the greatest surprise. " Why, my dear miss ! 
 where could you do more good than in the position 
 I offer you ? In a church, of necessity your audi- 
 ence is limited ; on the stage, there 'd be no limit 
 to the crowds you could reach." He warmed to 
 the subject, an old theme with him, and waxed 
 eloquent. " Think of the great number of har- 
 assed, brain-tired, sad, and dispirited people to 
 whom your beautiful sympathetic voice would give 
 recreation, enjoyment, freedom from care ! Is n't 
 that doing good ? And is n't it doing the highest 
 kind of good to benefit the greatest number ? In- 
 deed, your sphere of usefulness will be but widened, 
 your high and noble influence but farther reach- 
 ing. There surely can be no question in your 
 mind in regard to that ! " 
 
 So positive and lofty was her new acquaintance's 
 tone that Frances's last scruple slipped away ; and 
 she readily gave her name and address. 
 
 " But please don't send me any agreement until 
 I write and ask you to do so," she added. " I must 
 talk the matter over at home with my family 
 before I decide." 
 
 " But you 're eighteen you mentioned that.
 
 228 FORTUNE'S BOATS 
 
 You have the right to deckle for yourself. Come, 
 now, just say you '11 close with the bargain. Then I 
 won't bother to find any one else for the position ; 
 I '11 keep it for you. Just say positively now, 
 and I '11 wait willingly for the agreement until I 
 hear from you." He was a keen reader of human 
 nature, and understood, as well as if he had known 
 her from her birth, that the spoken word of the 
 girl before him would be as sacred to her as her 
 bond. 
 
 But his urgency revived Francie's first instinc- 
 tive dislike. 
 
 "If I were fifty years old, I would not enter 
 into anything so important as this without first 
 talking it over with my mother," she declared 
 warmly. " Good-afternoon ! " 
 
 The musical director saw his mistake. "You 
 are right, miss, you are perfectly right ! " he 
 eagerly remarked. " Your deference to your par- 
 ent does you great credit, great credit ! " His tone 
 gave Frances a feeling of irritation ; figuratively 
 speaking, as if she were being patted on the 
 back. " I will not trouble you any more just now, 
 Miss Jeffrey ; I '11 wait with patience until I hear 
 from you though the sooner the better. I will 
 only send you to-morrow some credentials which 
 will prove to you and your family that I 'm the 
 person I represent myself to be. With a thousand 
 thanks for your kindness in allowing me this inter- 
 view, I bid you good-afternoon ! " Lifting his hat 
 with great empresscment, Mr. Harwood took him- 
 self off ; and going straight to the grocery store
 
 IN THE DAY'S JOURNEY 229 
 
 nearest to where the Jeffreys lived, soon made 
 himself acquainted with all the information con- 
 cerning the family that could there be obtained. 
 
 Relieved of his company, Frances walked slowly 
 toward home ; her brain teeming with glowing 
 hopes and dazzling visions of the future. Wrapt 
 in her own thoughts, she went unseeing on, and 
 started back with surprise and some alarm when a 
 man's figure stood stock-still before her, barring 
 her way through the narrow park gate. But all 
 fear vanished when she looked up and met Jack 
 Rose's steady honest gray eyes, now alight with 
 pleasure at seeing her. 
 
 " I 'm so glad to meet you ! I 've been wanting 
 all day to see you ! " he said eagerly ; and for a 
 moment they stood silent, hand in hand. Then, 
 " Can you sit here with me just for a little while, 
 before you go home?" he asked, pointing to a 
 bench in a quiet corner of the park, and under one 
 of the widespreading noble elms. 
 
 Frances nodded, and they went over and took 
 their places. 
 
 The day had been unusually warm, and the sun 
 was sinking red in the west ; his departing beams 
 burnished the tops of the tall trees, turning the quiv- 
 ering, dancing leaves into living gold, while lower 
 down, soft shadows gathered length and deepness. 
 The gay red and yellow tulips took on a tenderer 
 hue save where the sunlight, which streamed in at 
 the wide-open west gate, fell aslant the flowers, 
 making them vivid with color ; and the play of the 
 fountain came upon the ear with soothing, rhythmic
 
 230 FORTUNE'S BOATS 
 
 regularity. The peace of the hour was upon the 
 almost deserted park. 
 
 The two young people felt its influence. Tak- 
 ing off his hat, Jack brushed the damp hair away 
 from his forehead, and glancing at his companion, 
 gave a sigh of content. " Is n't it good to be 
 here ? " he asked. " What were you thinking of 
 so deeply when I met you at the gate?" The 
 tone of voice more than his words signified how 
 the friendship between the two had grown and 
 strengthened since the day of that first visit of 
 Frances to Betty Erveng. 
 
 " I 've had an experience this afternoon," Fran- 
 cie answered brightly. " ' Lend thine ear,' and I '11 
 tell you all about it." And forthwith she related 
 the interview with Mr. Custis, and the result of 
 her singing in the church. But she said nothing 
 of the musical director. " I '11 tell him one 
 thing at a time," flitted across her mind even as 
 she talked. 
 
 " Now, sir, what do you think of that ? " she 
 finished saucily. " And this is but the beginning 
 of great things ! What would you say to seeing 
 me a prima donna one of these days rich 
 famous a great celebrity ! " She had a trick of 
 using her hands as she talked ; and now an airy 
 little flirt of the fingers lent charming emphasis to 
 her words. 
 
 Jack sat with his elbow on the back of the set- 
 tee, his head resting on the hand that held his hat, 
 looking at Frances. He loved to watch the brown 
 eyes under the simple straw hat grow brilliant
 
 IN THE DAY'S JOURNEY 231 
 
 with merriment or soft with emotion as the story 
 progressed; and the girl's frank winning smile 
 brought an answering smile to his lips. Jack's 
 face was grave, but in his eyes just then was an 
 expression which Frances could not meet for long, 
 and yet which she would not for the world have 
 had absent from them. 
 
 " What is being famous ? " Jack asked ; then, 
 dreamily, with a slow tender smile, he quoted, 
 " 'You are none the better because you are praised ; 
 you are none the worse because you are blamed ; 
 what thou art, thou art.' 'T is the quality of the 
 soul within that makes one great. Could your 
 soul be any greater, nobler, as a famous prima 
 donna, than now as pure-hearted little Francie Jef- 
 frey ? I 'm so glad you 're to sing in church ! To 
 me sacred music takes a large place in the worship 
 of God. And there your beautiful voice will do 
 the most good in the best way." 
 
 Down to the ground with a run went Francie's 
 fine castles in the air ; like whipped curs her glow- 
 ing fancies skulked rapidly away. A strong re- 
 pugnance for Mr. Harwood struggled side by side 
 with an equally strong disgust for what she now 
 considered as her " consuming vanity and conceit " ! 
 
 Oh, why had she given that horrid man her 
 name and address ? Why had she ever listened 
 to him ? She opened her mouth to tell Jack the 
 whole story then changed her mind at the ex- 
 pression she surprised on his face. Her own 
 difficulties were forgotten ; leaning forward impul- 
 sively, with a shy, kindly little forefinger she
 
 232 FORTUNE'S BOATS 
 
 touched the hand of her friend as it lay upon his 
 knee. 
 
 "Jack," she said softly, "something's wrong. 
 Could you tell me what it is ? Mother says * a 
 trouble shared is often a trouble lightened.' " 
 
 " Yes," he answered simply, " I '11 tell you. I 
 think you ought to know, that 's why I asked you 
 to sit here with me. My brother Paul is in trouble. 
 You know what a brilliant, clever fellow Paul is; 
 we expected great things of him. But he got in 
 with a bad set, and he 's been going it at a tre- 
 mendous pace. To-day he came to tell me " the 
 hand on Jack's knee clinched, a dull red spread 
 slowly over his face, to the roots of his hair "to 
 tell me he has been expelled from college ! He has 
 some debts a good many - - that have to be 
 paid ; and he wants to get out of New York right 
 away, if possible. We all expected him to be a 
 lawyer, like Felix ; but Paul thinks he 'd be happier 
 as a musician an organist. He has always been 
 fond of music ; and now he wants to go off to 
 some city where, as he says, no one '11 know any- 
 thing about this trouble, and where he can make 
 music his profession. I don't think much of the 
 scheme myself, but he is in dead earnest over it 
 and awfully cut up just now. I think he should 
 have his chance." 
 
 " Oh, yes ! " exclaimed Frances, as her friend 
 paused. 
 
 Jack nodded gravely. " My father went through 
 Columbia with a splendid record," he continued, 
 in the same quiet tone ; " so did Felix. Phil and I
 
 IN THE DAY'S JOURNEY 233 
 
 did n't have their brains," in his modest estimate 
 of himself Jack did not understand the protest that 
 his companion's quick gesture conveyed, " but 
 we did our best, and scrambled through. In some 
 ways my father is very particular he expects 
 certain things from his children. Going through 
 college in the best way you can is one of those 
 things. I 'm afraid 't would almost break his heart 
 to know this about Paul. I could n't tell him of 
 it I could n't go to him for help for Paul. And 
 Paul has quarreled with Felix and Max ; he says 
 he would n't take a dollar from them if he were 
 starving ! He is willing to let me help him, and, 
 under the circumstances, I think I am the proper 
 person to do it. But " Jack lifted his honest 
 eyes, sombre with the ache in his heart "I 
 could n't do so without first speaking to you. I 
 felt I owed it to you." He paused; then, to control 
 his voice, began speaking very slowly. " Francie, 
 I haven't told you in so many words, but I think 
 you know how dearly I love you. Ever since I 
 first saw you, my great hope has been that I might 
 some day win you for my wife ! " The way in 
 which Jack said those last two words thrilled 
 Frances to the heart. 
 
 " Betty knows what I feel for you and your 
 mother knows I spoke to her one evening about 
 it," went on the quiet, honest voice. " And I 've 
 been working and saving to have enough for a 
 home before I asked you to marry me. Now," 
 Jack swallowed hard ; the next sentences were 
 more and more difficult to utter, " now, to get
 
 234 FORTUNE'S BOATS 
 
 Paul out of his scrape, and put him on his legs 
 again, he can't go empty-handed to a strange city, 
 will take all that I Ve saved. I intend to do 
 this for Paul I 'm thankful to be able to help 
 my brother in his time of trouble. But it puts an 
 end to my hopes it would n't be fair to you " 
 Then looking steadily at Frances with hopeless 
 eyes, " I would n't have burdened you with this 
 sad story of poor Paul, but I felt you had a right 
 to know to understand why certain words 
 which I had hoped to say to you were not spoken 
 by me. I " Jack's voice suddenly gave out, 
 his hand went across his eyes. 
 
 The expression of patient resignation on his pale 
 face affected Frances curiously ; she felt a strong 
 desire both to laugh and to cry. 
 
 When presently Jack looked up, wondering at 
 her silence, he found her " teary roun' the lashes," 
 but making a desperate effort after her own bright, 
 saucy smile. 
 
 "Yes," she said gently, "you must give Paul 
 his chance." Then, to save herself from a flood of 
 tears, the sunny smile flashed out, while burn- 
 ing blushes made vivid the little piquaute face. 
 " We 're neither of us so very old," she remarked 
 demurely ; " I suppose we could possibly wait 
 until you 'd saved some more money ! " 
 
 " You mean " cried out Jack breathlessly, 
 bending eagerly forward, his eyes, wide open, 
 imploring, searching, fixed upon Frances. 
 
 " You are a good man, a loyal brother ; and 
 oh, Jack ! you are the dearest old blind goose ! "
 
 IN THE DAY'S JOURNEY 235 
 
 whispered that young person roguishly, putting out 
 to him the small, kindly, shy forefinger that had 
 done him service before. Then her under lip began 
 to quiver, a tear made its way down one burning 
 cheek, and the little finger was drawn back but 
 too late ! 
 
 With an exclamation of joy Jack had caught, 
 not only the finger, but the hand to which it 
 belonged, into the strong, safe keeping of his own 
 two eager hands. 
 
 A little later that afternoon Frances rang the 
 bell of her home and walked into the dining-room 
 where the family sat at tea. 
 
 " My dear, where have you been ? We did n't 
 know what had become of you ! " cried Mrs. Jef- 
 frey ; and " Well ; you 've given us a fright ! " 
 " What 's the result of the singing ? " " My ! but 
 you look as if something had happened ! " re- 
 marked several other members of the family. 
 
 As she passed her mother, Frances hastily 
 whispered, " I '11 tell you everything as soon as I 
 can, mother ; " then aloud, " It 's good news and a 
 long story," she said, smiling. " I '11 tell it all by 
 and by when we 're in the drawing-room. Only 
 some dessert, Ursa ; I 'm not a bit hungry." 
 
 " Dear me ! do hurry, everybody, and get fin- 
 ished," urged Rufie. " I 'm dying to hear ! " 
 
 But as it fell out, the story was not told at all 
 that evening, save to Mrs. Jeffrey, and, in the con- 
 fidence of the midnight hour, to Ursula. Kufie 
 had gathered the family into the parlor, and uncle
 
 236 FORTUNE'S BOATS 
 
 Gabriel was saying, in the cheeriest of tones, 
 " Come, Francie, take the floor," when the bell 
 rang sharply. 
 
 Every one listened, with the interested atten- 
 tion which a ring at the bell always secures in an 
 apartment. 
 
 Footsteps came rapidly through the rooms, and 
 Margaret appeared between the drawing-room por- 
 tieres a Margaret with indignant flashing eyes, 
 and a face out of which all the bloom had faded. 
 She made a step forward, and Mrs. Jeffrey rose 
 quickly to meet her. 
 
 " Mother ! " cried Marnie loudly, defiantty, 
 " I 've broken my engagement with Mr. Austin. 
 I couldn't stand it any longer! And I've had a 
 fuss with Miss Austin ! I know you 're all dis- 
 gusted with me I can't help it if you are I 
 don't care ! " 
 
 She ran forward, and, throwing herself into her 
 mother's arms, broke into a wild passion of tears.
 
 CHAPTER XIII 
 
 FRIEND URSULA 
 
 So excited and overcome was Margaret that 
 not until the next morning could Mrs. Jeffrey get 
 a clear understanding of what had happened. 
 And then it was such a pale, tired, most unhappy 
 girl who made confession that the mother's heart 
 yearned over her. 
 
 " I thought I loved him, mother, truly I did, or 
 I never would 've taken him," Marnie said. " You 
 told me once that 't was Mr. Austin's money and 
 position made me like him, and perhaps you 
 were right, mother I don't know. But I 
 thought I loved him and for quite a while I was 
 happy. Not like " In a sudden rush the blood 
 flooded Margaret's face ; she made a quick, impa- 
 tient gesture, as if by so doing she could thrust 
 an unwelcome thought aside. " I was happy," she 
 repeated firmly. " Had Roger asked me then to 
 marry him at once, I would have done it gladly. I 
 kept thinking of what I could do when I was mar- 
 ried how I 'd wear such beautiful clothes, and 
 have lots of sport, and look after the girls, marry 
 them off well, and all that. But, mother," Mar- 
 nie's lips were quivering, heavy tears clouded her 
 hazel eyes, " you know, those things can't make
 
 238 FORTUNE'S BOATS 
 
 up for the loss of other things. I soon began to 
 feel that. Oh, I 'in so thankful I found out in 
 time that I did n't really care for him before 
 I married him ! I 'm afraid I might 've got to 
 actually dislike him ! Would n't that have been 
 awful ! Oh, thank God, I had the courage to 
 break it off ! " Covering her face with her hands, 
 Margaret sobbed aloud. 
 
 Mrs. Jeffrey spoke no word, but the touch of 
 the tender mother hands on her shoulder gave the 
 girl some comfort. 
 
 " Roger Austin is a good man, mother," Mar- 
 garet continued presently ; " good, kind, honorable, 
 refined, but he is n't the man to make me happy. 
 I know what you 're thinking of," she cried out, 
 at the expression of her mother's face. " You 're 
 thinking of of what I said about somebody 
 else about Jim. Oh, what a cruel, wicked, 
 silly girl I 've been ! But Mr. Austin is very 
 different from Jim ! he does n't feel things as 
 as Jim would. He has been so kind to me, you 
 know the presents he has kept bringing me, and 
 always so polite and attentive. But, mother," 
 Margaret's voice dropped as if she were talking 
 treason, " oh, he is so dull ! I had to keep pump- 
 ing my brain for things to talk about when we 
 were alone together ! There 's not a spark of fun 
 in him. And conventional! Why, for for 
 days," the color flamed in the pale cheeks, 
 " for days together he 'd never kiss me ! I know he 
 loved me but he so seldom showed it. I never 
 did care for a great deal of di ministration," Mar-
 
 FRIEND URSULA 239 
 
 nie felt bound to add, " but, dear me, some people 
 go to the other extreme, and that 's just about as 
 bad. There were times when I felt as if I might 
 have been as remote from Roger's affection as a 
 piece of furniture, or some stranger. Truly ! I 
 should die or become as dull as a mummy or some 
 other horrid nonentity if I had to be with him all 
 my life ! I 'm sorry to give him this pain, but I 
 could n't, could n't marry him." 
 
 " You never loved him, that 's the trouble. 
 You should never have engaged yourself to Mr. 
 Austin," Mrs. Jeffrey said gravely. " He is an- 
 other to whom you 've done a great injustice." 
 She sighed. 
 
 " Miss Austin said that yesterday," confessed 
 Margaret shamefacedly. " She said I 'd taken 
 her brother for his money and position ; she did n't 
 put it quite so brutally as that, but that was what 
 she meant. I got very angry. She was urging 
 me about the wedding, mother ; when the very 
 thought of it made me heartsick. Then I got 
 desperate and said some sharp, angry things 
 I 'd rather die than marry Roger Austin ! " Mar- 
 nie brought her closed hand down upon the arm 
 of the chair with a fierce little pound. " I think 
 I told her so ; mother, I was so unhappy I 
 hardly knew what I was saying ! Miss Austin 
 said sharp things, too ! I went straight down to 
 the library where he Roger was, and ended 
 the whole affair then and there. I took off the 
 ring, mother," Marnie leaned eagerly forward : 
 " you know what a beauty that ring was how
 
 240 FORTUNE'S BOATS 
 
 big and white the diamonds were how they 
 sparkled ! I almost went wild with delight when 
 I got it. Well, believe me, when I took it off and 
 laid it on the table before Roger I felt as if I had 
 dropped a shackle I felt so free! I am not 
 sorry I ended the engagement, mother I 'm glad ! 
 If I never marry if I stay poor all my life if 
 I have to work hard as long as I live still I 'm 
 free free," with a wide sweep Margaret lifted 
 her arms above her head ; " free to be my own 
 natural self again." 
 
 "You think only of yourself, Margaret," ex- 
 claimed Mrs. Jeffrey sorrowfully. " My child, 
 have you no thought for the kindly gentleman 
 whose heart you have thrown aside? First our 
 dear old Jim, and now " 
 
 Margaret threw out her hands imploringly. " I 
 am sorry ! Oh, mother, I am ashamed ! " she 
 cried. " I told Roger so. I begged him to for- 
 give me. He won't feel this as as Jim does 
 did. Mr. Austin isn't like Jim in the very 
 least. And I tried oh, how I tried ! with all 
 my strength to love him, but I could not ! Mo- 
 ther, mother ! " Margaret broke into a fit of cry- 
 ing, " I know you and the girls despise me ! I saw 
 it in Ursa's eyes last night. Oh, where did you 
 ever get such a bad, selfish child as I am ? Your 
 eldest daughter, too ; I ought to have been a com- 
 fort to you. But I 've learned a lesson a hard 
 one and I 'm going to be different. First of 
 all I must get some work something to do. I 
 could n't " growing excited '* just sit about the
 
 FRIEND URSULA 241 
 
 house, and think, think, all the time. Old Mrs. 
 Linton, mother you remember her? said she'd 
 be glad to have me read to her and write letters for 
 her three or four mornings in the week, whenever 
 I could spare the time, and she 'd pay me for it. 
 That was a good while ago, but I think I '11 go 
 and see her in a few days, and if she 's of the same 
 mind I'll begin right away. Mother," Mamie 
 came swiftly to her mother's knee and knelt there, 
 " if I had only followed your advice about Mr. 
 Austin ! If I had only been content with Oh, 
 I ' ve been very, very unhappy ! I Ve felt so mean 
 for a long time ! Now, I 'm going to try to forget 
 all about those Austins that they even exist 
 and to behave as your daughter should. Help me, 
 mother ! Put your dear arms around me and say 
 you forgive me." 
 
 " My dear child ! My dear first-born Marnie ! 
 Of course I forgive and will help you ! " cried the 
 mother, drawing the weeping girl into her arms, 
 pressing the hot tear-wet face against her shoul- 
 der. 
 
 But it was not quite so easy to forget the Aus- 
 tins, for they proved themselves far less conven- 
 tional than might have been expected. On that 
 same morning, not long after the talk between the 
 mother and daughter, Miss Austin, who was a 
 law unto herself, came to the house. Margaret 
 declared she would not, could not, see the little 
 lady, but finally ended by following her mother 
 into the drawing-room. 
 
 With a heightened color and sorrowful eyes,
 
 242 FORTUNE'S BOATS 
 
 Mrs. Jeffrey went forward to meet her caller, while 
 Margaret, shamed and a little defiant, lagged 
 behind. 
 
 Miss Austin's greeting was a surprise to them 
 both, and a relief. " We need not quarrel and 
 never see one another again because Margaret 
 does n't wish to marry my brother, need we ? " she 
 asked brusquely, yet kindly, and holding out her 
 hand to Margaret's mother. " In the heat of our 
 talk yesterday, we both said some disagreeable 
 things," went on the visitor, looking at Margaret. 
 " I now apologize for my share. The girl who 
 puts from her the honor of being Roger Austin's 
 wife loses too much," Miss Austin's white head 
 went up, " for me to accentuate that loss by bitter 
 words. I should rather be, and am, most thankful 
 that the young lady discovered the state of her 
 feelings in time ! " 
 
 " Oh, yes ! " exclaimed Margaret involuntarily, 
 fervently, then coloring crimson she sat silent, with 
 downcast eyes. 
 
 " The great mistake was in engaging herself to 
 Mr. Austin," remarked Mrs. Jeffrey gently. " I 
 have the highest opinion of your brother," she 
 added, " and am grieved that any child of mine 
 should have brought this sorrow upon him." 
 
 Again Miss Austin's head went up, a little 
 sparkle came into her bright black eyes. " lit- 
 will get over it," she declared positively, with 
 cold dignity, her sisterly pride up in arms. 
 "There are plenty of women the best of women 
 who would gladly console him. lie will get
 
 FRIEND URSULA 243 
 
 over it. Margaret never loved Roger never," 
 growing warmer, "or she would long ago have 
 discovered his sterling worth, instead of tiring of 
 him as she has. I saw it coming I saw it but 
 I would not let myself believe it of her I Well," 
 still with her head very erect, Miss Austin rose, 
 " I felt I had given way to temper yesterday, and 
 in niy disappointment, said more than I intended, 
 or, perhaps, had any right to say. Valuing your 
 friendship as I do, Mrs. Jeffrey, I determined to 
 come over here this morning and apologize to 
 Margaret." 
 
 " Oh, Miss Austin ! it 's I should apologize to 
 you ! " cried out Margaret, with a burst of tears. 
 " Indeed, if you could only know how dreadfully I 
 feel about this, you would n't be angry with me. I 
 love you dearly ! I felt worse about losing your 
 friendship than " The rest of the sentence was 
 lost in a sob. 
 
 Miss Austin's sense of humor was stirred. 
 " Poor Roger ! " she thought grimly. Then the 
 sight of Margaret's beautiful face convulsed with 
 emotion, the red lips working like those of a child, 
 the piteous imploring expression in the brown eyes, 
 from which tears were pouring, revived the strong 
 affection of old. " You don't deserve it," she de- 
 clared, with kindly brusqueness, " but I can't stay 
 angry with you ! " And lifting herself upon the 
 tips of her toes, she reached up and kissed the tall 
 girl. 
 
 ** Now, Mrs. Jeffery," Miss Austin said, later, 
 when Margaret had gone weeping from the room,
 
 244 FORTUNE'S BOATS 
 
 " now I 'm going to ask you to let me take Ruth 
 to Lenox at the end of the week. Our programme 
 is considerably changed," she went on, quietly 
 ignoring Mrs. Jeffrey's start and look of great 
 surprise. " My brother goes to Europe in a week 
 or two, for an indefinite length of time. The house 
 party we were to have had at our place is, of course, 
 broken up. But I am going to Lenox for a little 
 change, and I am begging Ruth of you for com- 
 pany. I think you might let me have her," fin- 
 ished the little lady sharply ; " I shall be a lonely 
 enough woman for many a long day while Roger 
 is away ! " 
 
 " Ruth shall certainly go, if she will," returned 
 Mrs. Jeffrey warmly, whereupon Ruth was called 
 in to decide the question for herself. 
 
 " Why yes I 'd like to go. You 're very 
 kind to ask me," that young person said, after a 
 moment of surprised silence ; then there came a 
 look of purpose into her gray eyes, and with the 
 pretty pink deepening in her cheeks Ruth added 
 bluntly, gazing steadily at Miss Austin, " We all 
 think Mamie has n't acted very nicely, but I 
 should n't like to have you say that. I should n't 
 want to stay with you and hear you say things 
 about my sister." 
 
 Had any other member of the family said that 
 to Miss Austin, she would most undoubtedly have 
 resented it. But she understood and liked Rufie ; 
 in fact, the girl's bluntness and simplicity amused 
 her. " We are both sensible people, Ruth," she said, 
 smiling. " You may be sure we shan't quarrel."
 
 FRIEND URSULA 245 
 
 So it was settled that Ruth should go to Lenox 
 with Miss Austin ; and the little lady went away. 
 
 Nor was Miss Austin the only member of her 
 family that came to the Jeffreys' house that day. 
 About three o'clock in the afternoon, another 
 visitor called. Mrs. Jeffrey and Frances were out 
 together, uncle Gabriel and Ursula at their re- 
 spective offices, Judy looking after her " poor peo- 
 ple." But Margaret and Ruth were at home ; and 
 while Gretchen answered the bell, Rufie peeped 
 cautiously from behind the dining-room portiere, 
 to get first information of the newcomer. 
 
 "Oh it's Mr. Austin! I heard his voice," 
 she exclaimed, darting back to Margaret. 
 
 " Goodness me ! what '11 I do ? I don't want 
 to see him," cried Margaret, rising up from the 
 lounge in alarm, ready to flee away and hide. " I 
 don't see why he should come here. I wrote him 
 a few lines this morning, and gave it to mother, 
 with all his presents to send back. I 'm not going 
 to see him ! " 
 
 "But you'll have to, if" began Ruth, when 
 the stout little maid appeared, her round eyes 
 rounder than ever. Well she knew that some- 
 thing unusual had occurred in the family ; and her 
 eyes dwelt curiously upon Margaret as she deliv- 
 ered her message. " Misser Austin in draw'n'- 
 room like for see Miss Yudit'." 
 
 The girls looked at each other in dismay. 
 
 " I do hope he is n't going to ask Judy to talk to 
 me for him ! " exclaimed Margaret, when Gretchen 
 had retired.
 
 246 FORTUNE'S BOATS 
 
 " I hope he is n't going to take back the houses 
 he gave for the playground ! " cried Rufie, in con- 
 sternation. " Judy's heart would be broken ! You 
 know, he said they were a gift from you and him- 
 self, and now, as you've backed out D' you 
 suppose he would do such a mean thing?" Her 
 eyes grew big with apprehension for her beloved 
 twin. " Marnie, do go in and see him ; find out 
 if he 's come about that." 
 
 "I will not go in ! " declared Margaret excitedly. 
 "I wish the Austin family would emigrate to 
 Kamschatka or some other far-away outlandish 
 place, where I 'd never lay eyes on them again ! " 
 Catching up a piece of sewing, she began taking 
 stitches at random ; her eyes were so full of tears 
 as to blind her. 
 
 Then Rufie arose, growing several inches taller 
 in her indignation. " Margaret Jeffrey, you 're a 
 selfish thing ! you think of nobody but yourself ! " 
 she informed Maruie, with provoked candor. 
 "First you threw poor Jim aside for Mr. Aus- 
 tin without caring a rap what became of the 
 poor fellow. And now that you 've tired of Mr. 
 Austin, you 've thrown him over ; and you don't 
 trouble yourself in the least about anything he may 
 feel. It 's just your own feelings yourself 
 yourself ! Such a good kind man, too ! Mother 
 asked us not to speak to you about this affair, 
 and I didn't mean to, but you are so selfish I 
 simply couldn't help speaking. There!" And 
 with the last word off sailed Rufie into the parlor 
 where sat Mr. Austin ; while, with a burst of
 
 FRIEND URSULA 247 
 
 tears, Margaret buried her face in the faded sofa 
 cushion and wept bitterly. 
 
 " Judy is out, and mother so I came in to see 
 if I would do," Rufie said, with her own odd min- 
 gling of stately manner and simple phraseology. 
 The little fracas in the dining-room had deepened 
 the rose-blush in her cheeks ; and when Mr. Austin 
 rose and faced her, sympathy for him brought a 
 very kindly expression into Ruth's eyes. 
 
 Never ruddy, at his best, to-day Roger's face wore 
 a ghastly gray pallor that gave him an appearance 
 of extreme delicacy ; black circles under his eyes 
 told of a sleepless night, and in the eyes themselves 
 was such a quiet hopelessness as stirred Ruth into 
 fresh indignation against Margaret. 
 
 " We 're all so sorry ! " she exclaimed, holding 
 out her hand to him with great cordiality. 
 
 "Thank you," Roger said quietly, as he spoke 
 noticing for the first time the strong resemblance 
 in Ruth to Margaret, despite the difference in their 
 coloring. " Thank you for your sympathy ; but," 
 he winced a little, " Margaret's happiness is, of 
 course, the first consideration. No, thank you, 
 I'll not sit down," he continued calmly. " I called 
 to see Judith in regard to the playground." 
 
 " Ah, yes ! " cried Rufie breathlessly, her eyes 
 widening with anxiety. 
 
 " I 'm putting my affairs in order, as I go to 
 Europe in a few days or a week as soon as I 
 can ; and I called to tell Judith what has been de- 
 cided upon in regard to the playground. I have 
 succeeded in interesting some men of wealth and
 
 248 FORTUNE'S BOATS 
 
 standing in the project. These men are convinced, 
 as I am, of the great necessity for such a place in 
 the very heart of the city, and they will take all 
 necessary and proper legal steps to establish the 
 children's playground as a permanence. As Judith 
 knows, work has been begun ; six houses in Ded- 
 lock Street are being rapidly pulled down, and it 's 
 possible that we may get the whole end of the 
 block, straight through to the other street ; I hope 
 so. I shall leave directions that during my ab- 
 sence she be kept fully informed of the progress 
 of the work, which now it is thought may be 
 completed by the early fall. No, Ruth," Mr. 
 Austin put up his hand as Rufie began to speak, 
 " thanks are due from, not to, me. I owe your 
 twin sister many thanks for allowing me the 
 opportunity of joining in the carrying out of her 
 excellent plan. Now," he took up his hat, and 
 held out a hand to Ruth, " good-by ! Should we 
 not meet again, I have some happiness," his voice 
 wavered, " and many very pleasant occasions for 
 which to thank you all. I wish happiness to every 
 member of the family ! " 
 
 " Oh, but you will see me again," asserted Ruth 
 quickly. "Miss Austin was here this morning, 
 and she 's invited me to go to Lenox with her, on 
 Saturday. You '11 be there, won't you ? " 
 
 Roger looked very much surprised. " Indeed ! 
 yes?" he said, somewhat blankly. Then, for an 
 instant a faint, conventional smile stirred his pale 
 lips. " Then we shall meet again very soon," he 
 said. " Good-by ! " And with the sombre cloud
 
 FRIEND URSULA 249 
 
 settling again upon his face, he bowed himself 
 out. 
 
 " Any admittance for a straggler ? " asked Paul 
 Rose, putting his head inside the door of Ursula's 
 office, or, more properly speaking, the small corner 
 of the Leader building which had been partitioned 
 off and dignified by that name. It was one of 
 a number of similar dingy, uncomfortable little 
 places " coops," the men on the staff called 
 them in which the Leader work was done ; and 
 Ursula considered herself particularly well off in 
 having the full width of a window in her " coop," 
 through whose dusty panes the sunlight bravely 
 struggled in. The desk was a table with a " game " 
 leg ; the chair a hard unsteady stool, which had 
 been cut down to suit the height of the table. The 
 wall and partition were pasted over with pictures 
 cut from bygone Leaders race-horses, public 
 speakers, poets and statesmen, ballet dancers, ec- 
 clesiastical dignitaries, madonnas, champion play- 
 ers, and cartoons were there side by side, cheek by 
 jowl, in the most friendly and harmonious fashion. 
 This was the handiwork of a predecessor of Ursula, 
 as was the sketch, done in red and black ink, which 
 filled the unpainted middle panel of the " coop " 
 door, and represented Mephisto with his attenuated 
 barbed tail coiled gracefully around his bat-like 
 feet, and using a slender wicked-looking pitchfork 
 as a toothpick. In the head and half -picked bones 
 of the figure lying at Mephisto's feet a very good 
 likeness to Driscal, the angular, strong featured
 
 250 FORTUNE'S BOATS 
 
 editor of the Leader, had been accomplished. The 
 motto below the sketch was, " Sic semper Tyran- 
 nis." Driscal was a touchy man ; and it was a 
 credited report in the office that the artist 
 jolly, satirical McNaughton had lost his position 
 through that piece of ill-advised wit. 
 
 On McNaughton's departure, Ursula had been 
 promoted to his so-called office ; proud enough 
 she was to be there, too, and good work was she 
 sending out from that dingy little corner of the 
 big barn-like building. The discriminating few 
 on the staff who knew a good thing when they saw 
 it were growing to regard her as a young person 
 to be reckoned with some day as a young person 
 who, in a modest way, was already beginning to 
 " arrive." 
 
 Ursa looked up at the sound of Paul's voice. 
 " Yes, this particular straggler may come in," she 
 said, smiling, though a little while before her face 
 had been grave enough. "The story for Satur- 
 day's paper is off my mind, and in W. D.'s hands " 
 (in office parlance " W. D." was short for William 
 Driscal) ; "and I was just thinking of leaving for 
 home. Yes, take it," as Paul put out a covetous 
 hand toward the big spicy carnation which stood 
 in a glass of water on her desk. 
 
 " All right ; if you 're going, I '11 walk up town 
 with you," proposed the newcomer. He stuck the 
 flower in his buttonhole, and taking a seat side- 
 wise on the table, swung his foot and watched 
 Ursula put on her hat and make her few prepara- 
 tions for leaving.
 
 FRIEND URSULA 251 
 
 Like the rest of the Roses, Paul was good-look- 
 ing. He had the full dome-shaped forehead of 
 Felix ; but there the resemblance ended, for Paul's 
 eyes were bluer than those of his brother, and his 
 hair was much lighter; in fact, almost as yellow as 
 that of his twin sister, Madel. He was taller than 
 Felix, strongly built, and straight ; his manner 
 was gay, a little masterful, insouciant, attractive, 
 and there was a merry twinkle in his eyes ; but at 
 this time his face bore marks of late hours and 
 dissipation. 
 
 As Paul sat waiting, he softly whistled an air 
 from the Meistersinger, and presently, with Ur- 
 sula's penholder for a baton, began leading an 
 imaginary orchestra. In the middle of Walter's 
 beautiful song before the burghers he broke off 
 abruptly. " I 've handed in my last copy for Le- 
 gare," he remarked suddenly. " He 's well enough 
 now to look after his own affairs. By the way, 
 he'll have to skirmish around and find another 
 ' under-study,' as he calls me, or else reform his 
 ways, for I 'm going ' o'er the border and far awa' ' 
 to-morrow ! " 
 
 " To-morrow ! " exclaimed Ursula, turning 
 swiftly upon him. 
 
 Paul nodded, tossed the pen aside, and got down 
 from, the table. "If you're ready, we'll go," he 
 said, a little impatiently. " I 've several, things 
 to tell you, and I can't in here, in this open-air 
 * coop,' " motioning to the partitions, which reached 
 only halfway to the ceiling, " where every word 
 that 's said is heard all over the building ! Let 's
 
 252 FORTUNE'S BOATS 
 
 leave Mephisto to finish picking Driscal's bones in 
 solitude ; and we '11 get out." 
 
 " Don't hurry," he said, as they crossed City 
 Hall Park. " We two may n't ever come this 
 way again together." 
 
 "Why, Paul?" asked Ursula quietly. Every 
 word of the story Francie had told her was clear in 
 Ursa's memory, but she wanted to hear Paul's side 
 of it 
 
 "Because" began Paul; snatching off his hat, 
 with a sudden dexterous movement he caught 
 under it a big yellow butterfly that was sailing by. 
 " Is n't he a fine fellow ? " He spread out the 
 wings for Ursula's inspection ; then went a few 
 steps out of his way to put the insect on a shrub, 
 returning to his companion, lightly dusting some 
 pollen off his fingers. " Because," repeated Paul 
 calmly, "the Faculty of Columbia College have 
 had the impertinence to ask me to get out. In 
 plainer English, I 've been expelled from college, 
 and within a few weeks of graduation ! " 
 
 " Oh, Paul ! Paul ! " exclaimed Ursula brokenly ; 
 and by her keen disappointment knew that in 
 spite of what she had heard, she had been hoping 
 against hope for something better than this. 
 
 " What a rackety, twisting, squirming crowd it 
 is ! We can't talk here," exclaimed Paul irritably. 
 " Come this way." And turning from the wider 
 thoroughfare, they made their way to a quiet back 
 street. 
 
 The tall warehouses and offices were, most of 
 them, closed for the day, a wagon or two lumbered
 
 FRIEND URSULA 253 
 
 leisurely homeward, but pedestrians were few, and 
 the two young people had the narrow sidewalk 
 mainly to themselves. 
 
 " Now, tell me," Ursula said. 
 
 " Oh, it 's the old story I got in a scrape," 
 answered Paul, shrugging his shoulders in an 
 attempt at indifference. " I 've been in worse 
 scrapes, much worse," with a sly reminiscent 
 smile, " the only difference being that this time I 
 was caught." Then he looked at the grave girlish 
 face so near his shoulder, and his own face grew 
 serious. " I '11 tell you something," he said, more 
 earnestly than was his wont: " since we 've been 
 friends you and I I have tried to turn over 
 a new leaf ; this does n't look like it, but, all the 
 same, I have. I promised you I 'd give more at- 
 tention to my work, and so I did I studied hard. 
 I know that if those old brutes had let me alone 
 I 'd have gone through with honors. Only a few 
 weeks more ; but, no ! they must put the extin- 
 guisher on me ! Well," again he shrugged his 
 shoulders, and returned to a lighter tone, 
 " there 's no use crying over spilt milk, or wishing 
 you 'd not done this or the other, after the whole 
 affair is over. The best thing for me now is to go 
 into voluntary exile to get out of New York and 
 away to some other city where I can begin over 
 again. But this finishes the lawyer business as 
 far as I am concerned ; that 's one consolation ! 
 I '11 go ahead now and follow my own bent make 
 music my life work. I 've a friend in Cleveland 
 who is looking up an organist's position for me.
 
 254 FORTUNE'S BOATS 
 
 lie writes that he 's pretty sure he 's got just the 
 place I 'd like ; and I 'm starting for Cleveland to- 
 morrow to find out if he 's right. If the place is 
 what I think it is, I '11 have entire charge of the 
 music choir all there is to it. Just the work 
 I 'd love, and do my best in." 
 
 " What do your people say to your doing this ? 
 
 your father who has been expecting so much of 
 your ajbilities, and Felix, and your sister Nannie, 
 Mrs. Derwent, who 's been almost a mother to you 
 
 do they approve of this step ? " asked Ursula, in 
 the gentle yet firm manner which was especially 
 her own. 
 
 Paul had been fidgeting restlessly while she 
 spoke. " Did n't ask 'em don't intend to, either," 
 he declared shortly, throwing up his handsome 
 head and .squaring his shoulders. " The truth 
 is," he continued, in a gentler voice, " the family 
 don't know of it yet. They won't until I'm gone. 
 Then er a relative of mine will tell them. 
 There would only be remonstrances, hard words, 
 and interference from the pater and Felix ; as it 
 is, without a word they point a moral strongly to 
 me by their own worthier examples ; but, you know, 
 everybody is n't built after the same prim pattern ; 
 and there 'd be sure to be reproaches and weepings 
 from the women folk. And I don't feel like facing 
 any of it ; that sort of thing does n't mend matters 
 one atom, and it's mighty disagreeable. So I m 
 going to skip it all ! Besides, the news would fly 
 around like wildfire all our friends cvi-i-y- 
 body'd know it. Some would sympathize some
 
 FRIEND URSULA 255 
 
 would pity, and I 'd feel like pommeling them ; 
 the majority would call me a black sheep ; and all 
 all" Paul laughed, " every living one of 'em, 
 would insist on remodeling my life for me, on his 
 or her own particular lines. I would n't stand 
 that, you know ; consequently I 'd be forever in 
 hot water, and simply lead a dog's life ! No ; 
 I 'm going quietly away to-morrow morning 
 even Alan does n't know of it. He knows of the 
 trouble at the college, but he would n't breathe a 
 word of it as long 's I told him to keep mum. Poor 
 old chap ! he '11 be sorry to have me gone, though 
 it '11 be the better for him. I have n't been a good 
 example for him or anybody! " Paul's face clouded 
 for a moment, then he threw his head up and 
 began again, in a more cheerful voice. 
 
 " A musician is what I 'm going to be," he said, 
 with feverish eagerness. " I 've always wanted to 
 be one, since I was a little fellow, and the want 
 has grown and strengthened with my growth. I '11 
 make a good thing of it, too, Ursula," turning to 
 her, his eyes alight with enthusiasm. "You just 
 see if I don't. I '11 try and get space on a paper 
 for some musical comments, letters, etc., to keep 
 my literary hand in ; but mainly my time will be 
 given to my choir, and to composing music. My 
 brain is packed full of melodies harmonies 
 good things ! Just you wait until I have time to 
 work some of them out! Perhaps after all the 
 ugly duckling will turn out a swan, and as great 
 an ornament to the family as brilliant Felix, or 
 old sober-sides, plodding Jack. But I 'd like to
 
 256 FORTUNE'S BOATS 
 
 have got my sheepskin from the Alma Mater ! 
 Pretend as I may to the contrary, Ursula," Paul 
 said abruptly, honestly, " I am cut up over this 
 trouble ! " His head still held its proud poise, but 
 the gay boyish face grew set and stern, and tears, 
 hot, infrequent tears, clouded the merry eyes. 
 
 " Oh, that Legare and his wicked, dissipated 
 set how I hate them ! " cried Ursula, clinching 
 her hands, and stiffening her body in her anger. 
 
 Paul looked pleased, but his eyebrows arched 
 quizzically, while he regarded the girl's flushed 
 face with an indulgent smile. " What a vindictive 
 young person it is ! " he said teasingly. " Why 
 abuse poor Legare and nourish enmity against 
 him and his friends ? They could n't have made 
 me go with them, or get into scrapes, unless I had 
 chosen to do it. I 'm afraid I 've been a very 
 willing victim. I 've only myself to blame for 
 this." 
 
 " Then the more shame to you for it," was the 
 gently spoken, sad, and very unexpected reply that 
 came. The short street lined with closed ware- 
 houses through which they were passing was almost 
 deserted, and, turning suddenly, Ursula laid her 
 hand on her companion's sleeve, bringing him to a 
 pause. " Paul, we have been friends a good while 
 now," she said very earnestly, " and this may be 
 our last walk together ; it may be years before 
 we even meet again, so let me say honestly out 
 what is in my heart. You know " this was said 
 very winningly " true friends can speak the truth 
 to one another without fear of being misunder-
 
 FRIEND URSULA 257 
 
 stood. That is one of the beauties and privileges 
 of friendship. Paul, you have more ability than 
 falls to most men, and it was n't given to you to 
 waste. You know that." 
 
 " See here," broke in Paul, with what the Rose 
 family designated as his " impudent " smile, it 
 was a very contagious smile, " are you playing 
 that I 'm a ' heathen Chinee ' and you a mission- 
 ary?" 
 
 " No, I 'm not," laughed Ursa, " and you 're 
 not going to get out of your lecture either don't 
 you think that you are. Now, Paul, please listen ! 
 I 'm in earnest. With all the ability to do splen- 
 did things, you have simply dawdled through col- 
 lege having a ' good time ' that has n't been a 
 good time at all. You know that Legare and his 
 friends are not the people for you to be in with. 
 They 're inferior to you in intellect and every other 
 respect. You 've been just slipping through life 
 in the easiest fashion, allowing all your opportuni- 
 ties to go by unused. Now, Paul, I 'm not going 
 to let you continue treating my friend in that slip- 
 shod, aimless fashion. Do you know what that 
 means ? " She put her fingers lightly on Paul's 
 hand, and, in spite of the teasing, quizzical eyes 
 that were upon her, continued her subject bravely. 
 " It means that I expect very different things from 
 you in Cleveland. You understand, sir? very 
 different things great things ! You 've only to 
 follow the best qualities in your nature you 've 
 got lots of good in you, Paul and all will be 
 well, well with you, and with me, your Fidus
 
 258 FORTUNE'S BOATS 
 
 Achates. I 've never blamed you for not wishing 
 to be a lawyer, for I feel that you are really a 
 musician born. But in the new life, do put your 
 talent, which I believe to be God-given, to the very 
 best use the highest use. Keep my friend, Paul 
 Rose, up to a high standard, and you '11 see how 
 splendid will be the result. You 've got genius, 
 and fine, noble qualities and, do you know," 
 Ursa broke off and looked up at her friend with 
 admiration and pride in her eyes, " do you 
 know, Paul, I 'm sure, that you 're going to do 
 well. I expect it of you and I know you '11 not 
 disappoint me." 
 
 The quiet confidence in Ursula's voice, her calm 
 unshaken belief in him, was especially comforting 
 to Paul just then ; it appealed to the best in his 
 nature. His hands closed upon Ursa's fingers. 
 " You are right ; I have wasted time, I have daw- 
 dled, I have frittered away my brains in low 
 company," he admitted, with a frankness that sur- 
 prised his friend Paul was not given to self-de- 
 preciation. " And " a firm ring came into his 
 voice, his head went up "you are also right in be- 
 lieving that I can and will do better. The college 
 disgrace can't be undone I suppose it '11 be crop- 
 ping up all through my life ! I must only live it 
 down that 's all. And in the career I 'm mark- 
 ing out for myself, I '11 really be at my best. I 
 will try to deserve your good opinion. That '11 
 not be such an easy promise to keep as you might 
 think, either," he added, with an emphatic nod ; 
 " for I 've grown weak and flabby of will lately.
 
 FRIEND URSULA 259 
 
 But I 've got some grit stowed away somewhere 
 in my composition, and that '11 have to come to 
 the front. I '11 deserve your good opinion that 
 is, as far as in me lieth. You need never expect 
 me to be the good little boy my estimable brother 
 Jack is ; we 're cast in different moulds." He 
 broke off. " You 've been a dear good friend to 
 me, Ursula," he said warmly ; " even if," with a 
 saucy laugh, " you are fond of lecturing me. It 's 
 been awfully good of you interesting yourself in 
 such a ne'er-do-well as I am. I 've looked forward 
 to our walks and talks together from day to day, 
 and " his blue eyes looked gratefully at Ursula, 
 then lighted up with fun. " See here," he added 
 abruptly, smiling broadly, "did it ever occur to 
 you that we two would never 've known one an- 
 other so well, never 've grown to be friends, if 
 Legare had n't cut up his little didos and I come 
 to the Leader to fill his place? My calling at 
 your house now and then would never 've made us 
 the friends we are. We owe that to your bete 
 noir, Legare." He loved to tease Ursula. 
 
 " Legare ! " cried Ursa, making a saucy face 
 at her companion ; " indeed, 't is a Higher Power 
 that brought that about, not that horrid, bad man. 
 Well, I too am glad we met, Paul. I 've enjoyed 
 your friendship immensely," she said brightly. 
 " But what would Mrs. Derwent feel to hear her 
 clever young brother, on whom she 's building such 
 hopes, call himself a ne'er-do-well? You're no 
 such thing, sir. I won't have you call yourself that 
 wretched name. This trouble has come because
 
 2GO FORTUNE'S BOATS 
 
 you did n't have the courage to say ' No ' to plea- 
 sure because you did n't dream what it was 
 leading you to. Now you 've learned a lesson a 
 sad, hard lesson, dear friend, that was n't in the 
 college curriculum ; and you 're going to put all 
 the old weaknesses behind you, and learn to stand 
 up straight upon your own feet. I know you are. 
 Oh, the pride I shall take, in a very few more 
 years, in my friend, the famous organist and com- 
 poser, Mr. Paul Rose ; perhaps it '11 be Doctor Rose 
 by then Doctor of Music; eh, Paul?" She 
 laughed so blithely that Paul joined in the laugh. 
 
 " Don't you think you might write Mrs. Der-. 
 went a few lines before you go? " suggested this 
 artful Ursula, following up the laugh, and still 
 smiling. ** Think how sad it '11 make her to have 
 you away. She loves you so dearly, and you 've 
 told me yourself that she 's been a good sister. 
 To know that you thought of her at the last might 
 help her a little to bear your absence. Just a line 
 or two. Could n't y ou ? " 
 
 There was a silence ; Paul kicked a piece of 
 orange peel off the sidewalk with unnecessary 
 force. Then, " Oh, I suppose I could," he said 
 presently, rather sulkily. " Nannie has been the 
 best sister in the world," he added. " But there 'a 
 Max he 'd have to know ! " 
 
 " Well, what if he does? You don't mind that, 
 do you ? He 'd soon hear everything, anyway, 
 you know," remarked Ursula sensibly. " I don't 
 believe Mr. Derwent would think the less of you 
 for remembering your sister, do you ? " this very
 
 FRIEND URSULA 261 
 
 innocently. " He has always seemed such a fine 
 man." 
 
 " He is a fine man," returned Paul briefly, and 
 began striding along at such a pace that Ursula 
 had to drop into a brisk little trot to keep up with 
 him. There was a frown on Paul's forehead as 
 he swung along, his eyes looked gloomily, abstract- 
 edly, ahead. 
 
 " You must write to me, Paul," cheerfully ob- 
 served the wise young friend beside him. " Just 
 as soon as you 're settled and can do it comfort- 
 ably, send me a nice long letter. Tell me about 
 your life your work, your room, the friends you 
 make, and, especially, about the music you '11 be 
 composing. I shall want to know everything 
 about that. Of course I '11 answer. I '11 give you 
 all the news of the office, and of home, and every- 
 thing else I can think of. And please to remem- 
 ber, Mr. Paul Rose," - Ursa was as saucy as her 
 scant breath would allow, " that you '11 not get 
 long letters unless you send long letters. See ? " 
 
 For answer her companion gave a sort of grunt ; 
 and they hurried along for some distance in si- 
 lence. Then, with a start, Paul suddenly roused 
 himself, and unconsciously slackened his pace. 
 " Well ! I am a selfish animal ! " he declared with 
 compunction. " All this time I 've been gabbling 
 of my own affairs ! Tell me something of your- 
 self. Anything new in your home world ? " 
 
 " Yes ; two important somethings," answered 
 Ursula readily. "Margaret has ended her en- 
 gagement with Mr. Austin."
 
 262 FORTUNE'S BOATS 
 
 " Oh, ho ! she has, eh ? " observed Paul, with 
 interest. " Well ; I 'm not surprised. Austin 's a 
 nice enough fellow ; but a man of his age and 
 such a puny specimen at that had no business 
 to expect to carry off a beautiful girl like your 
 sister Margaret. I think she 's done a wise thing ! 
 What 's the other piece of news ? " 
 
 " One in which you come in for a share you 
 may know of it already Frances is engaged to 
 your brother, Jack," announced Francie's sister. 
 " Is n't it odd that the two events should have 
 come together one upon the heels of the other ? " 
 
 Paul started away from Ursula's side in wide- 
 eyed astonishment. " What!" he cried incred- 
 ulously. " Well ! of all the bold beggars ! 
 There 's no earthly reason why Jack should n't en- 
 gage himself and get married," he added presently, 
 still with surprise in his tones. " But, somehow, 
 he 's the last person in the world I expected to hear 
 had done it. So Miss Frances is to be my sister- 
 in-law ; Jack 's in luck." But there was a slight 
 note of bitterness in Paul's voice ; his own disap- 
 pointment rose up again before him, and Ursula 
 guessed it. 
 
 " I think it'll be a long engagement," she said 
 quietly, " as your brother is not at present in a 
 position to support a wife. But they 're both 
 young ; they can wait. I don't know if all your 
 family have been told of the event," she added, 
 "but Mrs. Erveng knows, and Mrs. Derwent. 
 They called on Francie yesterday." 
 
 " Can't afford to marry ? " cried Paul. " Why
 
 FRIEND URSULA 263 
 
 not ? Jack's salary from the Leader is n't a large 
 income, but I know he has money saved, and 
 besides, his books bring him in a little some- 
 thing " A sudden stinging recollection enlight- 
 ened his mind, turning him red and very warm, 
 and bringing with it a wave of feeling in which 
 was humiliation, an unusual sense of gi-atitude, 
 and, what was far less frequent with Paul Rose, 
 of distinct and genuine disfavor with himself. " I 
 know why he never told me of his engagement," 
 Paul said slowly, in a tone so conscience-stricken 
 that Ursula knew at once where his thoughts had 
 gone. 
 
 "All things, good or bad, have an ending 
 here we are at home," she said, as they reached 
 the Jeffreys' house. " And," lowering her voice as 
 they ascended the steps, " there is some one ahead 
 of us." 
 
 The " some one " was a man, peering at the 
 names over the bells, which were indistinct in the 
 dim, as yet unlighted vestibule. As the two young 
 people entered, the man turned to meet them, lift- 
 ing his gray hat with a flourish ; he prided him- 
 self on that bow. 
 
 " I am looking for a family of the name of Jef- 
 frey. I 've rung a bell, but am not sure it is theirs. 
 Can you tell me if they live here ? " he asked. 
 
 " The Jeffreys live at the top of the house," 
 Ursula informed him. 
 
 "That you, Harwood? Why, wherever did 
 you spring from, into this part of the world ? " 
 exclaimed Paul, at sight of the man's face.
 
 264 FORTUNE'S BOATS 
 
 The musical director did not look overpleased 
 at the meeting. " I 'm on a matter of business," 
 he answered stiffly. " I might ask, what 're you 
 doing here ? " 
 
 But just then the front door sprang open with 
 a click, and Mr. Harwood hastily slid himself 
 within it. 
 
 " That fellow runs a light-opera-general-variety 
 theatre, that 's very popular, but he himself is as 
 unscrupulous an individual as could be found any- 
 where," remarked Paul. " He 's one of Legare's 
 cronjes ; and he 's treated the old man badly, too. 
 He is n't to be trusted. Bear that in mind, if any 
 of you people have dealings with him. Look out 
 for trickery ! " 
 
 "I can't imagine what he can 've come for," 
 Ursula said uneasily ; she never thought of con- 
 necting this man with Francie's adventure in the 
 park. 
 
 Paul put out his hand. " Well I won't keep 
 you any longer," he said abruptly, then stood 
 holding Ursa's hand in a firm clasp. " I 've an- 
 other incentive to do my best in Cleveland," he 
 added. " I owe a big debt of more than gratitude 
 to Jack. Jack 's a good fellow, most unselfish 
 as men go ; your sister might have done worse 
 than to take him. I 've an account to settle with 
 Jack, first thing. And there's your good opin- 
 ion of me to be justified. Large contracts to fill 
 eh ? Tell you what, Ursula, you 're a pretty 
 brave girl to have faith in me after all you know ! 
 If I ever amount to anything, you will 've had a
 
 FRIEND URSULA 265 
 
 big hand in the doing of it. Well I can only 
 do my best. Good-by ! " 
 
 " I know you therefore I believe in you," an- 
 swered Ursula ; she had to cough to cover the flut- 
 tering of her breath in her throat. " Now don't 
 forget a few lines to Mrs. Derwent. And one 
 line just one, Paul to your sister Madel 
 your twin sister. Ah please ! " 
 
 " Oh, you wheedler ! " cried Paul, shaking his 
 finger at her. " If that is n't like a woman ! Give 
 her an inch " 
 
 " I 'm equal to asking for a good deal more 
 than an ell," broke in Ursa saucily. " That 's 
 letting you off very easily. You '11 do it, Paul ? " 
 She gave his hand a little shake to make him 
 answer her. 
 
 Paul smiled down indulgentty upon her. " Yes, 
 I'll write Madel a line," he said presently, " and 
 I '11 not write to Nannie " He paused. 
 
 " Oh, Paul ! " exclaimed Ursula, sharp disap- 
 pointment in her voice. 
 
 " I '11 not write to Nannie," repeated Paul teas- 
 ingly, " but I '11 go and see her this evening, 
 confess everything, and have a good talk with her." 
 
 " You dear boy ! Oh, I 'm so pleased ! " cried 
 Ursula, in delighted incoherency ; " that 's ten 
 thousand times better. You 're a great tease, sir, 
 that 's what you are. Paul, stoop your head." 
 As he wonderingly did so, Ursa put her hands 
 upon his shoulders and kissed him lightly on his 
 forehead. " There ! " she said hurriedly, blushing 
 scarlet in the dim light, " that 's for what you 're
 
 266 FORTUNE'S BOATS 
 
 going to do and be from the friend who be- 
 lieves in you, with all her heart. Good-by, Paul ; 
 good-by, dear friend ! God bless you ! " 
 
 " Amen ! " eagerly responded Paul. " Ur- 
 sula" 
 
 But the door had sprung open again, and Ursula 
 was gone.
 
 CHAPTER XIV 
 
 THE SWEETENER OF LIFE 
 
 "UNCLE GABE, do see him for me," eagerly 
 begged Frances, when told of Mr. Harwood's 
 arrival. " I don't want to sing in his opera, I 
 would n't for anything he could offer me. And 
 I could n't, anyhow, now that I 've written Mr. 
 Custis, accepting his offer. I don't know what 
 possessed me to give that man my address. You 
 go in and see him for me, won't you ? " 
 
 " Yes, Gabriel, do go," urged Mrs. Jeffrey 
 uneasily ; and, " If he makes any trouble, shout, 
 and I '11 come help you annihilate him," supple- 
 mented Basil, who was at the house. 
 
 But the musical director refused to accept uncle 
 Gabriel's settlement of the matter. 
 
 " My offer was made to Miss Jeffrey herself, and 
 from her, and no other, will I take my answer," he 
 declared, getting very red in the face, and glaring 
 at the little clergyman. " I 'in offering her a fine 
 start in life the best she could have and I 
 can't believe she 'd be foolish enough to throw all 
 that over to sing in a church for a paltry four 
 hundred a year ! " 
 
 Mr. Kincaid drew himself up. " Sir," he re- 
 marked with dignity, "money is not the only con-
 
 268 FORTUNE'S BOATS 
 
 sideration in the world. My niece prefers to sing 
 in a church ; and no offer on your part will move 
 her from her decision." 
 
 " If this is your doing, sir, it 's a great piece of 
 injustice to your niece," fumed the manager, strid- 
 ing about the small drawing-room, " the greatest 
 you could do her, and shows a narrow-minded- 
 ness I did n't expect from the cloth, sir. No, sir, 
 I did n't, not in these enlightened days. I 've 
 sent Miss Jeffrey my credentials, from the best 
 people in this city, showing that everything 's 
 square and above board with me, and I can't un- 
 derstand her refusal. Unless " wheeling round, 
 he eyed uncle Gabriel with suspicion " unless 
 some one else has made her a bigger offer." He 
 mistook the little man's astonished silence for 
 confusion. 
 
 " I tell you what I '11 do," he cried. " There 's 
 nothing mean about me ; I offered Miss Jeffrey 
 thirty-five dollars a week to begin with I '11 make 
 it forty ! Forty, sir, cash down, every week. If 
 that is n't generous toward a beginner, tell me what 
 is I Better clinch the bargain at once." 
 
 Uncle Gabriel stroked his shaven chin, and 
 looked curiously at the blatant speaker. " I don't 
 think it would make any difference if you offered 
 fifty dollars," he said quietly. " But I '11 call the 
 young lady and let her speak for herself." 
 
 " Ha ! that 's fetching him ! Thought it would," 
 reflected Mr. Harwood, congratulating himself on 
 his shrewdness. 
 
 In a few minutes Mr. Kincaid returned with
 
 THE SWEETENER OF LIFE 269 
 
 Frances, whom the musical director met with effu- 
 sive politeness ; but he was a good deal discon- 
 certed at the sight of Basil Fabrey, who followed 
 closely upon her steps. 
 
 " Ah how do ! " Basil said, with an air of 
 careless condescension, barely acknowledging the 
 manager's bow. " Well, Harwood," he continued, 
 in the same lordly tone, and lounging against the 
 piano, no one sat down, " what 's all the fuss ? 
 What 're you bothering my cousin about ? " 
 
 " I did n't know she was your cousin," exclaimed 
 Harwood. A good deal of his assurance appeared 
 to have deserted him, and he kept glancing un- 
 easily at young Fabrey as Mr. Kincaid repeated to 
 Frances the last offer that had been made her. 
 
 " H'm ! That 's a pretty good offer," commented 
 Basil. " Business must be flourishing ; guess I '11 
 call upon you, Harwood." 
 
 " It 's an investment, Mr. Fabrey," urged the 
 manager, a little whine coming into his voice. 
 "No business can thrive without some outlay of 
 money." 
 
 " It 's extremely liberal of you to make me a 
 still larger offer," Francie said, feeling very brave 
 between her two defenders, "but I would not be 
 willing to accept it should you even offer me a 
 hundred dollars a week. I've nothing against 
 you," she hastened to add (she had not yet heard 
 Ursula's report) ; " in fact, I 'm very much obliged 
 for all the advice you 've given me, and your in- 
 terest in my voice. But I 've decided to sing in a 
 church."
 
 270 FORTUNE'S BOATS 
 
 " You 're making a mistake a big mistake ! " 
 cried Mr. Harwood, throwing out one hand in a 
 gesture of remonstrance while with the other he 
 mopped his warm red face. " You 're just bury- 
 ing your talents." 
 
 " I don't say I never will sing in opera, for I 'd 
 love to, and I may some day, years from now. 
 I can't tell what I shall do." Frances colored up ; 
 she was thinking of Jack's speech that afternoon 
 in the park, and of the changed conditions of her 
 life. " But at present I intend to sing in a church 
 on that point I am quite decided." 
 
 " Then there 's no use in my staying on here," 
 declared Harwood, taking up his hat. " I '11 only 
 add that the offer remains open, miss. Whenever 
 you feel like going in for a career, drop a line to 
 the address on this card" he laid one on the 
 table " and I '11 call at once. I bid you all 
 good-day ! " With a flourish of the gray hat, he 
 passed out into the public hall. 
 
 Mr. Kincaid stood at the drawing-room door, 
 but Basil followed the musical director to the head 
 of the steps. The young man's long jaw was set 
 firmly ; his brows met in a heavy frown above the 
 light watchful eyes. " See here, Harwood," he 
 said sternly, " this business is settled now and for 
 always. Just bear that in mind. No annoying 
 of Miss Jeffrey, or I'll send my lawyer to call 
 upon you You know what that means ! " 
 
 Harwood would have greatly enjoyed laying 
 violent hands upon young Fabrey, but for cogent 
 reasons of his own, swallowed his wrath. " You
 
 THE SWEETENER OF LIFE 271 
 
 should n't be hard on a man for being enterpris- 
 ing. I was n't to know she was your cousin," he 
 remarked sulkily. 
 
 " So you know him," observed uncle Gabriel, 
 as Basil joined him. 
 
 " Know him ! I should think I did the ras- 
 cal ! He owes me a pile of money that I can't 
 get a cent of ! " answered the new cousin incau- 
 tiously. 
 
 "A pile of money! " repeated uncle Gabe, look- 
 ing puzzled. " Why, I thought " 
 
 " Tcha ! " exclaimed Basil, snapping his fingers 
 with impatience at his own slip, and scowling 
 fiercely. " Oh, it 's a long story I '11 tell it all to 
 you some time soon," he added hastily. " But in 
 the mean while oblige me by not saying anything 
 about it to the family." 
 
 One pleasant afternoon, some weeks later, Judith 
 made her way up the narrow creaking stairs of 
 a tenement house, and along the dark hall to a 
 door, on which she knocked bell there was none. 
 Almost immediately the door was opened by a tall 
 fair girl dressed in black, whose sad face brightened 
 at sight of the other girl. 
 
 " Oh, Miss Judith ! I 'm awful glad to see 
 you ! " she exclaimed ; and then two big tears 
 came running down her pale cheeks. 
 
 Judy's arm went round the narrow shoulders, 
 and she kissed the girl warmly. " Why did n't 
 you send for me, Louise ? I 've only just heard of 
 your father's death and burial," she said.
 
 272 FORTUNE'S BOATS 
 
 " It was so suddent " Louise's voice failed. 
 Then warmly, " Come in the parlor, Miss Judith, 
 come in," she urged. " I know mama '11 be glad 
 to see you." 
 
 Though the Laidlers had but recently been 
 added to Judy's "visiting" list, they were a 
 family among her poor people for whom she hud a 
 high regard as well as liking. The small front 
 room into which Louise now ushered her was in 
 the same state of perfect neatness as it had been 
 on all of Judy's previous visits. The " parlor suit " 
 of red cotton velvet, plentifully decorated with 
 crocheted tidies, was set stiffly against the wall ; 
 on the narrow, bright-covered mantel-board stood 
 a family fetich in the shape of a bunch of skele- 
 tonized leaves under a tall glass shade ; a small 
 marble-topped table held its place in the centre of 
 the room, with a crocheted scarf threaded with 
 blue and yellow ribbons lying across it, and on this 
 much admired piece of handiwork was the family 
 album, a large affair with heavy gilt clasps, and 
 on each corner a good-sized gilt knob on which the 
 book rested. 
 
 Yet there were changes in the room since Judy 
 was last there, and her eyes quickly took note of 
 them. On a table in one corner was a sheaf of 
 wheat tied in the middle with a black ribbon ; over 
 the father's picture, which hung on the wall, a slen- 
 der bit of crape was draped, and the comfortable, 
 chintz-covered old chair in which the invalid had 
 sat for so many years had been moved from its 
 customary place in the window, and now stood
 
 THE SWEETENER OF LIFE 273 
 
 empty against the wall. Between the windows was 
 a low frame, of the kind used in making fringes, 
 and from it hung loose strands of gay-colored 
 silk. 
 
 " I could n' leave mama this week, an' they was 
 that good at the factory they sent up my work," 
 Louise explained, with a glance at the frame. 
 " We 're jus' rushed with orders now to the fac- 
 tory so the work had to be done ! " 
 
 "Go on working while we talk," suggested 
 Judith. 
 
 But with "I'd best call mama first," Louise 
 left the room. 
 
 In a very few minutes she was back, and with 
 her came a little, plump woman, heavy eyed and 
 sad of face, yet pretty, and looking hardly old 
 enough to be more than elder sister to tall, serious 
 Louise. Behind the mother and daughter walked 
 a little fair-haired girl of about ten, and a very 
 delicate misshapen boy of eight. The children 
 seated themselves on two of the chairs ranged 
 against the wall, and from there gazed solemnly 
 and unremittingly at the visitor. 
 
 " Yes, ma'am, it vass awful suddent to de last," 
 Mrs. Laidler said sadly in reply to a remark from 
 Judy. She spoke in a low, very quiet voice, and 
 in broken English. " Pappa haff been sick dat 
 long ailin' und ailin' all de time, und yet holdin' 
 on dat we neffer t'ought he 'd go so quvick. It 
 vass seventeen year ago pappa get hurt. He vass 
 on a ladder, und it fell mit 'im, und proke his 
 rib und de proken piece off dat rib stick into de
 
 274 FORTUNE'S BOATS 
 
 lungs. He vass very sick for two years ; den de 
 doctor say he can go back to vork, und pappa vent. 
 De chil'ren vass liT, und de money ve 'd save vass 
 mos' gone he vass awful glad to get to vork 
 again. But " she shook her head sadly " be- 
 fore von veek vass out dey had to pring 'im home 
 mit bleedin' off de lungs. Und it vass so from dat 
 day he haff not de strengk to vork, dough he 
 try und try pappa vass not lasey. Ef en dose 
 pickshurs," she pointed to the large framed photo- 
 graphs hanging on the opposite wall, "he vould 
 heng dem up ; und vhen he finish, dere vass de 
 bleedin' back again. He haff a cough, a very bad 
 cough und dat get vorse und vorse undtil " 
 The widow made a slight, pathetic gesture with the 
 hands lying loosely clasped in her lap, and a tear 
 ran down her face. 
 
 " We did n' know he was so sick worse 'n 
 usual," Louise said, glancing up from the gay silks, 
 in and out of which her nimble fingers were flying. 
 " Papa was never the one to complain." 
 
 " Neffer neffer ! " exclaimed the mother ear- 
 nestly. " Mos' people vhat is sick sick all de 
 time vill get cross und vhat, Visa ? " She looked 
 inquiringly at her American daughter. 
 
 " Selfish, mama," supplied Louise. 
 
 " Yes but he vass neffer dat," went on the 
 little woman, not trusting herself with the word, 
 of which she knew the meaning but not the pro- 
 nunciation. "Dere vassn' a petter, kinder man in 
 all dis city dan mein Wilhelm ! He haff de best 
 heart ! He vass so 'f raid off giffin' drouble efen
 
 THE SWEETENER OF LIFE 275 
 
 to me ! Vhen his strengk go und he can do not- 
 ting else, he sit in dat chair," she pointed to the 
 empty one against the wall, " day in, day out, sick 
 or veil, und make baskets und cane chairs to 
 pring in a penny. He neffer grumble, dough he 
 vass alway in pain und neffer go out for de valks 
 or goot times. Und it vorry him vorry him all 
 de time dat he pe a purden on me und de kinder. 
 But he vass neffer a purden neffer. He say, 
 ' Oh, mama, you vork so hard ! ' but I feel not like 
 I vork at all for I haff pappa mit me. Now vill 
 pe de hard vork ! No voman haff a petter man 
 dan me no chil'ren haff a petter vater dan dese. 
 Ain't dat so, Visa ? " 
 
 " That 's so, mama," answered Louise, pausing 
 in her work long enough to brush a tear from 
 her cheek. The eyes of the little boy were fixed 
 upon his mother, his pale face intent ; but the girl 
 broke out in a sob, which, however, was quickly 
 silenced by a few words from Louise, who called 
 her to her side. 
 
 "You mus' n' cry out loud like that, Tilly," 
 Louise said, in a low voice. " Mama feels awful 
 bad you mus' n' make her feel worse. You know 
 papa always say we mus' be good to mama after 
 he 's gone. Go sit over there on the lounge, 
 back of mama, then she can't see you cry. An' 
 don' make no noise." 
 
 Judy heard the whispered words, and saw the 
 weeping child slip gently into the little corner 
 behind her mother. But the widow neither saw 
 nor heard what was transpiring around her, her
 
 276 FORTUNE'S BOATS 
 
 thoughts were with the dear one who had passed 
 away from earth. It seemed a relief to her to 
 talk ; and Judith listened in the most sympathetic 
 silence. 
 
 " Ef rey now und den, pappa haff spells mit 
 de pain in de lungs," Mrs. Laidler went on. " Und 
 vhen ve sen's for de doctor for him dis time, li'l' did 
 I tream he vass goin' to leaf me ! Vhen he haff 
 de spells, he sleep here," she put out a little work- 
 roughened hand and touched caressingly the cot- 
 lounge on which she sat, " to haff more air und 
 here he died ! De doctor come late dat night. I 
 ask him, ' How iss he ? ' He say, ' He iss very 
 sick, but I t'ink he pull t'rough.' Dat 's vhat he 
 say most times when pappa be ill. I sit up mit 
 pappa dat night." The widow's eyes were fixed 
 upon the floor, and the quiet tears that rolled 
 down her cheeks fell unheeded upon the hands in 
 her lap. " I t'ought he vass sleepin' ; den he open 
 his eyes. ' Mama,' he say, off a suddent, ' le' me 
 put mein head on your shoulder ? ' I say, ' Vhy, 
 pappa, cert'nly ! ' He put his head down heavy, 
 like a miides land, und he hoi' mein han'. ' Visa,' 
 he say, ' ve haff been happy togedder ain't ve ? ' 
 Mein heart gif a big yump 1 get 'f raid he haff 
 not call me ' Visa ' since our Hans vass a baby ; 
 und he is now twenty-t'ree, und vorkin' out in Col- 
 orado mit his lungs. I say, * Yes, dear pappa, 
 ve haff been very happy togedder ! ' Den he talk 
 of vhen ve vass young und he vass courtin' me. 
 I vass a maid in de house of his employer" the 
 heavy, tear-swollen eyes were lifted to Judith for
 
 THE SWEETENER OF LIFE 277 
 
 an instant, then sank again, "und Wilhelm come 
 dere to heng pickshurs und a spiegel vhat you 
 call lookin'-glass dat vass his pusiness. Ve vass 
 bote from de Vaterland ve vass bote lonely I 
 vass heavy mit mein heart " 
 
 " She means sad," put in Louise softly. 
 
 "But vhen he love me, I vass happy ach!" 
 The hands in the widow's lap tightened their hold 
 on each other. " I haff much to t'ank God for. 
 He haff gif me a goot man dat haff love me veil. 
 ' Ah,' he say dat las' night, ' if I only could haff 
 been a well man, mama, und not a purden to you, 
 I could haff make a goot vages und lef you 
 somet'ing. I been a great care to you, mama 
 und you neffer grumble you neffer scold mit me 
 'cause I not pring in de money.' ' Pappa, pappa ! 
 Wilhelm, mein Hebe ! ' I say, und I cry. ' It iss 
 not money dat makes de life sweet,' I say ; ' it iss 
 de love und dat ve haff you und me. You 
 neffer haff been a purden to me neffer! Und 
 how you say so ? ' I ask him. ' Who iss it haff 
 pring up de chil'ren so veil und so vise, und make 
 dem to t'ink off God, und be honest vass dat I ? 
 Und who does all de t'ings roun' de house, und 
 safes de li'P weibe t'ousand steps, und prings de 
 laugh for her vhen she 's tired ain't dat you ? 
 Und who gets up in de night vhen de kinder be 
 sick, und vill not vake me ; who shut all de vin- 
 ders in de shtorm und vill not let me go near dem, 
 for fear I catch cold ain't dat you ? Ah, pappa, 
 you haff been goot to me like I vass your chile as 
 veil 's your vif e. 1 haff been very happy mit you ! '
 
 278 FORTUNE'S BOATS 
 
 Und I kiss him. He say, ' Mama, I feel petter 
 I t'ink I vill shleep now pest I go pack to de 
 lounge.' He say dat 'cause he t'ink I vass tired 
 holdin' 'im. But I say, 'No, pappa, you shleep 
 vhere you are I like dat petter.' He say not- 
 ting, but he kiss me right here," Mrs. Laidler 
 raised one hand to the short full white throat left 
 bare by the low collar of her black calico dress, 
 and designated a spot just below her left ear. " He 
 kiss me here. Den he shleep but only a little 
 vhile. He voke mit a great shtart und called out 
 loud, * Mama, dere iss a Gott im himmel I leaf 
 you mit Him ! ' Dat vass all mein man vass 
 gone ! " She sat with bent head, the tears pouring 
 down her cheeks, but with no sob or sound of grief. 
 
 The little girl on the corner of the lounge was 
 rocking herself to and fro in a passion of sorrow, 
 smothering her sobs as best she could ; Louise and 
 Judith were weeping ; but in the eyes of the boy 
 were no tears. Getting down deliberately from 
 his chair, he walked over to his mother, and took 
 her nand in his clawlike fingers. 
 
 " Mama," he cried, in a shrill quavering voice, 
 " I be Wilhelm, like papa, I'll take care er you 
 now he 's gone." 
 
 The bold promise was so at variance with the 
 child's appearance the abnormally large head 
 connected with the misshapen shoulders by the 
 merest thread of a neck, the stick-like, rickety 
 legs, the pinched white face that Judy's lips 
 took on curves of tender pity, and, in the midst of 
 her tears, Louise smiled.
 
 THE SWEETENER OF LIFE 279 
 
 But the mother saw only the brave spirit shining 
 in her little lad's eyes. " Ja ; dat you vill, mein 
 Villie," she said gratefully, passing an arm around 
 the boy and pressing him to her side. " He iss 
 pappa's own chile he 's got pappa's prains," she 
 continued proudly, turning to the visitor, and wip- 
 ing her wet eyes as she spoke. " Ve haff fife, all 
 goot chil'ren ; pappa haff train dem veil. But 
 Villie iss de mos' like pappa mit de pooks eh, 
 Visa?" 
 
 " Yes, he 's awful smart in learnin',' ' corrobo- 
 rated Louise, with a glance of pride at her small 
 brother, who received these compliments calmly. 
 
 "You should keep him out of doors as much 
 as possible," Judith advised. " He does n't look 
 strong." 
 
 "Ah," the mother's tone grew anxious, 
 " none off de kinder iss strong. Hans, de big son, 
 goes to lif in Colorado mit his lungs; he iss a goot 
 son, unser Hans, he sen' money to me und pappa 
 efrey inont', mitout fail. Visa iss not shtrong in 
 de t'roat she have to be careful. It vass pappa 
 alvays sayin', ' Vear de rubbers, Visa ; vear de rub- 
 bers, und not get de col'.' You haff to t'ink off 
 dat now for yourself, mein kind! Fritz come nex' 
 to Visa. He iss in a grocery store, und a steady 
 goot boy. But he begin to cough like Hans ! 
 Pappa vass writin' to Hans 'bout Fritz ah ! who 
 vill settle all dose t'ings for us now ! " Mrs. 
 Laidler's lips quivered ; and it was a few minutes 
 before the quiet voice could resume its remarks > . 
 
 " Nex' to Fritz come Tilly," she put her hand
 
 280 FORTUNE'S BOATS 
 
 back and touched the knee of her little daughter. 
 
 O 
 
 " Den come mein Villie." 
 
 " He did ought to be out er doors the doc- 
 tor tell us that all the time," Louise said, with a 
 grave glance at the crippled child. " But there 
 ain't no park for blocks an' blocks 'round here ; an' 
 we can't sen' Willie out on the sidewalk to play. 
 He 'd get hurt. There 's horse-cars goin' through 
 the street all the time, an' the boys is that crowded 
 together they might knock Willie down right in 
 front of the horses without meaning to. They 
 have knocked 'im down as it is, on the sidewalk 
 an' hurt him. He 's 'fraid er them ; he 'd ruther 
 stay in the house an' read." 
 
 " I ain't afraid of them, but they 're bigger 'n 
 me," broke in Willie, anxious to sustain a reputa- 
 tion for valor. 
 
 " Many 's the time 'fore papa got so he could n' 
 go up an' down the steps that he 'd 'a' gone out to 
 a park an' set there with Willie," went on Louise, 
 with an amused glance at the small boy, "but 
 there ain't no parks anywheres 'round here I " Sho 
 sighed. 
 
 " Do you know where Dedlock Street is ? " 
 asked Judy, a happy light springing into her eyes. 
 
 " Dat iss not far." " That 's near here," re- 
 plied the mother and daughter. 
 
 " Well, there '11 soon be a beautiful, big ] lay- 
 ground there, for the children," cried Judith 
 brightly. " Houses are now being pulled down to 
 make a large space, some rich kind people have 
 given the money for it, a space where boys can
 
 THE SWEETENER OF LIFE 281 
 
 fly kites, and play marbles, and spin tops," she 
 added, addressing Wilhelm, who stared solemnly 
 back at her. " There '11 be heaps of sand to dig 
 in, and build caves in. And, by and by, in time, 
 there '11 be trees, and flowers, and a fountain on 
 the playground all for the boys and girls, their 
 very own ! " Judy's cheeks had grown pink as 
 she talked of the fruition of her cherished project, 
 her face radiant. Louise looked at her friend 
 with rapt girlish admiration. 
 
 " When that is finished, there '11 be no necessity 
 for Willie to run the risk of being hurt on the side- 
 walk, as he can go to the playground and enjoy 
 himself in perfect safety, and Tilly, too," Judy 
 said, patting the hand of the little girl, whose eyes 
 were red, and whose breath still came with a slight 
 catch in it. 
 
 " Well, ain't that lovely ! " cried Louise. " What 
 a relief that '11 be 'bout Willie, mama." 
 
 " Yes, the playground will be a great comfort 
 and enjoyment ; more than that, a splendid and 
 enduring blessing," remarked Judith gratefully. 
 " Now," she added, turning to the mother, " tell 
 me what you think of doing ; shall you stay on 
 here?" 
 
 Walking slowly homeward in the bright summer 
 afternoon, Judy's thoughts were filled with the 
 widow's pathetic story. For seventeen years the 
 man had been ill, most of the time in great pain, 
 and rarely able, though always willing, to do any 
 work that could add much to the support of his
 
 282 FORTUNE'S BOATS 
 
 family. Times had been very hard in the home ; 
 for years the little wife had been the bread-winner, 
 until the boys and girl were old enough to earn 
 something. It had been a long siege seventeen 
 years with a fretful, ailing man, growing steadily 
 worse every day. Yet there had been peace and 
 happiness in the household, and at the end no 
 sense of relief, but only of heavy, aching loss, only 
 a great yearning for the continued presence of one 
 who had, with some show of justice, considered 
 himself a burden upon wife and children. Why 
 was this ? 
 
 " Ah, she was right, that little woman," mused 
 Judith, lifting her eyes to the clear blue sky above 
 the tree-tops. " 'T is love that is the sweetener of 
 life, not money ! She has a right to be thankful ; 
 with poverty, sickness, hard work, God has yet 
 given her the best sort of love, the love that lasts 
 through the dark seasons as well as the bright, 
 and grows stronger, closer, through all! Not 
 everybody has that sort of love. Mother and 
 father had it; I think Francie and Jack have a love 
 like that. Marnie ah, poor Mamie ! I wonder 
 if I"- 
 
 " Judy ! " said a gentle voice, a hand closed 
 around her arm, and with a start Judy awoke from 
 her reverie to find her mother at her elbow. 
 
 " Why, mother ! " exclaimed the girl. " Why 
 it 's nearly tea time where 're you going ? " 
 
 A faint smile relieved the anxiety in Mrs. Jef- 
 frey's face. " Yes ; but your uncle Gabriel has n't 
 reached home yet, or I would have had him go
 
 THE SWEETENER OF LIFE 283 
 
 with me," she remarked irrelevantly. " Basil is n't 
 well in fact, he has met with an accident been 
 thrown from his bicycle, and taken to a hospital. 
 The surgeon has telegraphed me of the accident 
 at Basil's request, I suppose. And I am going 
 right up to see the poor fellow. I don't even know 
 his mother's address do you?" 
 
 " No," answered Judy very quietly and steadily ; 
 she had grown a little pale. " Mother, may n't I 
 go with you? " she asked. " He 's our cousin, you 
 know." 
 
 The quick mother-eyes had seen the sudden 
 pallor ; perhaps it did not surprise her. 
 
 " But at home they will be expecting you," 
 she said hesitatingly. 
 
 " I '11 run home and tell the girls that I 'm going 
 with you," Judy proposed composedly. "Sit on 
 this bench, mother dear, and wait for me ; I won't 
 be long." And away she sped.
 
 CHAPTER XV 
 REVELATIONS 
 
 " I *M happy to say that Mr. Fabrey is in no 
 danger whatever, though in pain, and a good deal 
 shaken up by his fall. It may be some time, how- 
 ever, before he can be about again ; but you may 
 be sure that we shall do everything that is possible 
 to make him comfortable here." So the house phy- 
 sician of the hospital (to whom the superintend' 
 ent had handed them over) suavely informed Mrs. 
 Jeffrey and Judith. " Certainly you may see him, 
 and whenever you like," he added. " Allow me to 
 show you to the elevator this way, please." 
 
 " Two such polite men ! " remarked Mrs. Jeffrey, 
 as she and Judy were being swiftly lifted to an 
 upper story. " I had an idea that the officials in 
 a hospital were always too busy to devote so much 
 time and politeness to a man as poor as Basil. 
 Poor boy ! Too bad this accident should 've oc- 
 curred now, just as he has a position, after months 
 of looking for one and failing ! About two weeks 
 ago since he got it, is n't it ? " 
 
 44 Since he told us, but he said he 'd had the po- 
 sition for some time before that," amended Judy. 
 Tht-n a nurse came forward and led them to a 
 large, comfortable room where lay Basil.
 
 REVELATIONS 285 
 
 With a strip of adhesive plaster across one cheek, 
 a bandage round his head, and his left arm in 
 splints, the young man was a sorry enough looking 
 object. He was lying with his face toward the 
 wall, and turned slowly at the sound of Mrs. Jef- 
 frey's voice. " It 's so kind of you to come, cousin 
 Etta," he commenced languidly ; then he caught 
 sight of Judith behind her mother, and his whole 
 face changed, light sprang into his heavy eyes 
 and a tinge of color into his cheeks, out of which 
 a good deal of the bronze was gone. 
 
 " Judy ! " he cried. His sunny smile flashed ' 
 out, and the fingers of his well hand closed firmly 
 upon the hand Judith held out. " I 've been long- 
 ing to see you, but I hardly dared hope you 'd 
 come," he whispered eagerly, and watched with 
 keen delight the rush of soft red that flooded the 
 girl's face and ears. 
 
 Afraid to trust her voice just then, Judy patted 
 the back of Basil's hand ; then, to his disappoint- 
 ment, quietly disengaged her ringers from his clasp, 
 and took a seat several feet away from him. 
 
 " How did it happen ? And what a mercy you 
 were n't killed ! " observed Mrs Jeffrey, who had a 
 warm liking for " Maria's boy," as she was apt to 
 call young Fabrey. 
 
 " Blamed if I know ! " remarked Basil, inele- 
 gantly, but with energy. " I was riding along as 
 smoothly as anybody could wish to go ; and think- 
 ing pleasant thoughts, too," with a meaning glance 
 at Judy, " when phew! " he made a rapid up- 
 ward movement of his hand "first thing I knew
 
 js<; FORTUNE'S BOATS 
 
 I was flying through the air, and landing on a pile 
 of stones ! Tell you ! rapid transit is n't in it with 
 the speed at which I went. I remember striking 
 the stones they weren't soft, either ! then no- 
 thing more until I opened my eyes here, and the 
 doctors were putting the pieces of me together 
 again. One ankle is sprained, too nothing like 
 doing a thing thoroughly, you know ! Now here I 
 am a prisoner for weeks ! " 
 
 " And just as you 've got that position," said 
 Mrs. Jeffrey regretfully. " I do hope the firm 
 will keep it open for you. I wish I had a spare 
 room in our flat, Basil ; I 'd have you taken there 
 as soon as you could be moved. I 'm afraid this 
 will cost you a good deal, my dear," the kind little 
 woman went on, with a glance around the airy com- 
 fortable room in which the young man was lodged. 
 ** Could n't we make some other arrangement for 
 you? I know there are much less expensive 
 accommodations in a hospital than this room, and 
 if you 're to be here weeks " 
 
 Basil's face had got red ; the scowl which came 
 so readily was in full possession of as much of his 
 forehead as could be seen below the bandage. 
 " That 's all right, cousin Etta," he broke in hastily 
 and decidedly. " Soon 's I came to consciousness 
 I sent for a friend an intimate friend who 
 lives here in the city" Basil might as well 
 have mentioned that the friend was Jim Ivors, but 
 he did n't " and he 's running this affair for me. 
 Hi- knows the state of my finances, and I'm not 
 afraid that he '11 go beyond them. If this mounts
 
 REVELATIONS 287 
 
 up too high, perhaps I '11 be moved into another, 
 less expensive room. He '11 see to everything. But 
 I just wish you did have an extra room at the 
 house," he went on, " and would take me in. I 'd 
 be only too glad to put myself under your wing ; 
 would n't I be in clover, though ! " The grateful, 
 really affectionate glance he gave Mrs. Jeffrey 
 effectually soothed any annoyance that lady might 
 have felt at her advice not having been taken. 
 But there came a slightly puzzled expression into 
 Judy's eyes. 
 
 " An intimate friend," she repeated. " I thought 
 you had no intimate friends in New York but our- 
 selves. You 've never told us of this one. And 
 is he going to write to your mother about your 
 accident ? " 
 
 " He promised to," replied the young man read- 
 ily. " Have n't I told you of my friend ? " he 
 added, in an undertone, as Mrs. Jeffrey rose and 
 went to the other end of the room to speak to the 
 nurse. " Some day, pretty soon, I '11 tell you all 
 about my friends and everything there is to tell 
 about myself." He smiled at Judy ; but perhaps 
 there was a little condescension in his tone, for that 
 young person's head took a poise that Basil knew 
 of old, and did not relish. 
 
 " Oh, excuse me ; I 've no desire to pry into 
 your affairs," she remarked, in a tone of proud 
 apology. " I spoke on the impulse of the moment." 
 
 " Now, Judy, drop that sort of talk ! " cried 
 Basil warmly, raising himself on his uninjured 
 elbow, his light eyes meeting, half angrily, half
 
 288 FORTUNE'S BOATS 
 
 imploringly, the steady gaze of Judy's soft brown 
 ones. " You know very well that I 'm only too 
 glad to have you interested in my affairs. I 've 
 made no secret of it that I care more for you than 
 for any other woman in the whole world. You 
 know my heart belongs to you, but you always 
 evade me. You keep me off ; you won't give me 
 even one word of of assurance to encourage 
 me ! I know why it is " - Basil was in great 
 earnest, his voice shook, a bright spot of red came 
 into each pale bronzed cheek "I know why 't is ; 
 you look upon me as a poor unfortunate fellow 
 that '11 never be able to make a way in the world. 
 You 're afraid to trust your life in my keeping, 
 because I have n't money, like Austin, and a 
 little-tin-god-on-wheels reputation like that Rose 
 fellow ! " (Basil could not get rid of a lurking 
 jealousy of the Jeffreys' strong liking for Jack.) 
 " A poor devil without money or brains need never 
 expect to win a girl's love ! " He broke off ab- 
 ruptly, and sinking back on his pillows, turned his 
 face away. Judy could see the hopeless droop of 
 his lips. 
 
 Moving noiselessly to her mother's empty chair 
 beside the bed, Judith slipped her cool fingers into 
 the brown hand that lay thrown out upon the 
 coverlet. " Basil ! " she said softly. 
 
 The next instant the fingers were in a tight grip, 
 and Basil was on his elbow facing her, his blue 
 eyes piercing in their eager intensity. "You 
 ivnli/t; \\liat this means to you and to me?" he 
 iil l.iv;ttli],-l\. almost sternly. " No need to
 
 REVELATIONS 289 
 
 tell you of my love, Judy, you 've known that for 
 a long time I 've made no secret of it. The 
 question is, do you love me well enough to share 
 poverty with me, perhaps for all your life? I 
 could n't make a fortune, to save my neck, though 
 I might be able to earn a very moderate salary. 
 You know that would mean living in the plainest 
 way, no fine frocks and diamonds and f olderols, 
 but just jogging along from day to day hum- 
 drum you and I face to face with economy, 
 perhaps poverty, all our days through dark times 
 and bright times through sickness and health. 
 Sounds like the marriage service, does n't that? 
 But there 's truth in it ; 't is n't all plain sailing in 
 married life any more than it is in other ways of 
 living. Could you give me a love that would be 
 equal to all that, Judy? " His eyes searched the 
 flushed, drooping face. 
 
 There was a little silence, then Judy lifted her 
 honest eyes to him. " After all, it 's love that 
 makes life sweet and worth living, not money," 
 she said dreamily, with a tenderness in her voice 
 that Basil had never heard there before for him- 
 self. " I 'm not afraid of poverty with you," she 
 added ; and the passionate love-light that sprang 
 into Basil's eyes set her heart thrilling. 
 
 " Tell it to me in plain English ; say right out, 
 ' Basil, I love you ! ' ' ' he insisted. " I 'm such 
 an ugly, unmannerly, ignorant kind of brute, and 
 you're so dainty, so graceful, so clever, I can't 
 believe my own good luck. Tell it to me, Judy. 
 Say it." *
 
 290 FORTUNE'S BOATS 
 
 Judy gave a low rippling happy laugh. " "What 
 unusual humility ! " she teased. Then, " Well, 
 you insatiable person, since you will have it " 
 She loosened her lover's clasp, and took his liaiul 
 between her own two. " Basil," she said, looking 
 up at him with shining eloquent eyes, in which was 
 also more than a gleam of mischief, " Basil," she 
 repeated, and then softly, archly, uttering each 
 letter with slow, tender distinctness, and little 
 pauses between the words, she spelled, "I 1-o-v-e 
 y-o-u!"- 
 
 " You darling ! " cried Basil, in a rapturous 
 whisper, throwing out his hand for Judy's shoulder, 
 and holding up an eager pair of lips. But his 
 grasp found only the empty air, his lips received 
 no kiss, for the maiden had slipped from under his 
 hand. 
 
 In the chair which she had first occupied, sev- 
 eral feet away, there sat Judy again, a trifle out of 
 breath from her rapid return, flushed as pink as a 
 rose, and most demure. 
 
 For a moment Basil looked undecided whether 
 to laugh or to get angry ; then, " Ah, Judy, come 
 back," he begged. " Just once ! Ah, come." 
 
 " Thank you, but I get a much better view of 
 you from here," was the saucy reply. 
 
 " Yes you think that 's kind ? sit there and 
 make fun of a poor battered wreck of a creature ? " 
 he asked in an injured tone, which, however, soon 
 became imploring. "Say, Judy, come won't 
 you ? You exasperating girl ! " he suddenly broke 
 out, as Judy sat smiling at him. "Just you wait 
 till I 'm up again ! "
 
 REVELATIONS 291 
 
 " That 's exactly what I intend to do. I always 
 knew you were a reasonable person," laughed 
 Judy. 
 
 Just then Mrs. Jeffrey walked a step or two in 
 the direction of the invalid, as if returning to her 
 chair, then retraced her steps to ask the nurse 
 another question which had occurred to her; and 
 Basil immediately made one more effort. 
 
 " D' you remember that last spring you asked 
 me to teach wood-carving to some boys in a night 
 school on the East Side? Well, I did it." His tone 
 signified the high estimate in which he held his 
 services. "I didn't tell you anything about it, 
 but I went over twice a week regularly until the 
 school closed. I did a good deal for some of those 
 boys" Basil caught himself. "Now, don't I 
 deserve something for doing all that ? Come over 
 here!" 
 
 " I knew it long ago," Judy said composedly. 
 " The principal of the school told me." 
 
 " And you never said a word to me not one 
 word ! " cried the wood-carver in wrathful amaze- 
 ment. 
 
 " Virtue should be its own reward. People 
 should do good deeds because they are there to be 
 done and not for praise," declared Judy loftily, 
 hunching her shoulders and pulling down the cor- 
 ners of her laughing mouth, while she threw mis- 
 chievous glances at the new cousin. 
 
 Young Fabrey scowled, then the laugh which 
 he could no longer control had its way. " Oh, 
 you humbug ! " he exclaimed. " When I get on
 
 292 FORTUNE'S BOATS 
 
 my feet again, I '11 pay you off for this ! Cousin 
 Etta," he complained, as that lady approached, 
 " what do you think ? Judy 's promised to marry 
 me says she loves me and yet won't even kiss 
 me. Isn't that the meanest treatment you ever 
 heard of?" 
 
 " I '11 do it now," Judith said promptly and 
 very meekly, and, coming to her mother's side, she 
 stooped and dropped a kiss lightly upon her lover's 
 cheek. 
 
 Sorely against his will, Basil had to be content. 
 "You don't object to her marrying a poor fel- 
 low?" he asked, looking anxiously up into Mrs. 
 Jeffrey's face. "You would n't refuse your con- 
 sent because I could only give her a plain, simple 
 home?" 
 
 " My dear boy ! the true happiness of my chil- 
 dren is what I ask for, and riches do not always 
 bring that," Mrs. Jeffrey answered, smiling kindly 
 at the young man. " I know all about you, Basil " 
 (she thought she did ! Basil had the grace to feel 
 ashamed of himself), " and we 're all fond of you. 
 But what '11 I do without my girls ? first Fraucie 
 
 now Judy ! " 
 
 " Oh, mother, you '11 have me a good while yet," 
 cried Judith. " We '11 have to wait several years 
 
 as Jack and Frances will won't we, Basil? 
 and save up, as poor Jim was doing for Mamie 
 
 eh? We'll have to wait, but we don't mind, 
 do we, Basil ? " Judy was kneeling beside the 
 \shite iron bedstead now; she laid her warm, pink 
 against Basil's hand, and the run- tenderness
 
 REVELATIONS 293 
 
 in her uplifted eyes filled the young man's heart 
 with strong emotion. 
 
 "This is the happiest day in all my life," he 
 declared, a sudden moisture suffusing his light 
 eyes. " I 'in not half good enough for you, Judy ; 
 I never will be, I 'in afraid ! But I '11 try to be a 
 halfway decent sort of fellow; it's all I'd ever 
 get to, and you must help me, sweetheart." 
 
 "Ay; we'll help each other," Judy answered 
 softly. 
 
 "Now we must go," said Mrs. Jeffrey. "I 
 fear we 've stayed longer than we should." And 
 as, spite of the patient's objections, the nurse 
 agreed with Mrs. Jeffrey's decision, the mother 
 and daughter bade Basil good-by. 
 
 " Come soon again ; come to-morrow every day, 
 and stay a long time," he begged. 
 
 " I '11 come as often as I can," promised Judith ; 
 and the impatient young man had to content him- 
 self with that as best he might. 
 
 " Well, it does seem as if the greatest things 
 were happening to us!" declared Rufie. When the 
 news was told she had embraced Judy and wept 
 upon her neck, and she now sat beside her twin 
 on the shabby lounge in the dining-room, holding 
 her hand and gazing at Judy with big wistful eyes. 
 " Now there '11 have to be two weddings in the 
 family. Oh," with energy, as an idea occurred to 
 her, " would n't it be jolly to have them both on 
 the same day and married by uncle Gabe ! Girls, 
 would n't it be fine ? Would n't it, mother ? "
 
 294 FORTUNE'S BOATS 
 
 " Dear, dear, what an honor lies ahead of me ! " 
 remarked Mr. Kincaid, and taking off his glasses, 
 he proceeded to polish them with a piece of chamois 
 which he drew from his pocket. 
 
 Judith and Francie looked inquiringly at one 
 another, smiled, blushed, and nodded. 
 
 " Don't talk about weddings ; they 're not to be 
 thought of for a long while," Mrs. Jeffrey said, a 
 little sadly. " I am in no hurry to get rid of my 
 daughters." 
 
 " But, mother, when people become engaged, one 
 must take into consideration their getting mar- 
 ried," asserted Ruth practically. " Judy, I '11 help 
 you with your sewing," she volunteered ; " and I '11 
 keep my eyes open for quaint pretty chairs and 
 tables and things in the shops bargains, you 
 know. Miss Austin has some of the dearest little 
 chairs at Lenox perhaps we could find some like 
 them. Then, if they're not too expensive, Basil 
 might buy them at odd times and store them away 
 somewhere, against housekeeping, as Jim was doing 
 for Marnie Goodness me ! what 've I said ? " 
 she cried, laying her hand involuntarily over her 
 mouth as Judy gave her an emphatic nudge, and 
 Margaret rose hastily and left the room. 
 
 "You might have shown more tact, if not 
 consideration," Ursula told Rufie as she went past 
 her, after Margaret. 
 
 " Tact I How should I know she 'd mind hear- 
 ing that?" demanded the bewildered and indig- 
 nant Ruth. " She insisted that she did n't care 
 for Jim; how was I to know she 'd feel badly over
 
 REVELATIONS 295 
 
 the furniture being mentioned ? I think Margaret 
 is very queer ! " 
 
 The mother sighed. " Poor Jim ! " exclaimed 
 uncle Gabriel, stroking his chin, and, " Perhaps 
 she cares more for Jim than she thinks," observed 
 Judy sagely. " Don't continue the conversation 
 when she comes in," she added to her ruffled twin 
 as footsteps sounded in the hall. 
 
 Presently Ursula reentered the room and Mar- 
 garet with her ; the latter's beautiful face wore a 
 very subdued expression, and she chose a seat far- 
 thest from the light. 
 
 " Now that we are all together, I '11 tell of 
 something nice that 's come to me this evening," 
 Ursa said, taking a seat by the table, on which, as 
 usual, sat Miss Weewee, and, apparently, alertly 
 attentive to the conversation. Count Ito, not 
 being allowed the privilege of sitting on the 
 table, had to content himself with poking his little 
 snub nose above its edge, and with friendly yaps 
 inviting any one who would to a game of romps. 
 "Jack brought the good news." Ursula nodded 
 brightly to Frances, who smiled knowingly back. 
 " Friends, fellow citizens, and dear ones, including 
 Miss Weewee and the Count," she said, " my 
 novel has been accepted ! Grove and Erveng will 
 publish it in the fall. Just think ! in a couple of 
 months more, my fondest dream '11 be realized, my 
 book will be in print ! " 
 
 " Did n't I say great things were happening ? " 
 Rufie asked, looking wise ; and, " Oh, Ursa dear, 
 I am so glad for you ! " " You deserve it ! " de-
 
 296 FORTUNE'S BOATS 
 
 clared Margaret and the rest of the family, while 
 Frances ran and threw her arms around Ursula. 
 " You dear faithful old darling ! " she cried. " I 
 told you this would come did n't I ? Now just 
 wait till the book is read by the public ! There 's 
 a laurel wreath hovering around in the air, simply 
 waiting to fall upon your head I see it coming ! " 
 Carried away by the moment, Frances brandished a 
 finger over Ursula's head, pointing off somewhere 
 in the direction of the hall, whereupon Rufie 
 leaned forward and peered so innocently in the 
 same direction as to send the family into shouts of 
 laughter. 
 
 Encouraged by the brilliant prophecies of her 
 home circle, and especially by the positive proof 
 of her publishers' letter, Ursula's hopes rose high, 
 and her quiet clever face lighted up wonderfully. 
 
 " Grove and Erveng write so encouragingly ! " 
 she said. " This is all Jack's doings ; dear fellow ! 
 he took it to his own publishers. A beginner 
 as I am I would n't have had the courage to 
 approach such a firm. And they have accepted 
 the story ! I can hardly believe it. And, by and 
 by, I '11 write other stories, better ones, perhaps, 
 and, who knows ? one of these days I may be able 
 to give up the Leader, and devote all my time to 
 writing my stories ! Would n't that be fine ? By 
 that time all the girls will be married and gone 
 from the nest, mother ; then you and uncle Gabe 
 and I '11 go off in the country somewhere and have 
 a nice home together, eh? " At which there \vas 
 a great outcry from all the girls. " Indeed, you
 
 REVELATIONS 297 
 
 won't go off by yourselves, far from us ! " " Oh, 
 you bad girl, to wish to leave us here alone in the 
 city ! " " Why, Ursula, mother does n't belong 
 to you alone ! " and " I shall never marry ! " they 
 declared ; the last two remarks coming from Rufie 
 and Margaret one in tones of indignation, the 
 other of mournful resignation. 
 
 " This has been a red-letter day for me," Ursula 
 told Francie the same evening in the privacy of 
 their own room. " Besides the good fortune of 
 my book being accepted, I got a long letter from 
 Paul this afternoon. Such a cheerful, clever letter ! 
 one of these days I '11 read you some bits from 
 it. He has got the organist's position in Cleve- 
 land that he went out for, and writes that he 's 
 enjoying his work immensely. Is n't that splendid 
 to know ? Besides, here 's Judy engaged to Basil, 
 whom we all like and you to dear, good, lovable 
 Jack ! Truly, Fraucie," Ursa turned to the 
 "youngest," with the brush held aloft in one hand, 
 and her thick, dark hair falling in a cloud over 
 her arm, " truly, my dear, God is very, very good 
 to us ! " 
 
 Though Basil was, as the doctor had said, in no 
 danger whatever, it was yet a good many weeks 
 before he was able to stand upon his feet or use 
 his sprained ankle. He was not removed from 
 the comfortable apartment where his relatives had 
 first found him ; nor did the Jeffreys, to their 
 knowledge, ever come across the " intimate friend " 
 who had placed Basil there, though they did
 
 298 FORTUNE'S BOATS 
 
 meet Jim Ivors in Basil's room, and more than 
 once. 
 
 Sometimes Judy made her visits to the hospital 
 in company with uncle Gabriel, though usually 
 under the chaperonage of her mother, and rather 
 late in the afternoons. An unexpected change, 
 however, in the arrangement of her " visiting " left 
 the girl free one morning, and she and Margaret 
 coaxed uncle Gabriel into leaving his dictionary 
 and going with them to " cheer up " Basil. 
 
 The August day was charming, with a sky as 
 blue and cloudless as ever June could show, and a 
 gentle breeze that rustled the leaves and made the 
 heat endurable. In their summer gowns of white 
 the girls looked very dainty and attractive, and 
 Mr. Kincaid had a sly laugh at the assiduous atten- 
 tions of the young resident physicians in the hos- 
 pital ; the little gentleman enjoyed the guardian- 
 ship of his pretty nieces. 
 
 " Well, this is a jolly surprise, to see you so 
 early in the morning ! You look as sweet 's a 
 peach ! " declared Basil warmly. He had been 
 promoted to a rattan lounge over by the window ; 
 and his eyes dwelt with pride and admiration on 
 the delicate high-bred face, soft dark eyes, and 
 graceful figure of his little sweetheart. 
 
 Judy swept him a saucy courtesy. " I 'm glad 
 you appreciate my new gown," she said demurely. 
 " But look at Marnie is n't she a perfect pic- 
 ture in that big black hat?" 
 
 " She is n't a patch upon you," insisted Basil 
 sturdily. " She does n't begin to know how to 
 wear her clothes as you do ! "
 
 REVELATIONS 299 
 
 " Your partiality blinds your eyes, sir ! " laughed 
 Judy, but with a pretty pink coming into her 
 cheeks. " Marnie is an out-and-out beauty." 
 
 So she was, and looking at her best this morn- 
 ing in her fresh white gown, and the big drooping 
 hat, which she had trimmed herself, under which 
 her hazel eyes sparkled brilliantly, and the color 
 in her olive cheeks glowed like the heart of a rich 
 red rose. 
 
 Margaret was a good deal of a mimic ; and now 
 for the entertainment of her relatives, she stood 
 before them and showed the little party how the 
 young doctors had manoeuvred that morning to 
 escort Judy and herself to the elevator, and, one 
 of them, even to the patient's door. 
 
 " He is a little narrow-shouldered whitey-brown 
 creature, about so high," Marnie said, holding her 
 hand barely four feet from the floor, and then 
 drawing herself up to the full height of her five 
 feet seven of splendid womanhood. " Imagine 
 him taking me in tow ! " She laughed. " I 
 could n't help thinking of the verse in your favor- 
 ite college song, Basil ' Says the flea to the ele- 
 phant, who 're you shoving ' " 
 
 The three who were looking on and laughing at 
 her antics saw Margaret's face suddenly change, 
 the gay song died on her lips, the peach bloom 
 faded out of her cheeks, and into her eyes came a 
 wistful, deprecating expression. 
 
 Following the direction of her eyes, they saw 
 Jim Ivors just turning to leave the room, where he 
 had been, unobserved, for a few minutes.
 
 300 FORTUNE'S BOATS 
 
 Jim was not allowed to leave, for uncle Gabriel 
 and Judy called eagerly, " Jim ! " " Jim ! " and 
 going quickly to where lie stood, caught him by 
 the hands ; while Basil settled back upon his 
 pillows with a grim smile on his lips, and his watch- 
 ful eyes fixed upon Margaret. 
 
 As Mr. Kincaid and Judy pulled Jim toward 
 the lounge he came reluctantly Margaret rose 
 and shyly, with a timid smile and swift pleading 
 glance, held out her hand to him. 
 
 But coolly ignoring the friendly hand, Jim made 
 a stiff bow, then hastily took a seat near Basil's 
 lounge, turning his eyes rigidly away from Mar- 
 garet. 
 
 And with a surprised, subdued expression on 
 her face, a grieved droop of the lips, Mamie sat 
 and looked at Jim. She recognized the gray suit 
 he wore ; he had got it new last summer, to please 
 her how delighted he had been when she said it 
 was becoming to him ! The suit was still becom- 
 ing, but how shabby now ; and how it hung upon 
 his figure, for Jim had grown thin ; and into the 
 face that of old was so genial and kind had come 
 a hard, reckless expression. For some reason that 
 expression and the shabbiness of the gray clothes 
 weighed upon Margaret's spirits, and the sight 
 of Jim's limp, crooked necktie and frayed cuffs 
 brought a most unaccountable lump into her 
 throat. 
 
 I tidy made several attempts to include Margaret 
 in the conversation, in which Jim was doing his 
 full share, talking a good deal, and fast. But
 
 REVELATIONS 301 
 
 after one or two half-hearted efforts to respond, 
 Marnie desisted, and leaving her chair went into 
 the short quiet hall outside Basil's door, and stood 
 at the window, looking down upon the tops of the 
 houses with f a very abstracted air. For all her 
 abstraction, though, she recognized Jim's steps as 
 he came out of the room, and was vaguely glad 
 there were no nurses in the hall as she went for- 
 ward and addressed her old friend. 
 
 "Jim," she said gently and very earnestly, 
 " won't you speak to me ? " 
 
 Jim turned, but without looking at her. " What 
 is there to say ? " he asked coldly. 
 
 " Say you forgive me ah, Jim, you would if 
 you knew all! Say you'll be friends with me 
 again," she urged. 
 
 Then, for one moment, Jim let his eyes rest upon 
 Margaret upon the beautiful, vivid face, not one 
 line or curve of which or item of daintiness had 
 he forgotten in all the weary months since he had 
 last seen it. " Friends ! " he cried, his voice rough 
 with the bitterness of his heart. " For friendship 
 there must be confidence trust ; I have neither 
 in you ! We can never be friends you under- 
 stand ? never I " 
 
 Turning on his heel, he strode away, out of the 
 hall. And covering her face with her hands, 
 Marnie shrank back against the window, and wept 
 scorching tears. 
 
 Though carefully planning to avoid one another, 
 Margaret and Jim yet met again and again in
 
 302 FORTUNE'S BOATS 
 
 Basil's room. Jim's manner of pleasant intimacy 
 with every one else who might be present, and of 
 cold marked indifference toward Margaret never 
 varied ; and after that first attempt, Marnie made 
 no farther effort to regain his friendship. Some- 
 times she would meekly return Jim's frigid bow, 
 and sit in silence throughout the visit, with a wist- 
 ful light in her eyes and a pathetic little droop at 
 the corners of her mouth, listening to Jim's con- 
 tinuous and, apparently, light-hearted talk. At 
 other times, however, Margaret would laugh and 
 chatter, in the gayest of spirits, completely ignor- 
 ing Jim's presence. On these occasions, he woukl 
 assume silence, and, though rarely cutting short his 
 visit, would stare at the wall or out of the window 
 with a most bored expression on his ruddy hand- 
 some face. Still, although there appeared to be 
 not the slightest enjoyment in these meetings, 
 Margaret was always willing, even anxious, to join 
 Judy and her mother or uncle Gabriel in their calls 
 at the hospital. 
 
 During these days Margaret's cheeks lost their 
 roundness, the rich bloom in them dwindled to 
 a faint pink that came and went in a very un- 
 certain fashion. The girl's eyes looked larger and 
 more brilliant from the dark shadows that settled 
 under them, and her spirits became so variable, 
 often so depressed, that Mrs. Jeffrey grew anxious, 
 and she and Ursula held a council. 
 
 " Perhaps I could get some of my royalty in ad- 
 vance, that 's done sometimes, I know, and 
 then we could send Mamie away in the country
 
 REVELATIONS 303 
 
 for a few weeks," suggested Ursula. " If we can 
 get her to go dear Mamie ! " 
 
 " No ; I 've a better plan," said Mrs. Jeffrey. 
 " I '11 write and ask your cousin Esther to let Mar- 
 garet make her a visit. I 'm sure Esther will be 
 glad to have Marnie and I 've never asked her 
 such a thing before she will not refuse me, I 
 know. The child must have a change, or she will 
 get ill. I '11 write to-day. But we won't say any- 
 thing of the matter until we hear from Esther." 
 
 Before Mrs. Greenough's reply to that letter 
 could be received, however, Margaret had, most 
 unexpectedly, accepted another invitation to go out 
 of the city. 
 
 The way it happened was this : On her way 
 home from Mrs. Linton's (the old lady whose 
 amanuensis and reader she had been for several 
 months), Margaret was, one afternoon, caught in a 
 sudden and violent storm. Finding that the para- 
 sol she carried was almost no protection against 
 the driving rain, the girl gathered up her skirts, 
 and, scurrying along the sidewalks, plunged into 
 the first opening that offered shelter. It proved 
 to be a narrow dark hallway, in which was a stair- 
 case leading to a tailor's shop above, and as Marnie 
 whirled herself into its depths, damp and breath- 
 less, shutting her blue parasol with a click of relief, 
 she bumped with some force against another occu- 
 pant of the hall. 
 
 " Oh, I beg your pardon ! " she panted out ; and 
 raising her eyes, found herself face to face with 
 Jim Ivors.
 
 304 FORTUNE'S BOATS 
 
 "Oh!" exclaimed Margaret, backing hastily 
 away. 
 
 Jim bowed stiffly, and at once studiously be- 
 stowed his attention upon the rain, which, beating 
 into the open hallway, soon drove Margaret and 
 himself back as far as the stairs. 
 
 They two were the only ones in the narrow hall ; 
 and presently, obeying an impulse that was 
 stronger than her pride, Margaret said softly, 
 "Jim!" 
 
 There was a dead silence ; Jim's face was held 
 rigidly toward the doorway. 
 
 "Jim ! " repeated Margaret pleadingly, " aren't 
 you ever going to forgive me ? " With her eyes 
 fixed imploringly upon his averted face, she waited 
 one two was it three ? seconds ; they 
 seemed an eternity to the proud girl. Then 
 even as Jim was about to turn and speak, though 
 she did not know it Mamie came suddenly to 
 the end of her patience and penitence. " You may 
 keep your forgiveness ! " she cried out angrily, her 
 fine figure drawn up, her hazel eyes flashing ; " I 
 don't want it now I would n't have it ! I never 
 dreamed you could 've acted like this to me, Jim 
 Ivors ! Now we 're quits ! " 
 
 Utterly regardless of her pet summer hat, her 
 thin shirt waist, or that her parasol was left 
 <1 mining itself against the staircase, Margaret 
 dashed past Jim, and out into the pelting rain. 
 
 Ami as soon as he could sufficiently master his 
 aatonMiiiifiit to do so, after her went Jim, in hot 
 pursuit, holding his big old cotton umbrella, with
 
 REVELATIONS 305 
 
 one of its black attenuated ribs sticking out bare 
 of cloth, well at arm's length before him, in the 
 vain hope of reaching and covering Margaret's 
 head. It might have been an amusing spectacle 
 to any one at leisure to following the flying figures. 
 
 With her wet skirts flapping heavily at her 
 heels, her waist plastered to her shoulders and arms, 
 her hat a wreck, and innumerable small torrents 
 cascading over its brim, Margaret tore along, con- 
 scious only of the tempest of anger, grief, and 
 despair which filled her heart. And behind her 
 floundered Jim, waving the umbrella at her and 
 calling, in varying tones of command, persuasion, 
 and entreaty, " Margaret ! Margaret ! Stop ! do 
 stop ; d' you hear ? Come under the umbrella ! 
 You '11 take cold ! Margaret ! " 
 
 On went Margaret unheedingly for several blocks 
 over running gutters, into puddles ; Jim knew 
 her feet must be soaking ; then her speed began to 
 flag, she was getting tired. Jim saw her put her 
 hand to her side, and with one bound he was be- 
 side her. " Peggie ! " he cried sharply, and catch- 
 ing hold of her arm, wheeled her briskly through 
 two swinging doors and into the vestibule of a large 
 publishing house which stands on the square. In 
 the vestibule was a short flight of stone steps, and 
 at the head of them an elevator, which, fortunately 
 for our young people, was just then at the top of 
 the tall building. 
 
 " Are n't you ashamed to tear out into the rain 
 like that ? " demanded Jim indignantly ; but it 
 was the intimate indignation of ownership the
 
 306 FORTUNE'S BOATS 
 
 tone of old ; the new, cold dignity which had so 
 troubled Margaret was gone. " You 're simply 
 soaking ! " he said, touching her wet shoulders and 
 arms. " Now you 're in for one of those bad bron- 
 chial coughs that pull you down so " 
 
 " I don't care ! I don't care if I get pneumonia 
 and die ! " cried out Margaret stormily, her voice 
 choking, heavy tears across her eyes. 
 
 Then Jim put a finger under her chin and turned 
 the beautif id flushed face up to his view ; and look- 
 ing down, down, into the brimming grieved eyes, 
 all the pain and bitterness and anger of the dreary 
 months left him. "Peggie," he said tenderly, 
 " let 's put the past behind us and forget it shall 
 we?" 
 
 And right there in a corner of the vestibule, in 
 imminent danger of the elevator and its accom- 
 panying genii appearing at any moment, Mamie 
 laid her head against Jim's wet coat-sleeve and 
 cried for joy. 
 
 The Margaret who, a little later, appeared be- 
 fore Mrs. Jeffrey and the girls was such a soaked, 
 bedraggled, radiant young person that an expla- 
 nation was instantly demanded. 
 
 "Come into mother's room, where we can be 
 private, and I '11 tell you," answered Mamie, with 
 a happy laugh, and headed the small procession 
 which was immediately formed. 
 
 " Where 's uncle Gabe ? he must hear the news, 
 too," she said, when they had reached " mother's 
 room." 
 
 " Oh, he had to go out to see his new protege*,
 
 REVELATIONS 307 
 
 the Italian boy, Antonio something or other ; he 's 
 ill," explained Rune. " You can tell him after- 
 ward." 
 
 "So I can," cheerfully agreed Margaret. 
 " Well ; " she looked at the expectant faces before 
 her and laughed for sheer joy, then poured out her 
 news. " Mother, girls Jim and I 've made it 
 up ! " she informed them, blushing and dimpling 
 in the prettiest manner. " And Jim starts for the 
 Rocky Mountains on next Friday a week from 
 to-morrow ; he has a splendid commission, to paint 
 a picture of the Rockies in autumn and and 
 
 mother, I 'm going with him ! " 
 
 Then arose a small babel of voices, everybody 
 talking at once ; and congratulations, questions, 
 unasked-for advice, embraces, kisses, wails, and 
 objections were jumbled together in the funniest 
 fashion ! It was some time before the excitement 
 died down sufficiently for one voice to be heard dis- 
 tinctly. Then Margaret she was on her mother's 
 lap, her arms around that lady's neck, and such a 
 sparkle in her eyes, such a brilliant color in her 
 cheeks as had not been seen in them for many 
 weeks then Margaret said, very earnestly, " Yes, 
 mother dear, it 's a dreadfully short time one week 
 
 and I dare n't think of how I shall miss all you 
 dear people ! But, mother, I could n't let Jim go 
 alone ! I 've treated him so badly that I feel as 
 if I couldn't do enough to make it up to him! 
 Oh, mother ! " with a sudden burst of feeling ; " it 
 certainly was beautiful of Jim to forgive me, 
 many another man would n't have done it ! We '11
 
 308 FORTUNE'S BOATS 
 
 just be married quietly, without any fuss at all ; 
 at the church, next Thursday, Jim thought, and 
 start on our travels Friday. Oh, mother, I am 
 so happy ! " 
 
 "Then, after all, it was Jim that you loved," 
 remarked Rufie, in her downright, uncompromis- 
 ing fashion. " After calling him all those names, 
 too!" 
 
 " Yes, it was Jim I loved all the time, only I 
 was so stupid I did n't know it," Margaret an- 
 swered, a little shamefacedly, but brightly, too. 
 "Mr. Austin's courtliness and wealth position 
 turned my head for a while, but it was Jim I 
 loved. I hated the thought of marrying Mr. Aus- 
 tin ; I 'd go to the world's end with Jim ! I said 
 he was untidy clumsy all the rest " she 
 couldn't bring her tongue to repeat the hard 
 words now ; " well, if he is, I don't care, I would n't 
 have him different in one single particular." 
 
 " Would n't you like to have him a little less 
 demonstrative ? " asked Ursula, with an air of 
 innocence that set everybody laughing. 
 
 " No, I would n't have him less demonstrative, 
 not one atom less ! " declared Mamie stoutly. 
 ** You can laugh, all of you, I 'm too happy to mind 
 being teased. And, mother, I don't want a new 
 dress or anything. No, Ursa, you dear thing ! " 
 as Ursula began a vehement protest. " I 've things 
 enough, and plenty, to go roughing it in the Rock- 
 ies. I '11 wear that pretty white gown of mine to 
 be married in, and my blue serge will be just the 
 tiling for traveling ! "
 
 REVELATIONS 309 
 
 " In the mean time, my dear, do go and get off 
 those damp clothes," urged Mrs. Jeffrey anxiously. 
 " If you develop a bad cold, Jim will certainly 
 have to go to the Rockies alone." 
 
 " Oh, but I 've not taken cold, I know I 
 have n't," protested Margaret, as the sisters carried 
 her off and began divesting her of the draggled, 
 damp clothing, and the summer hat, whose glory 
 had forever departed. 
 
 Margaret was correct in her assertion that she 
 had taken no cold from her soaking in the storm ; 
 and on her wedding day she was surely one of the 
 most beautiful, radiant brides that ever passed 
 over the portal of the old brown church. Only 
 the family (in which were included Jack Rose 
 and Basil Fabrey) and one or two old friends 
 made the assemblage at the house, but there was 
 a bride-cake and speeches and a good deal of quiet 
 fun. At the last were some tears, too, when the 
 hour of parting came, and Marnie went away with 
 the husband of her choice, her eyes brimming with 
 tears, but a happy smile on her lips. As for Jim, 
 in a new suit of clothes, new necktie, even new 
 cuffs, he looked handsomer than ever, though al- 
 most too well dressed to be himself, and he fairly 
 radiated joy. 
 
 " I 'm the happiest man in all the world, aunt 
 Jeff a," he told Mrs. Jeffrey, " the very happiest ! 
 Don't be sad," he added, his kindly soul shining 
 in his eyes ; " in a couple of months or so we '11 
 be back again ; then you and the girls '11 have to 
 help us fix up our home our home, Peggie's and
 
 310 FORTUNE'S BOATS 
 
 my home ! " Jim set his lips together in a funny 
 prim fashion that, with him, indicated a state of 
 supreme content. " It '11 be your home, too, aunt 
 Jeffa, if ever you need one. I 'm your son, now, 
 your son ; you understand ? " 
 
 It was an understood thing that the family gifts 
 were to be practical, for the new home, and chosen 
 upon the return of the bride. There came a few 
 presents on the wedding day, however, among them 
 a handsome box of silver from Miss Austin, with 
 a few kind, characteristic lines to her old favorite 
 (the little lady was of the very few to whom Mar- 
 garet had written of her approaching marriage). 
 Another wedding gift was from Basil, in a sealed 
 envelope. It was addressed to " Mr. and Mrs. 
 Jim Ivors," and below the superscription was 
 scrawled, " Not to be opened until you are on board 
 the train and steaming away." This of course 
 excited some natural curiosity, and a joke or two 
 at the expense of the donor, which, however, he 
 laughed off. 
 
 But later in the afternoon, when Margaret and 
 Jim had gone, and the guests, and when Basil and 
 Judy were alone together for a while in the draw- 
 ing-room, he brought up the subject. Basil's arm 
 was well, but the scar across his cheek was of a 
 new pink, and he still limped. He had come down 
 from the hospital in a carriage, and under the care 
 of an orderly, who had helped his charge up the 
 Jeffreys' long flights of stairs, and was to return 
 for him early in the evening. For his ankle's sake 
 Basil had been on the lounge the greater part of
 
 REVELATIONS 311 
 
 the afternoon ; he was there now, and Judy sat 
 beside him, in a low chair. 
 
 " You 're the only one that 's asked me no ques- 
 tions about that sealed envelope," the young man 
 said, smiling at his little fiancee. " Have you no 
 curiosity to know what 's in it ? " 
 
 " I think it 's a joke," Judy replied promptly. 
 " I know your weakness in that direction." 
 
 " No, 't was n't a joke ; it was " he spoke 
 slowly, and his watchful eyes were on the girl's 
 face " it was my present to Mamie ; a check." 
 
 " A check," repeated Judy, surprised ; then she 
 laughed. " Oh, yes, a make-believe check, for a 
 thousand dollars ? I knew 't was a joke. Better 
 look out, they '11 keep it, and send it to us on our 
 wedding day. Then the laugh will be on you, 
 sir ! " 
 
 "It was a genuine check, my check, for ten 
 thousand dollars," Basil said deliberately. 
 
 Judy looked at him in bewilderment. "You 
 mean that somebody sent it to you to give to Mar- 
 nie ? " she asked, opening her eyes very wide ; add- 
 ing immediately, " But we 've no friends rich enough 
 to do that, except Miss Austin, and she has sent 
 all that silver. Oh, you must be joking ! " Still, 
 she was evidently disturbed. 
 
 For many months ever since his acquaintance 
 with the Jeffreys had ripened into friendship, and 
 especially since his engagement to Judy Basil 
 had been looking forward to a certain revelation 
 which he intended to make to the family. In his 
 mind he had often gone over what he would say
 
 312 FORTUNE'S BOATS 
 
 and do, and had always enjoyed the situation in 
 prospective. But now that the time for the reve- 
 lation had actually arrived, he was a good deal 
 surprised to find himself nervous and wishing the 
 44 whole business," as he designated it, well over 
 and off his mind. " You can never tell how she '11 
 take a thing," he thought, with an uneasy glance 
 at Judy. 
 
 " I 'm not joking, honest ! never was more seri- 
 ous in my life," he said quickly. " And it 's just 
 as I told you. Margaret is my cousin, and Jim 
 has been a true friend to me ever since I 've been 
 in New York. I did n't know what to buy them 
 as a wedding present, and they could use the money 
 to a great deal better advantage for themselves 
 than I could for them, so I sent them the check. 
 I could easily do it, for, Judy," Basil tried to 
 get hold of her fingers, but the girl quietly and 
 firmly clasped her hands and put them on her 
 knee, out of his reach, "Judy, I 've got plenty of 
 money, I 'm not a poor man. I I " he stam- 
 mered, then stopped entirely ; he was finding it 
 much less easy and agreeable to make his revela- 
 tion than he had expected. 
 
 " Well ? " remarked Judy coldly ; her head was 
 thrown back, and from under half -drooped lids she 
 haughtily surveyed her lover. 
 
 * Now, Judy ! " eagerly remonstrated Basil ; then 
 getting no further word from her, he took up his 
 story, with a strong effort at his usual careless, off- 
 hand manner, to cover the horrible growing uneasi- 
 ness that possessed him.
 
 REVELATIONS 313 
 
 " There is n't very much more to tell ; I 'm simply 
 a rich man when you thought I was a poor man. 
 That 's all ! 'T was just a freak took me, to pass 
 myself off as a poor fellow come to New York in 
 search of a job." He hurried on. " And and 
 then somehow I kept it up until now. But I 
 wanted many times to tell you, Judy and it 's a 
 relief, positively a relief to me now, to 've told you 
 and got the matter off my mind." 
 
 " Why should you pretend to us that you were 
 poor ? " demanded Judith, with the same cold 
 voice and glance. 
 
 Basil blushed until his ears burned he found 
 it very difficult to answer that question. " Well, 
 I I wanted to be liked for myself," he blurted 
 out sheepishly, and, as he would have expressed it 
 in his own vernacular, " feeling like a fool ! " 
 
 " Ah, I see ; you thought your money would 
 exercise an undue influence upon us," Judy said 
 slowly, icily. " Then all that talk to me and 
 to mother that day at the hospital," she 
 would n't look at Basil now, " about your pov- 
 erty, all that was just a play that you were acting, 
 for your own entertainment just untruth 
 every word of it ! In fact, your whole life toward 
 us has been false ever since the first time we met. 
 Well," ignoring a passionate protest from Basil 
 she pushed her chair away from the lounge and 
 rose Judy's face had grown deathly white, and 
 the expression in her soft eyes brought to Basil's 
 memory the dumb reproachful anguish he had once 
 seen in the eyes of a wounded favorite dog of his,
 
 314 FORTUNE'S BOATS 
 
 but Judy's cold speech and haughty manner belied 
 her eyes, "well," she said, drawing her slight 
 figure up to its fullest height, " perhaps you think 
 your behavior a very pretty Lord of Burleigh 
 bit of romance ; I do not ; I hate mysteries 
 and underhand dealings and untruths, no mat- 
 ter what their object might be. And I feel in- 
 sulted insulted that you should have imagined 
 I would ever marry for money. I would gladly 
 have shared with you the poverty you romanced 
 about. Now you are at liberty to find some other 
 woman than me to share your wealth ; I could 
 never trust you again ! " She turned proudly to 
 leave the room. 
 
 But, perfectly reckless of the ankle, Basil hastily 
 scrambled to his feet, and with a sort of hop, skip, 
 and jump, got before Judy and stopped her pro- 
 gress. " You 're not going to leave me in this 
 cruel, mean way," he cried out vehemently. " It 
 required the consent of the two of us to make 
 our engagement, and you're not going to throw 
 me over in this fashion before you even hear the 
 whole story. I won't let you I Great Jupiter, 
 Judith," gathering courage and determination 
 as he spied the tears in Judy's eyes, " what 're you 
 made of to be so hard upon a poor, miserable fel- 
 low that loves you? Were you poor as Job's 
 moth-eaten bird or rich as Croasus, d'you suppose 
 that would make any difference in my love for you ? 
 Ami here you are willing to throw me over at a 
 ininiitf'.s notice! For what? Simply because I 
 happen to have a few dollars more than you thought
 
 REVELATIONS 315 
 
 I had. You 've just got to hear the whole story 
 before you condemn me." He led her gently 
 but firmly back, and seated her on the lounge he 
 had just left. 
 
 " It is n't the money, Basil, it 's the deception. 
 I feel as if I could never trust you again you 've 
 deceived me ! " Judy said, her lips quivering, all 
 her hauteur gone ; and putting her head down on 
 the lounge, turned away from Basil, she began to 
 cry. 
 
 " I have deceived you, I have acted in a small, 
 mean way, and I 'm awfully, awfully sorry for 
 it ! " cried Basil, in the deepest penitence. De- 
 spite sundry and sharp twinges in his " game leg," 
 the young man had gone on one knee beside Ju- 
 dith, and he pleaded his cause with an earnestness 
 and fervor that were hard to resist. " I don't see 
 how I ever thought of such a scheme in regard to 
 you all, for, believe me, Judy," and the honest ring 
 in his voice carried conviction to her, " there are 
 no people in the world whom I respect and honor 
 more than I do your uncle and your mother and 
 sisters. Why, I have the same sort of affection 
 for cousin Etta as I have for my own mother! 
 'T was n't because I considered any of you merce- 
 nary that I planned this, for I soon found out to 
 the direct contrary. Nor was it for the sake of a 
 mystery or a practical joke. It 's just this, and 
 this is absolutely the truth " Judy held her 
 breath to hear, but still with her face averted. 
 
 " For a fellow of my age, I 've seen a good deal 
 of the world," went on Basil, " and the world
 
 316 FORTUNE'S BOATS 
 
 the biggest part of it, anyway bows down to 
 money. Seven years ago I was seventeen then 
 my father had a severe stroke of paralysis, and 
 though he lived for several years after that, he was 
 a confirmed invalid, never equal to the smallest 
 detail of business. He had big interests at stake, 
 and somebody had to take hold or we 'd have lost 
 everything. So I gave up college I had just 
 entered and buckled down to work. Times 
 were favorable all the governor's my father's 
 schemes matured well, and his death left me 
 with a pile of money. And then began the 
 trouble ! " Basil's thin lips curved contemptu- 
 ously, his jaw set, and his eyebrows became one 
 straight line in a heavy frown. He was n't pretty 
 to look at, but turning her head on the sofa cushion 
 Judy regarded him with moist, mournful, inquiring 
 eyes. " Because I had a fortune, I became a most 
 wonderful person ; the way men bowed down to 
 me, and women and girls ran after me, made me 
 fairly sick ! Now, you know, Judy, I 'm no fool," 
 remarked Basil parenthetically ; " I know I 'm 
 about as keen a business man, for my age, as could 
 be scared up anywhere in this free land, and just 
 as well I know that I 'm ugly, unmannerly, and 
 ignorant. (The very first time I saw you, you 
 intimated pretty plainly that I had no manners, 
 and you hit the nail on the head !) And when 
 everybody began praising me up to the skies for 
 my money, and kept it up, ad nauseam, I knew 
 just about how much, or rather how little, it was 
 worth ! Well, that sort of thing is n't good for a
 
 REVELATIONS 317 
 
 fellow! I got to be morose, and suspicious of 
 everybody ; the milk of human kindness that 's in 
 me began to curdle to a high state of acidity. All 
 that flattery and deceit wore upon me, body and 
 soul ; that 's what it did. Last fall I got desperate, 
 dropped the whole thing, business, society, all, 
 and went to the Rockies for some hunting. From 
 there I came on here on a matter of business. I 
 wanted to take something home for mother ; a 
 newspaper man I happened to know advised a pic- 
 ture ; he is a friend of Jim's, and took me to Jim's 
 studio. I liked ' Off the Coast of Maine,' and 
 bought it on the spot " 
 
 " You the man that bought Jim's picture ? Then 
 it 's for you that he 's gone to paint that picture of 
 the Rockies," cried Judy, with an impulsive move- 
 ment of the hand. 
 
 Basil's smile flashed out. He caught the little 
 hand, quickly kissed it, then wisely laid it down ; 
 and Judy as quickly hid the small member in the 
 folds of her dress. " Go on," she said. 
 
 " I did n't know Jim from Adam then," went on 
 Basil obediently, " but mother was born in Maine, 
 not very far from that bit of coast he 'd painted, 
 and I mentioned that. That led him to speak of 
 your mother, who 's from the same place. Of 
 course, I 'd heard my mother talk of cousin Etta 
 (mother knows all about this scheme of mine, and 
 now you shall see the letter I 've got from her 
 about you !), and when he offered to bring me here 
 to call I came ; though first I made Jim promise 
 that he wouldn't mention I was the person that
 
 318 FORTUNE'S BOATS 
 
 had bought his picture. D' you remember that 
 first evening, and the two settings down you gave 
 me ? " He laughed, and all the merrier when Judy 
 said calmly, " Well, you deserved them ! " 
 
 " I know I did," cheerfully acquiesced the young 
 man. " But your mother is really responsible for 
 all this scheme my deception." A twinkle came 
 into his eyes. " That first evening, when I started 
 to tell her of the poor old governor's illness, she 
 misunderstood, broke in, and said she knew all 
 about it, that she 'd heard of father's investing in 
 California and losing all the money he had. That 
 gave me the idea. Judy," Basil became emphatic, 
 " from that very first evening I 've thought you the 
 daintiest girl I ever laid eyes on ! I think I loved 
 you from the very minute we met, in spite of your 
 snubs ! I made up my mind that you should be 
 my wife, if I could get you ! I knew you were 
 true and honest, I felt it, but for my own sus- 
 picious self's sake, to satisfy myself, and for my 
 heart's comfort and content, I bound Jim over to 
 secrecy. I made business to keep me in New York, 
 and went in to win your love as poor, uncouth, ill- 
 tempered Basil Fabrey, without a dollar to his 
 name. And I have won you, sweetheart, eh?" 
 By some intuition his hand found that other hand 
 hid in the folds of Judy's gown ; and the amount 
 of persuasive pleading that he managed to express 
 in his light eyes was really astonishing. 
 
 Judy sat up very straight, and looking very 
 serious. " You 've been with us almost daily for 
 nearly a year, we 've been engaged six whole weeks,
 
 REVELATIONS 319 
 
 and you 've kept all this from me," she said wist- 
 fully, yet firmly. " I could n't stand your having 
 mysteries from me, Basil keeping from me things 
 so important and intimate as these. I could n't ! 
 I 'd rather give you up now, for I 'd lose confidence 
 in you, and faith, and without those, love can't 
 last." 
 
 Then with her hand tight clasped in his own two, 
 and with his inmost soul shining in his eyes, Basil 
 Fabrey honestly made answer : " Judy, every hu- 
 man being has some weakness of character ; I have 
 mine. Even to you, I can't promise to turn my 
 heart inside out every day ; I can't promise to tell 
 you all I know. But I trust you as I 've never 
 trusted any living creature before, and I love you, 
 dear, with all my strength ! Your little hand holds 
 my heart's strings, and if, when we 're married, 
 you don't always know all my secrets, it '11 be your 
 fault, not mine ! How is it, sweetheart will you 
 give your life into my keeping ? " 
 
 Judy's answer is not recorded, but judging from 
 the rapturous exclamation with which her whis- 
 pered word was received, and by subsequent events, 
 it must have been the one that Basil was longing 
 to hear. 
 
 There was a short contented silence, then Judy 
 remarked, a little wistfully, " So there '11 be no 
 saving up and choosing our furniture, piece by 
 piece no cosy little flat for just ourselves. It '11 
 take me a good while to get accustomed to the 
 new order of things. My mind is all unsettled ! " 
 
 " We need n't have the little flat, but we shall
 
 :;jo FORTUNE'S BOATS 
 
 have money to spend on those who are poor and 
 needy," Basil said, and laughed aloud at the light 
 that sprang into Judy's eyes, and her delighted 
 " Oh ! " "I 've just promised there should be no 
 secrets between us," he added, ** so I '11 tell you 
 what I 've been doing ; I 'm putting three of the 
 boys in the wood-carving class through the Trade 
 Schools. They 're bright youngsters, I 'm glad to 
 give 'em a helping hand. I gave something toward 
 your scheme, too ; I bought four houses on Ded- 
 lock Street, to make space for the playground " 
 
 " Oh, Basil ! Basil ! " cried Judy, clapping her 
 hands softly ; a joyous, happy, proud Judy it was, 
 too ! " You are the most generous, kind, thought- 
 ful dear fellow ! " 
 
 Her praise was sweet to Basil, but after the 
 manner of men he laughed it off. " It 's your do- 
 ing, not mine," he said. " Until I met you, I 'd 
 never given a thought to there being poor people 
 in the world whom I might help, God's poor, 
 as you call them. But I know now, and we won't 
 forget them, you and I, will we ? " he added. 
 
 44 There 's mother in the next room ! Mother ! 
 mother ! " called Judy. " Come in here and let 
 Basil tell you the Arabian Nights story he 's just 
 been telling me. Come, mother ! "
 
 CHAPTER XVI 
 
 GREAT DAYS 
 
 ONE fine Saturday afternoon in November, the 
 playground at Dedlock and Hinckson streets, 
 thenceforward to be known as the Children's Park, 
 was formally opened and handed over to the city 
 authorities. It was also taken possession of that 
 day by the children and young people for whose 
 enjoyment and benefit it was designed. Besides 
 the children, in many instances, came their parents, 
 cousins, aunts, and other relatives. Feeling the 
 occasion especially their own, the Dedlockites and 
 Hincksonites turned out in full force, and the resi- 
 dents of the adjacent streets with them, to say no- 
 thing of large deputations which arrived from up 
 town and down town and considerably swelled the 
 throng. Such a jolly, orderly crowd as it was, too, 
 the typical American crowd, good-humored, patient, 
 and alert ; appreciating all that offered, and most 
 anxious not to miss anything, as it stood, and walked, 
 and sat on the playground. 
 
 A band discoursed sweet sounds in a music 
 stand above which floated the stars and stripes. 
 Flags also waved from a tall flagstaff in the mid- 
 dle of the park, and from the windows of the one 
 house which had been left standing on the grounds.
 
 322 FORTUNE'S BOATS 
 
 This house had been put in perfect order, and 
 here were baths, a swimming-tank, a gymnasium, 
 a wide hall with accommodations for meetings, dan- 
 cing, or amateur theatricals, and a comfortable 
 reading-room supplied with a fair library, maga- 
 zines, papers, etc. Adjoining the house was a large 
 covered space for games and romps on rainy days. 
 On the grounds a fountain played merrily in honor 
 of the occasion, benches were set in convenient 
 places, and great heaps of earth and shining white 
 sand stood about ; there were innumerable swings, 
 see-saws, merry-go-rounds, the latter on tall posts 
 with lengths of strong rope hanging from them in 
 the most inviting fashion ; and straight smootli 
 poles, for those who might feel inclined to " shin 
 up," shorter poles holding open bean-baskets, and 
 a simple outdoor gymnasium for girls as well as 
 boys ; and besides these, and above all, there were 
 wide open spaces in plenty where ropes might be 
 skipped and races run, where quoits, basket-ball, 
 tennis, and football might be played, or kites flown, 
 marbles rolled, or any other game that was " in " 
 enjoyed. 
 
 A few trees, which had been found in the yards 
 of the tenements taken down to make the space, 
 still stood on the playground, mostly bare of leaves 
 just now, bnt holding promise for the spring, when 
 other trees would be set out, and flowers around 
 the fountain. 
 
 After the opening exercises were over, and the first 
 shy awe of ownership had worn off, grown people 
 and children began to amuse themselves, the rldrrs
 
 GREAT DAYS 323 
 
 surging in a continuous stream through the house 
 and over the grounds, full of kindly curiosity and 
 interest ; while the young people proceeded to 
 enjoy the games and liberty offered by the play- 
 ground. The Indian-summer sky was blue and 
 cloudless, and despite the soft haze in the atmos- 
 phere and the breeze that was abroad, the day 
 was warm, and the refreshments provided by one 
 of the committee (Basil), in the shape of lemonade 
 and cakes, were highly appreciated by the crowd. 
 
 The mayor and several other city magnates and 
 prominent men were present, and numerous ad- 
 dresses were made, but none was received with 
 such evidence of approval as were the few words 
 spoken by Judith. 
 
 With the exception of Margaret, who was still 
 with Jim in the Rockies, all the Jeffreys were 
 present at the opening of the playground, as were 
 Basil, and Jack Rose, Carter Ferris and Ad Lam- 
 bert (the last two in the interests of the Leader), 
 little Miss Austin, merry and vivacious as ever, 
 and Roger Austin, who had recently returned 
 from Europe, rather earlier than he had intended. 
 Among the crowd were some other old acquaint- 
 ances of ours : the Laidlers, Tilley ahead, gaping 
 in delighted wonder, while " Villie " to be pro- 
 tected from the crowd walked, solemn-eyed and 
 critical, between his mother and Louise ; and Netta, 
 with a new, wee baby in her arms, and several 
 small brothers and sisters hanging on to her skirts. 
 Mrs. Quayle was there, too, with her lazy husband, 
 and her brood of various sized active, quicksilver
 
 324 FORTUNE'S BOATS 
 
 Quayles ; Johnnie such a tall, thin, white Johnnie ! 
 limping painfully along with his leg in an iron 
 brace ; and Joe Foyle just out of the reformatory, 
 more hardened and reckless than when he was put 
 in ; and Freddie Metz, happy-go-lucky and impu- 
 dent, at the head of his " gang." It was this 
 young gentleman and his satellites and Joe Foyle 
 who started the cry of " A speech from Miss 
 Judit' ! " "A speech from Miss Judit' Jeffrey ! " 
 " A speech ! a speech ! " and kept it up until the 
 enthusiasm became contagious, and such a shout 
 went up that Judy had to respond to it and come 
 to the front of the stand. A great many of those 
 present knew her, and she looked so high-bred and 
 dainty standing there, so young and pretty, that a 
 roar of admiration arose from the crowd. 
 
 As Judy looked over the immense bright area 
 of the playground, then down upon the throng of 
 upturned faces before her, and realized that at last 
 her darling project for these " neighbors " of hers 
 was an accomplished fact, her heart swelled with 
 thankfulness and a lump sprang into her throat. 
 
 It was a minute or two before she could speak ; 
 then, " Dear people," she said, with an impulsive, 
 friendly movement of her hands toward them, her 
 voice full of feeling, " dear friends, I can't make 
 a speech. I can only tell you how very, very happy 
 and glad I am that you all have now this splendid 
 place in which to rest and play and enjoy a good 
 time. In this crowd I see ever so many of my boys 
 and jjirK" again she made that friendly little 
 wave of her hands, which brought nods and broad
 
 GREAT DAYS 325 
 
 gratified smiles from a number of the throng, 
 " and they know the talks we 've had together, they 
 and I, about what such a playground as this would 
 mean to us. We hoped for it, though not expecting 
 that our hopes would ever be realized. But they 
 have been realized ; God put it into the heart of 
 some rich, kind men to make you this splendid gift ; 
 and now that this large well-equipped playground, 
 with all its comforts and enjoyments, is actually 
 yours, I 'm sure you will all show to your friends 
 and relatives, to the good men who have given you 
 this place, and to the whole city, the excellent use 
 you will put it to. I 've told the people who have 
 given you this park that the pleasure, the fun and 
 exercise, that you '11 all get here will keep you off 
 the streets and out of mischief, and help you to be 
 better boys and girls, and by and by, better men 
 and women, better citizens ; in fact, help you to do 
 better all through your life. I have n't promised 
 too much for you, have I ? " 
 
 Under cover of the lusty cries of " No ! no ! 
 you have n't ! you have n't ! " of the shouts of 
 applause, wild cheers, and clapping of hands which 
 ensued, Judy made her escape from the stand, and, 
 joined by other members of the family, mingled 
 with the crowd. 
 
 So came into existence the Children's Park, 
 situated at Dedlock and Hinckson streets, and 
 which to-day is proving itself a safety-valve for 
 high spirits and youthful vigor, and an incalcu- 
 lable blessing to the boys and girls of the East 
 Side.
 
 326 FORTUNE'S BOATS 
 
 Besides the completion and opening of the play- 
 ground, there are some other pleasant events to 
 record of the Jeffreys and their friends. 
 
 On hearing what Judy called Basil's " Arabian 
 Nights" story, Mrs. Jeffrey's first involuntary 
 exclamation was, "Then Judy will have to live 
 in California far from us all ! " and in a tone of 
 such dire dismay that Basil's feelings were rather 
 injured. Indeed, in the days which followed, 
 more than once the rich young man felt as if his 
 long considered and, in his estimation, important 
 revelation had somehow missed its point. The 
 family with one accord had taken the intelligence 
 calmly. Mrs. Jeffrey's manner was precisely the 
 same to him as of old, uncle Gabriel still admin- 
 istered a gentle, much-needed snub now and then, 
 and the girls, Judy included, continued to tease, 
 laugh at, and joke with their cousin, as the mood 
 took them. And while sincere in his professions 
 of disgust with the fulsome flattery and adulation 
 paid him for his money by the world, Basil was yet 
 at times a little nettled at the Jeffreys' perfect in- 
 difference to his worldly worth. Naturally gener- 
 ous, now that his secret was out, the young man 
 was inclined to play the grand seigneur, and to load 
 down his relatives and betrothed with gifts of every 
 description. This, however, with her good sense 
 and quiet tact, Mrs. Jeffrey soon put a stop to. 
 
 " But I 'in your cousin, I '11 soon be your son, 
 why should n't I send you and the girls whatever 
 I please ? What 's the harm ? " demanded Basil 
 irritably, on this occasion.
 
 GREAT DAYS 327 
 
 " No harm, my dear boy ; indeed, it 's very kind 
 of you," replied Mrs. Jeffrey, in her pleasant yet 
 firm manner. " And knowing that we thoroughly 
 appreciate your kind motives and your affection 
 for us, I 'm sure you will not go contrary to my 
 wishes when I ask you not to make us any more 
 such expensive presents." 
 
 As she remained firm to this resolve, though 
 Basil fumed a little, he had e'en to submit, and 
 content himself with showering gifts upon Judy 
 until that fastidious young lady felt compelled to 
 tell him, " As I have but two fingers on each hand 
 on which I could possibly care to wear rings, and," 
 with a demure smile, " as I 'm not a Chinese 
 image on which to hang jewels, I 'm beginning to 
 wonder what 's to become of all the pretty orna- 
 ments you 've brought me ; " which called out an- 
 other little storm from Basil. 
 
 Unwarned by these experiences, young Fabrey 
 shortly after ran into another, when he urged (as he 
 soon began to do) that Judy's and his wedding 
 should be at an early date, and, as he expressed 
 it, in " bang-up style ! " 
 
 " I know scores of people here and in California 
 that I mean to ask to our wedding," he told his 
 fiancee one day, " and they could n't possibly 
 squeeze into these small rooms if they even tried. 
 Now my idea 's this : I '11 hire a big, handsomely 
 furnished house right away, in some good location, 
 for a month, you people will move in, and we '11 be 
 married from there have reception and every- 
 thing, eh? You have your sisters and some other
 
 328 FORTUNE'S BOATS 
 
 girls for bridesmaids^ and I '11 scare up an equal 
 number of men for ushers ; we '11 have a breakfast 
 from Sherry's, and a jolly good time all round, and 
 the whole business shan't cost cousin Etta one 
 cent. Now I know exactly what you 're going to 
 say," he cried out, putting up his hand as he saw 
 Judy's face change and she opened her mouth to 
 speak, "I can guess every word of it, and I beg 
 you not to say it ! I don't see why you and the 
 family should treat me in this formal way. I 'm 
 your cousin as well as going to be your husband, 
 and I don't see why I should n't be allowed to 
 bear the expense, particularly when I 've got more 
 money than I know what to do with, and would be 
 only too delighted to spend some on you people. 
 Ah, Judy," dropping suddenly into pleading, 
 " don't be so stiff and proud ! Do let me have my 
 way for once ! " 
 
 The color flamed in Judy's face; Basil knew 
 well the poise her little head assumed ; but love 
 for the blundering, kind-hearted fellow made her 
 voice very gentle. " Basil dear, this is very gen- 
 erous of you," she said ; " but we could n't let 
 you do it ; mother would never consent to such an 
 arrangement, and I would n't have her consent 
 to it for the world ! You can't have a grand wed- 
 ding, sir," she added playfully, " because you are 
 marrying a poor girl." She laughed gayly over it. 
 "By and by, though, when we're in your our 
 own house there might be festivities, should 
 you feel so inclined. Let us wait a few months 
 longer," she coaxed ; " mother would like us to
 
 GREAT DAYS 329 
 
 wait, she said so to me yesterday. And as she 
 wants us to do this, I think we should. Don't 
 you think it would be nice for us to wait until Jack 
 and Francie are ready, and the four of us be mar- 
 ried on the same day? I 'd like that. I don't 
 think that would be very far away, now that Jack's 
 book is doing so well. To please mother, Basil, 
 don't you think we might wait awhile ? " 
 
 Basil arose in a great huff. " Wait ! " he cried 
 " for that slow poke Rose to make enough money 
 to get married ? Wait a dozen years or two 
 that 's what it '11 be with Frances and him, and 
 we 're to hang on to suit them ! Why should we ? 
 Cousin Etta should n't expect it. The whole truth 
 of it is, you think more of your mother and the girls 
 than you do of me. That 's what this means ! 
 And I won't stand that, I must \^& first with you, 
 always ' " 
 
 Judy was provoked ; she threw up her head 
 proudly. " There is no first or second in my love 
 for you and my mother and sisters," she said 
 coldly. " Each has a distinct, separate place in 
 my affections, and one love does not in the least 
 conflict with the other. Had n't I been very sure 
 of the quality of my love for you, I would never 
 have promised to marry you. At the same time, I 
 cannot and shall not ever love my family the less 
 because of my caring for you. Mother does n't 
 insist, she asks us to wait awhile, and I think we 
 sh " 
 
 Basil's jealous temper was roused; he had never 
 met with much opposition in his life, and did n't
 
 330 FORTUNE'S BOATS 
 
 take kindly to thwarting. " You dont love me as 
 well as you do them," he interrupted vehemently, 
 "or you 'd be willing to marry me and go to the 
 end of the world with me, at a moment's notice. 
 Look at Mamie, did n't she marry Jim at a week's 
 notice and go camping out in the mountains with 
 him ? Why can't you do as I want ? No ! you 
 don't care a fig for me, that 's the reason ! " Jam- 
 ming on his hat with angry energy, the young man 
 strode out of the room without waiting to hear 
 Judy's answer. 
 
 " I '11 stay away a week two weeks and just 
 let her miss me ! " fumed Basil, tramping furiously 
 along the streets. " Another girl would 've jumped 
 at such a wedding, and been thankful. But, no ! 
 Miss Judy is too proud ! she 's always got to be dif- 
 ferent from everybody else. I '11 just let her alone 
 for a week or two she 's an airish little piece ! " 
 So he fretted and stormed, though in the depths 
 of his heart knowing that he would n't have Judith 
 different in even one particular, that, in fact, it 
 was just that reserve and loyalty, that wholesome 
 pride and dainty elusiveness, which he now desig- 
 nated as " airs," that made Judy's charm for him. 
 44 1 '11 stay away two weeks ! " he told himself 
 repeatedly that afternoon; and managed to keep 
 away from the Jeffreys' until the next evening. 
 r>\ then his anger had evaporated, his longing for 
 a sight of Judy grown stronger than his sense of 
 injury, and with an attempt at his usual manner, 
 though in reality rather sheepishly, he walked into 
 thr ilining-room where Judith sat alone, and told
 
 GREAT DAYS 331 
 
 her, " Well ; here I am again ! I could n't stay 
 away, you see. Have your way about the wed- 
 ding." 
 
 The warm light that sprang into Judy's eyes, 
 the loving, impulsive fashion in which her little 
 hands clasped his own, were precious beyond 
 value to Basil. " Am I not worth waiting a few 
 months for ? " she asked wistfully. 
 
 " I 'd wait seven fourteen years for you, if 
 need be, as Jacob did for what 's-her-name in the 
 Bible ! " cried Basil fervently. The scowl, which for 
 the last day and a half had held possession of his 
 forehead, now vanished, and his smile flashed out 
 bright and sunny, making a very different looking 
 person of the young man. 
 
 " You '11 not have to wait as long as Jacob did 
 for Rachel, that I promise you," Judy archly 
 informed him, with one of her rare caresses. 
 
 " I can't wait in New York," Basil said. " I Ve 
 finished the business that 's kept me here all 
 this time ; so I '11 take a run out home, see mo- 
 ther, look into business affairs out there, and 
 begin hunting up a house for us to live in by and 
 by. Mother 's got into the way of staying at a 
 hotel, to avoid the bother of housekeeping she 
 isn't strong; but you would n't like that life. I 
 thought not," as Judy made a hasty movement of 
 dissent ; " and I 've got to have something ab- 
 sorbing to occupy my mind, or I 'd be stewing 
 about you, fidgeting, and perhaps get to thinking 
 you did n't care for me ; I 'in a suspicious sort of a 
 brute, as I suppose you know by now."
 
 332 FORTUNE'S BOATS 
 
 Judy's fingers tightened round his hand. " You 
 shan't wait long, dear fellow, you shan't ! " she 
 whispered. 
 
 So Basil went back to California, and Judy 
 laid in a large stock of stationery and devoted a 
 portion of each day to writing him what Ruth 
 jealously declared were " regular journals." Basil's 
 letters, as a rule, were short, he did not shine as 
 a correspondent, but what they lacked in length 
 he made up for in telegrams, Judy receiving one 
 every day in the week, and, sometimes, three a 
 day. 
 
 In the mean time Jack Rose had been writing a 
 book, his first novel, having hitherto contented 
 himself with putting out short stories, and almost 
 immediately after publication The Faithful Fail- 
 ure of Robert Herrick sprang into a wide popu- 
 larity. There are books and books which win 
 favor with the public ; this one of Jack's was a 
 simple story, told in simple Saxon English, but 
 the characters in it were so true to life, the mes- 
 sage it carried so genuine and needed, and so up- 
 lifting, that the critics spoke only the truth when 
 they described the book as a " veritable human 
 document." Grove and Erveng's printing-presses 
 worked night and day to supply the demand ; 
 Robert Herrick leaped into the " hundred thou- 
 sand " copies, and John Miuot Rose became a 
 person of great interest to the public. Paragraphs 
 about him began to appear in the newspapers and 
 magazines ; and dazzling offers for his next book 
 poured in upon him. All this popularity consul-
 
 GREAT DAYS 333 
 
 erably disturbed Jack, and particularly the daz- 
 zling offers. 
 
 " Of course, I 'm very glad the book 's going so 
 well," he told Frances one evening, when he had 
 come in late from the Leader office, tired, and 
 looking careworn ; " but I wish those personal 
 items would stop appearing they worry a man ! 
 And these letters from publishers " he held out 
 several " they 're making me the wildest, most 
 liberal offers, for books that I could n't possibly 
 write ! You know, little woman," this was Jack's 
 pet name for his tall young fiancee, "I'm not 
 one of the brilliant kind that can reel off a book 
 at short notice. I have to have a story in my mind 
 a long time, and grow to know the characters in it, 
 and be so interested in them that they come to be 
 living, breathing people to me and I absolutely 
 must write about them. I must be full to the 
 brim of the story possessed by it before I can 
 tell one word of it I can't write to order. At 
 present, I have n't one idea in my head, not a ghost 
 of one, for another book, and none may come for 
 a year years I can't tell, and here these offers 
 keep coming ! I wish they 'd stop all this talk 
 and notice of me ; it just bothers and upsets me ! " 
 
 There was such a worried expression in Jack's 
 honest gray eyes that Francie took his long-fin- 
 gered hand in hers, and began gently stroking it. 
 
 " Don't let your praise trouble you, dear heart," 
 she said tenderly. " Remember what old a Kempis 
 says, the verse you once quoted for me, that 
 afternoon in the park, * You are none the better
 
 3M FORTUNE'S BOATS 
 
 because you are praised, you are none the worse 
 because you are blamed ; what thou art, thou 
 art ! ' " 
 
 Jack's face brightened. " That 's so ! that 's a 
 fact ! " he declared. " There 's comfort in those 
 words ; I '11 try and hold on to them. Now help 
 me decide another question. Hilliard Erveng 
 came to see me to-day. On behalf of Grove and 
 Erveng he advises me to give up the Leader at 
 once and devote all my time to writing books. 
 Hill thinks I ought to do it. Now," Jack looked 
 appealingly at Frances, " there 's more money in 
 the stories but," slowly, reflectively, " I think 
 I 'd rather not give up the Leader for a while yet ; 
 I can't say now for how long. As I 've told you, I 
 could n't sit down and begin another story right 
 away, and I know that I can do some good by stay- 
 ing on in the office and helping two fellows there." 
 Jack colored up at his own modest self-praise, 
 but soon forgot himself in his earnestness. " When 
 I first went on the staff, Driscal used to object to 
 my editorials, to the principles I expressed in 
 them. He said I was old-fashioned in my ideas. 
 and that the Leader was n't a Sunday-school or^iin 
 to point a moral to the public. Well, perhaps I 
 am old-fashioned in some ways," Jack said simply ; 
 " but you know, Francie, right is right and wrong 
 is wrong, there can be no * fashion ' about princi- 
 ples ; and I got so discouraged that several times 
 I thought of resigning my jwsition. But some- 
 how, I didn't; I hung on, and kept writing just 
 what it seemed to me \vas fair and honest to write.
 
 GREAT DAYS 335 
 
 And gradually, when Driscal found that the circu- 
 lation of the paper wasn't falling off, but gaining, 
 and that nobody kicked at the sentiments ex- 
 pressed in my editorials, why, he let me alone, and 
 now rarely questions anything I write. 
 
 " Now," Jack leaned forward and waved an im- 
 pressive forefinger in the air, " most men on a 
 newspaper write just what they 're told to write ; 
 it 's expected of them, and very often strenuous 
 circumstances compel them to meet those expecta- 
 tions, but I 've got two young fellows in training 
 that are not like that. It 's for their sakes that I 
 want to stay on the Leader. One of them, Oli- 
 phant, has been in the office a couple of months, 
 the other 's just come, and they 're going to make 
 their mark in journalistic work, or I 'm much mis- 
 taken. They 're ' strong ' men, with sound views, 
 and they 're getting the courage of their convic- 
 tions. In a newspaper office a man needs courage 
 as well as intellectual ability courage of the high- 
 est kind ; and by using my influence in the office, 
 I 'in a much bigger personage with Driscal since 
 Robert 's grown so popular," Jack opened his eyes 
 at Francie, " by using my influence for those 
 two fellows and seeing them ' through ' with Dris- 
 cal now, they '11 have cultivated a stiff backbone 
 of their own and be able to depend on it before I 
 step out. If I left now, I 'm afraid Driscal might 
 overrule them he's a cantankerous animal! and 
 that 'd be a loss to the paper. Of course," Jack 
 added, trying to be dispassionate, " I 'm not the 
 editor-in-chief of the Leader, and Driscal might
 
 336 FORTUNE'S BOATS 
 
 say this was officious; but an honest, fearless 
 newspaper is a power in the land, and I feel as if 
 I ought to stay on and give those fellows a help- 
 ing hand. What do you think about it ? " Jack 
 finished with anxious eyes, and with locks that, in 
 his preoccupation, he had ruffled rampantly. 
 
 " You 're perfectly right ! Stay on, by all means, 
 until you 've done your duty by those men," re- 
 plied Francie promptly. " 'T won't hurt us to wait 
 a little longer." 
 
 " Oh, but we need n't wait at all," eagerly cried 
 Jack. " Hilliard tells me that Robert is bringing 
 me in a nice little penny, so we can get married 
 just as soon as you 're ready ; and," he added 
 wistfully, "make it early, little woman! " 
 
 As one result of this conversation there was a 
 family council held that evening, with the subse- 
 quent event of a double wedding in the Jeffrey 
 family on January fifth just five weeks later. 
 
 The fifth proved itself a glorious winter day, 
 clear and cold, with a bright sun casting a glitter 
 over the snow which lay upon the ground and pow- 
 dered the leafless trees in the park. There was no 
 reception, but after all, the weddings were not so 
 quiet, for all the relatives and friends, including 
 Basil's "scores," were invited to the church, and 
 a goodly company assembled to witness the cere- 
 mony. Some of Judy's " poor people " and boys 
 and girls were also remembered, seats being found 
 for thrm in the gallery from whence was obtained 
 an excellent view of all the doings. Then, by 
 order of one of the bridegrooms, the interior of the
 
 GREAT DAYS 337 
 
 old brown church was elaborately and beautifully 
 dressed with plants and flowers ; and a full vested 
 choir formed two lines and sang " The Voice that 
 breathed o'er Eden," as the bridal party passed up 
 the aisle to the chancel, where uncle Gabriel and 
 the rector awaited them. The bridegrooms were 
 waiting there, too Basil pale, nervous, scowling, 
 until he met Judy's calm, loving gaze ; and Jack 
 Rose so filled with happiness as to have entirely 
 forgotten his usual shyness. With all the ease and 
 dignity of one now four months a married man, 
 Jim gave away the brides, who, like all brides, 
 looked charming in their white array ; the new 
 husbands held themselves proudly, as befitted their 
 good fortune ; and that afternoon's Leader came 
 out with a full-column glowing description of the 
 auspicious event, which was read with particular 
 interest by the admirers of the author of Robert 
 Herrick. 
 
 Whether the happy couples took their wedding 
 trip together, or where they went, I am not at 
 liberty to tell, but when, two or three weeks later, 
 they appeared at a reception given for them by 
 Mrs. Felix Rose, all four looked as happy as 
 Anglo-Saxon etiquette ever permits newly married 
 people to appear in public. 
 
 The reception was from four to seven o'clock, 
 and when the last of the invited guests had bowed 
 himself out, the various members of the Rose and 
 Jeffrey family then proceeded to enjoy what Basil 
 Fabrey afterward declared was " a jolly good 
 time ! " They were a host in themselves. Old
 
 338 FORTUNE'S BOATS 
 
 Mr. Rose, stooping more and more about the shoul- 
 ders, and more and more absorbed in his ancients, 
 quite warmed to merry, talkative uncle Gabriel. 
 He took the reverend gentleman into his study and 
 showed him the Fetich in two or three revised edi- 
 tions, and his latest work on some other ancient, 
 long-forgotten race of people. Philip Rose, the 
 elder brother, had come on from Chicago to be 
 present at the wedding of Jack, whom now and 
 then he still called by the old-time boyish name of 
 " Rosebud." Phil had brought with him his wife 
 (a quiet, mouse-like little woman, whose maiden 
 name was Helen Vassah) and his four children 
 the twins, Felix and Nora, and their younger 
 brothers, Philip and Hugh. 
 
 At one time during the evening Mrs. Derwent 
 touched her husband's arm, with a whispered, 
 " Look, Max ! " and a significant glance toward 
 the hall where were Phil and Felix. The brothers 
 were walking slowly back and forth, talking in ]W 
 tones, with bent heads, and with Phil's arm thrown 
 across the younger one's shoulder, in the old-time 
 attitude. It was a stronger Felix now, and more 
 robust, though still lame and often compelled to 
 carry a cane, and with the same calm gaze and 
 Runny kindly smile. Although now prominent in 
 his profession, with many wealthy and important 
 clients, Felix Rose was also widely known as the 
 " poor man's " lawyer. His wife Alice was in the 
 drawing-room (her little son Felix leaning against 
 her knee) talking with the new bride, Mrs. Basil 
 and with Ruth and the elegant Mrs. Chad-
 
 GREAT DAYS 339 
 
 wick Wliitcombe, whose dandified looking husband 
 was discussing " mines " and " silver " with Basil. 
 Betty and Milliard Erveng made a merry group 
 with Francie and Jack, Mrs. Jeffrey, and Max and 
 Nannie Derwent ; while Alan and his yellow haired, 
 sweet-faced sister Madel and Ursula Jeffrey sat 
 in a corner and talked of the absent Paul, and of 
 another Rose who was absent one Katharine, or 
 Kathie, who had married an Englishman and gone 
 to live in England. 
 
 Besides all the talking and laughter there was a 
 good deal of dancing done that evening, by the 
 grown people as well as by the eleven children who 
 called " Professor " Rose grandfather, and the 
 amount of vigor and enjoyment, to say nothing of 
 grace, that was put into those gyrations is beyond 
 description. 
 
 As Basil was a man of wealth, and Jack Rose 
 a public favorite through Robert Herrick, many 
 social attentions were offered to our young married 
 people, some of which they accepted, while others, 
 for lack of time (or, perhaps, inclination), they 
 were forced to decline. 
 
 Of one of the entertainments which they ac- 
 cepted I must tell you. It was a dinner given by 
 Mr. and Mrs. Jim Ivors, and great were the pre- 
 parations for it. Mrs. Jeffrey and Rufie were on 
 hand all day to help, and the brides Judy from 
 the Waldorf and Francie from the Rose home, 
 where Jack and she were living until their own 
 home-nest was ready went down to the studio 
 building where Jim and Maruie had their rooms,
 
 340 FORTUNE'S BOATS 
 
 and lent their aid, that all might go off well. The 
 Ivors's apartment was at the top of the tall build- 
 ing (fortunately there was an elevator), and very 
 cosy and comfortable it was " artistic " was the 
 term Mrs. Marnie liked best to have applied to 
 her home. But there was no denying it that 
 with the exception of Jim's studio (where his 
 new picture, "Autumn in the Rockies," was in 
 due state of progress) the rooms were small, and 
 for this reason it required some planning and inge- 
 nuity to seat twelve people in the wee dining-room. 
 It is a well-known fact, however, to housekeep- 
 ers, that rooms and dining-tables can be made 
 to " stretch," and it was certainly demonstrated on 
 this particular occasion. Besides the new brides 
 and bridegrooms, and the host and hostess, the 
 guests were Mrs. Jeffrey, uncle Gabriel, Ursula 
 and Ruth, Alan Rose, Carter Ferris, and Ad Lam- 
 bert, the last two being, one a struggling artist, 
 the other an impecunious, witty journalist, and 
 both old friends of Jim and the Jeffreys. 
 
 It was a tight squeeze around that festive board, 
 but if elbows touched, and if, at certain angles, 
 one or two of the company ate their dinner with 
 the unusual complement of three legs under the 
 table to take care of instead of two, who cared ? 
 No one there, I am sure. 
 
 Such a pretty table as it looked one of Mrs. 
 Jack's most artistic efforts ! with the fine damask 
 napery and shining glass (the family wedding 
 presents to Marnir) and Miss Austin's handsome 
 silver, and Mi-. Kail's i-ontnluitioii of exquisite
 
 GREAT DAYS 341 
 
 pink roses to set it all off, and with such a beautiful 
 young matron at one end, such a handsome ruddy 
 Benedict at the other. 
 
 Though nominally Marnie was in charge of her 
 own dinner party, it was capable Rufie who re- 
 ceived the fluttering nervous orders telegraphed 
 by the young hostess's eyes, and calmly, as one to 
 the manner born, interpreted them to the trim 
 little maid who made her way with such expedition 
 and deftness around the crowded room. It was 
 Ruth, too, who had arranged the menu, and, with 
 Mrs. Jeffrey's and Gretchen's help, carried it out 
 so successfully. And if, now and then, Gretchen's 
 inquisitive eyes peeped around the screen that 
 stood before the kitchen door, can any one blame 
 her for taking a look at the festivities which in 
 her way she had helped to promote ? Only Rufie 
 saw her. 
 
 Such a jolly little dinner as it was ! everybody 
 (even the hostess, when once she was assured the 
 domestic machinery was moving smoothly) en- 
 joyed himself and herself. Such witty remarks 
 were made, such laughter-provoking stories told, 
 such toasts drunk, such amusing speeches given, 
 that the hours slipped by like a velvet-footed thief, 
 and almost before one knew it the dinner was over, 
 the evening past, and it was time to bid good-by. 
 
 " Well," remarked Basil to his wife, as with a 
 white shining cloak thrown over that lady's wed- 
 ding gown, and with her long train over her arm, 
 they two were walking the few blocks to their 
 hotel, " well, of all the social functions, large or
 
 342 FORTUNE'S BOATS 
 
 small, that I 've attended, and I 've had some 
 experience in that line, I 've enjoyed Jim's and 
 Mamie's dinner the most. It was a grand suc- 
 cess, from beginning to end ! " 
 
 And, expressed or unexpressed, that was the 
 opinion of all who were at the dinner.
 
 CHAPTER XVII 
 UNCLE GABE'S PARISH 
 
 " HAS the Muse deserted you ? Is this one of 
 the times when the story refuses to be written ? " 
 Mrs. Jeffrey asked, one afternoon, coming into the 
 dining-room where sat Ursula at the wide-topped 
 desk by the west window. Miss Weewee was also 
 in the room, extended on the table in an attitude 
 of supreme comfort, with her hind legs drawn up, 
 and a slender black and white paw thrown grace- 
 fully across her upturned face. Under cover of 
 this paw she opened one green eye and glanced at 
 Mrs. Jeffrey, then fell off to sleep again. 
 
 A spring and summer and winter had passed 
 since Mamie and Jim gave their gay little dinner 
 party, and now another spring was lending beauty 
 to the world. Ursula had been improving an 
 unexpected half holiday from the Leader, and the 
 sheets of manuscript lying beside her testified to 
 her diligence. But now she was sitting idle, with 
 her elbows on the desk, her cheek resting against 
 her clasped hands, and in her eyes a tender yet 
 absent expression, which gave evidence that her 
 thoughts were far away. At the sound of her 
 mother's voice Ursa woke from her reverie, with 
 a start and a bright smile.
 
 344 FORTUNE'S BOATS 
 
 " I 'd forgotten the story ; I was so busy think- 
 ing," she said. " I '11 not write any more now ; 
 instead, Mistress Mother," raising her arms OUT 
 her head, Ursula caught Mrs. Jeffrey as that lady 
 was going by, and pulling her face down kissed 
 her, " instead, please your ladyship, I 'in going 
 to sit with you, and help with the weekly mend, 
 and talk. An all-around-up-to-date girl," with a 
 roguish glance at her mother, sewing was not 
 one of Ursa's strong points, " should know how 
 to patch and darn as well as to write, should n't she ? 
 And now is my chance to take lessons, while Rufie 
 is away ; she sews so beautifully that I 'm always 
 ashamed to make my awkward attempts before 
 her. Let 's sit over here by the window." 
 
 Mother and daughter settled themselves near 
 the south window, in a cosy corner, which the 
 April sunshine made bright and warm ; and when 
 Ursula had hunted for and found " something 
 easy " to mend, the sewing began. 
 
 There was a short silence of industry, then, 
 dropping her work in her lap, and lounging for- 
 ward in the low chair with her hands clasped 
 loosely round one knee, Ursula remarked, " Mo- 
 theree, let 's talk about the family. You say you 
 read Ruffe's letter to Mamie this morning, and 
 I got such a nice long epistle from Judy, which I 
 have very stupidly forgotten in the office ; but you 
 shall read it to-morrow. Judy says so many lov- 
 ing and complimentary things about Itufie that I 
 intend to keep the letter and let that young person 
 read it, as a solace when she has torn herself away
 
 UNCLE GABE'S PARISH 345 
 
 from her twin and returned to us. I suppose Ruth 
 told of the arrival of the Austins in Oakland ? 
 Mother," Ursa turned a pair of big questioning 
 eyes upon Mrs. Jeffrey, " does n't it look odd that 
 the Austins should go out to Oakland, when Miss 
 Austin herself told us that her brother had been 
 there so often that he was tired of the place and 
 wanted never to see it again ? " Ursula threw 
 a cautious glance over her shoulder (which was 
 unnecessary, as this was one of the occasions when 
 Gretchen took an afternoon's airing), and dropping 
 her voice, resumed: "I think," with a sagacious 
 wag of her head, " it was Rufie that took them 
 there, and that Miss Austin would like to have 
 our Ruth for a member of her family, though I 
 should think she and he would both be afraid, 
 after their experience with Mamie. Doesn't it 
 seem as if I might be right ? " 
 
 Mrs. Jeffrey looked half pleased, half troubled. 
 " Perhaps you are right," she said. " In that case, 
 I do hope that Ruth will know her own mind 
 well"- 
 
 " You need n't trouble about that, mother," 
 broke in Ursula. " Rufie is n't changeable. If 
 she likes anybody, she likes them to the end ; and 
 I have a suspicion that she likes Mr. Austin 
 I mean a good deal. He is n't at all the man I 
 thought would suit Ruth, but how can one be sure 
 as to what would suit this one or the other ? Oh 
 dear ! then, if anything should come of that " 
 She paused, pulling down the corners of her mouth 
 dismally.
 
 346 FORTUNE'S BOATS 
 
 " Then I 'd have but one home daughter left," 
 finished Mrs. Jeffrey, smiling, but looking search- 
 ingly into the bright frank face uplifted to her. 
 *' And if that one daughter should marry say a 
 certain young organist in a Western city, why, then 
 your uncle Gabriel and I would have to live alone 
 and look after each other for the balance of our 
 days." 
 
 " Now, mother ! mother ! you know better than 
 that ! " cried Ursula vehemently ; dropping her knee, 
 she slipped to the floor and caught her mother's 
 hand and kissed it. " You know I 'm never going 
 to marry ; I 've told you so again and again, and 
 I mean it ! You mean Paul Rose, mother," Ursa's 
 honest eyes did not droop, though a wave of warm 
 red went over her face, and even her ears, " but 
 indeed, you are mistaken. Paul is my friend, my 
 good, firm friend ; he is n't one scrap in love with 
 me. He writes to me, and I 'm glad to get his 
 clever, interesting letters, and to know that he is 
 happy and contented in his work. He is doing 
 splendidly, mother ; and is twice the man that he 
 was when he went away to Cleveland. So you 
 need n't think you '11 get rid of me, mother mine," 
 Ursula nodded gayly. " I 'm going to be your old- 
 maid daughter, you know there should be one in 
 every family, and keep company with you and 
 uncle Gabe, and stay on at the Leader, and write 
 stories and novels, and " 
 
 Bending forward, Mrs. Jeffrey took the brave 
 sweet face between her two h:mds and kissed it 
 warmly. " You dear child ! " she said tenderly.
 
 UNCLE GABE'S PARISH 347 
 
 " Now, to go back to Judy's letter," remarked 
 Ursula, a little later, when she had resumed her 
 seat and the " easy " mending, which was not yet 
 half finished. " She said how delighted she was 
 to have Ruth with her can't you just imagine 
 their endless talks of home, mother? how she 
 wished we 'd all come to California and make her a 
 long, long visit what a dear good husband Basil 
 was, and how interested he was getting to be in the 
 charitable work that she has undertaken to help 
 with out there. He 's trying to induce some rich 
 men in San Francisco to go in with him in starting 
 a playground out there, to be like the one here at 
 Dedlock Street. That 's Judy's doing there was 
 a time when Basil never gave a thought to there 
 being poor people in the world ! What else was 
 in the letter ? Let me see oh the very best 
 of all ! Judy writes that Basil has promised he '11 
 bring her on to New York when Ruth returns in 
 June. Then, whether in city or country, we can 
 have a family reunion. Is n't that jolly to look 
 forward to? What did Rufie write to Mar- 
 garet ? " 
 
 " Well, you know Ruth is no scribe," observed 
 Mrs. Jeffrey, her fingers flying swiftly in and out 
 of her work as she talked. " Her letter was full 
 of affection for us all, but it was not very long. 
 In the briefest possible manner she described what 
 she called a 'grand' dinner that Judy had 
 given " 
 
 " That Rufie had given for Judy, she means," 
 laughed Ursula. " How Judy must have blessed
 
 348 FORTUNE'S BOATS 
 
 Rufie for taking all the bother off her hands! 
 Go on, mother." 
 
 ' Ruth writes that Maria Basil's mother is 
 very fond of Judith ; and she had given a lunch 
 party in honor of Ruth." Mrs. Jeffrey turned her 
 eyes upon the plants on the window-sill with a 
 slow, absent smile. " I can't imagine the Maria 
 Norton I used to know as enjoying living at a fash- 
 ionable hotel, and giving up-to-date lunch parties," 
 she said. " Maria was always lively, but devoted 
 to her home, and very plain and simple in her 
 habits. It only shows the change that years can 
 make ! Ruth mentioned the arrival of the Aus- 
 tins ; that Judy and she were enjoying every mo- 
 ment of their time together ; and that Count Ito 
 was flourishing. That was all. I am so glad that 
 Judy will soon come on I miss the child ! " 
 Mrs. Jeffrey sighed. 
 
 "Now, mother, don't sigh; except for Judy, 
 your girls are settled right close around you, and 
 just as happy as as 4 sandgrigs,' as Basil used 
 to say, whatever they may be ! " Ursula re- 
 minded her mother. " There 's Margaret, where 
 could you find a happier, more contented young ma- 
 tron than she is ? Basil's generous wedding present 
 has been of great comfort to her and Jim ; they 
 have a cosy home, and Jim is painting better and 
 better pictures ; and he considers himself the most 
 fortunate man in the world to have such a good 
 and beautiful wife. Now is n't that so ? " 
 
 " They are indeed happy," agreed Mrs. Jeffrey ; 
 " and I am most thankful for it ! "
 
 UNCLE GABE'S PARISH 349 
 
 " And where where in all the world could you 
 find a more beautiful love than exists between Jack 
 and Frances ? " went on Ursula, warming with her 
 subject. " A visit with them in their home always 
 sends me away the better and happier for it ! Jack 
 Rose is a noble-natured man, mother, and a man 
 that is doing great good in his generation, by the 
 firm tenacity with which he holds to that which is 
 right and honorable. Jack acts his principles in 
 his every-day life ; and for all that he 's so shy and 
 quiet, his influence reaches out and out and out in 
 directions that you 'd hardly expect. Why, every- 
 body in the office knows that Jack has had a big 
 share a bigger share than Driscal would be will- 
 ing to allow in making the Leader the clean, 
 * strong ' paper it is to-day. I feel it an honor to 
 have Jack for a brother ! " Ursula finished with 
 a little husky note in her voice. 
 
 Mrs. Jeffrey patted her daughter's shoulder. 
 " What a warm little champion ! " she said play- 
 fully, but with approval in her eyes. " Yes, Ursa, 
 Jack is a good man, and I, too, am proud of his 
 relationship to us. I have respect and admiration 
 for him, and a mother's love. And now, what 
 about my daughter Ursula ? how is she faring 
 these days ? " 
 
 "Well, she isn't faring so very badly," an- 
 swered Ursa, falling into her mother's mood. " The 
 young woman's first book was n't such a brilliant 
 success as her family predicted ; but at any rate," 
 with a nod toward the old desk where lay the sheets 
 of manuscript, " at any rate, it sold well enough
 
 350 FORTUNE'S BOATS 
 
 to justify Grove and Erveng in asking its author 
 for another story which they shall receive in due 
 time. And really, mother," there came a twinkle 
 into the girl's eyes, "remembering how sudden 
 success tried poor Du Maurier, it may be well for 
 me that my first book has not attained a wide 
 popularity. I might n't have stood the test as 
 Jack has with Robert Herrick; success might 
 have turned my head ; who knows ? Whatever is 
 is best ! Now I can write this new story without 
 any disturbing thoughts of a hungry public await- 
 ing it. So we 're all well off. And now that uncle 
 Gabe has at last a parish, our cup of joy is full ! " 
 
 " Well, you know the matter is n't quite settled 
 yet, though I expect it will be this afternoon," 
 Mrs. Jeffrey said. " Of course, it will be hard to 
 give up our comfortable apartment here ; but I 'in 
 so delighted for your uncle to have this parish that 
 I shall do no grumbling over the moving. We 
 could n't let him go and live out there alone." 
 
 " Oh, goodness, no ! " exclaimed Ursula, laugh- 
 ing; " tin- dear blessed man woidd forget to eat 
 or sleep or rest why, mother, he 'd simply die 
 for want of care ! Westerly is n't far from the 
 city, and I believe there are any number of trains 
 a day. There 'd be no trouble about getting in 
 and out of town ; and the girls and their husbands 
 could easily go to us. It would seem nice to 
 be in the country again I What kind of a parson- 
 age is he to have at Westerly nice ? " 
 
 l>rii-l (Ir-rrilH-.l everything in the most glow- 
 ing terms you know your uncle ! " Mrs. Jeil'rey
 
 UNCLE GABE'S PARISH 351 
 
 and Ursula laughed. " If there was nothing but 
 a barn in which to hold services, and a shed for 
 his home, Gabriel would be satisfied, and grow en- 
 thusiastic over them. But, you know, Fraucie and 
 Jack went with your uncle to Westerly when he 
 preached there, and from Frances to-day I learned 
 that the rectory is a very good house, small but 
 comfortable; and the church of stone, and very 
 pretty. There are some nice refined families in 
 Westerly, and a large number of poor people, most 
 of whom are employed in the silk-mills there. So 
 there '11 be work for us all. The senior warden, 
 Mr. Manchen, is a friend of your uncle's ; he called 
 this morning just after you 'd gone, and from what 
 he said, I judge that now it rests almost entirely 
 with Gabriel to accept the call. The congregation 
 at St. Philip's would like to have him in charge. 
 I think there 's no doubt whatever of his taking 
 the parish ; for years it 's been the dearest wish of 
 his heart to have one ! Poor fellow ! It '11 be a 
 good move for him ; that dictionary has kept him 
 very closely confined." 
 
 " lie does look thin," remarked Ursula. " But 
 whatever will become of the Hebrew and Italian 
 papers without him ? and his protege, and all 
 his constituents ? He '11 be asking them to West- 
 erly in detachments, all the summer long you '11 
 see!" 
 
 A sudden whir-r-r-r! of the electric bell startled 
 the two ladies, and sent Miss Weewee plunging 
 precipitously from the table to the front door, 
 where she sat and waited until it opened and Mr.
 
 352 FORTUNE'S BOATS 
 
 Kincaid appeared. After nibbing off some of her 
 superfluous hair on his trousers and getting almost 
 under his feet, pussy led the way with dignity into 
 the dining-room. 
 
 The little clergyman was looking thinner than 
 when, more than a year ago, he had officiated at 
 the Jeffrey weddings, and there may have been a 
 few more gray hairs in the fringe of hair that semi- 
 circled the back of his bald head ; but he entered 
 the room with his usual light step and a jaunti- 
 ness of manner that delighted the hearts of the 
 expectant sister and niece. 
 
 " He has actually got it ! " Ursula breathed, in 
 a rapid undertone ; and Mrs. Jeffrey exclaimed, 
 " Oh, Gabriel, tell us the good news ! " 
 
 Mr. Kincaid put his hands in his pockets and 
 jingled his keys merrily. There was a spot of 
 vivid red on each cheek, and in his near-sighted 
 eyes a peculiar brightness. 
 
 " Another remittance from Jared ! " he an- 
 nounced joyfully. "The third since he went 
 West the third ! I call that pretty good, don't 
 you ? " Sitting down at the table, he opened Jared 
 Watkins's letter, and slowly and proudly, with 
 hands that trembled, though only their owner 
 knew that, drew from it two crisp new bank-bills. 
 
 " But Westerly is " began Ursula, then 
 stopped at her mother's touch and her whisper of 
 " Let him tell it in his own way." 
 
 "Jared's account of himself is most encourajr- 
 
 O 
 
 'MIL:, most encouraging ! " declared the reverend 
 tit man. thawing the bills nervously through
 
 UNCLE GABE'S PARISH 353 
 
 his fingers. " And what my friend Maynard 
 writes corroborates this letter. Jared is keeping 
 straight and doing well, and his er expressions 
 of gratitude for the er few kindnesses I showed 
 him are really touching ! Poor fellow ! he has 
 been brought through deep waters deep waters 
 - up to the throne of Grace. He is keeping 
 straight and doing well doing well very well 
 in" 
 
 It suddenly occurred to Mrs. Jeffrey that her 
 brother was agitated, that he was talking against 
 time, and, ignoring her own advice to Ursula, she 
 leaned forward and addressed him. " Well, Ga- 
 briel," she said abruptly, almost sternly, "what 
 about Westerly ? " 
 
 Mr. Kincaid's hands shook so that the crisp 
 bills he held rattled. " Yes ; what about West- 
 erly ? " he repeated ; and some sudden intuition, 
 perhaps foreboding, made the two women cry out 
 together, " Did n't you get the parish ? " 
 
 Uncle Gabriel hastily pushed Jared's letter 
 and bills aside, and met the questioning eyes. " I 
 could have had the parish of course," he said 
 unsteadily, " but but I gave it away to some 
 one else." 
 
 "Uncle Gabe!" wailed Ursula; and, "To 
 whom ? ' ' briefly asked her mother. 
 
 Mr. Kincaid's face was deadly white save for 
 those two vivid spots on his cheek-bones, and his 
 eyes burned through his spectacles as he leaned 
 forward, with his arms extended before him over 
 the table, and answered, making an evident effort
 
 354 FORTUNE'S BOATS 
 
 at self-control, " To the son of Alexander 
 Onnsby." 
 
 Mrs. Jeffrey sprang from her chair, and, going 
 to the table, stood there looking down upon her 
 brother with an almost indescribable expression 
 on her face. She was very much moved. " What ! " 
 she cried, in a low, shrill whisper. "You have 
 given up your parish the only one that has come 
 to you in all these years given it up, after wait- 
 ing and longing for it until your heart was almost 
 sick and to Alexander Ormsby's son ! The son 
 of the only enemy you ever had in all your life, the 
 man to whom you were so kind, whom you trusted, 
 and who cheated you out of your valuable library, 
 out of your money who made you so poor that 
 you had barely enough with which to lay your wife 
 and boy in their grave, the man that tried to 
 blacken your good name I And you gave Alexan- 
 der Ormsby's son your parish ! Gabriel ! Gabriel ! 
 what 're you made of ! " 
 
 Ursula went swiftly and knelt beside her uncle, 
 laying her head lovingly against his shoulder. 
 
 Mr. Kincaid, however, paid no heed to her ; he 
 was still leaning on the table, looking up at his 
 sister. " * But I say unto you, Love your enemies, 
 Mrss them that curse you, do good to them that 
 hate you, and pray for them which despitef ully use 
 you and persecute you,' " he quoted slowly, with 
 lips that quivered. " You know Who said that, 
 they 're not empty words." 
 
 He bent his head for a moment, then lifted it 
 and told his story.
 
 UNCLE GABE'S PARISH 355 
 
 " 'T was n't easy to do 't was a hard struggle," 
 he said. " But now I 'm glad I did it ; for the 
 first time since since all that trouble, the sore, 
 hurt feeling against Ormsby has gone out of my 
 heart. It 's gone, thank God ! Ormsby's son was 
 on the train with me, and his wife a very frail- 
 looking woman with a consumptive's cough and 
 his four children ; they looked delicate, too. He 
 was more than shabby, seedy, indeed ; why," a 
 flash of uncle Gabriel's radiant smile played over 
 his lips for an instant, " I felt well dressed and 
 and positively affluent, when I heard his story. 
 He came up and made himself known to me. It 
 seems that Ormsby 's lost all his money, and this 
 young man and his wife 've both been ill ; he had 
 to give up his parish on that account, though he 
 is well now; and couldn't get another! As we 
 know," the little gentleman's face was losing its 
 tense lines, and recovering its own sweet brightness, 
 "as we know, parishes are not always to one's 
 hand. Ormsby's son had neither parish, home, 
 nor money. Somebody 'd offered him two rooms 
 rent free in a cottage at Westerly, and he was 
 taking his family out there had to borrow the 
 money for the railroad fare. He had n't enough 
 in his pocket to provide his children with more 
 than one day's food. And his boy, his youngest 
 boy, Etta, had eyes like my little son ! D' you 
 suppose I could withhold pity and help from him 
 when I saw that boy's eyes ? " 
 
 Uncle Gabriel's voice failed ; going to his side, 
 Mrs. Jeffrey drew his head upon her shoulder,
 
 356 FORTUNE'S BOATS 
 
 and she and Ursula wept with the little clergy- 
 man. 
 
 Those tears greatly relieved Mr. Kincaid's feel- 
 ings. In a very few minutes he sat up., and, after 
 blowing his nose with some emphasis, appeared 
 much more cheerful. 
 
 " Well, to cut a long story short," he remarked, 
 " before saying anything about it to Ormsby's son, 
 I went and talked the matter over with Man- 
 chen and one or two other influential men of 
 the parish that happened to be in the village, to 
 be sure they 'd be willing to accede to my plan. 
 The young man is a good preacher, and has an 
 excellent character, not like his father. Mny- 
 nard 's had an eye on this Ormsby for years, and 
 he 's kept me posted ; so I knew all about him. 
 After some trouble I succeeded in making the 
 exchange those people had taken a great liking 
 to me ! " A faint jingle of the keys was heard. 
 " But I did succeed. In a few days or a week 
 more, Ormsby's son will be in charge, and until 
 then Manchen has promised to look after the 
 whole family and see that they don't want for any- 
 thing." The little man did not add, as he might 
 have added, that he had insisted on emptying his 
 own slender purse into the hand of the senior war- 
 den for the use of " Ormsby's son." 
 
 " And that is the end of your long-sought par- 
 i>li ! '* Mrs. Jeffrey said sadly, but with her arm 
 across her brother's narrow stooping shoulders. 
 
 " Well, don't fret ; after all, this may be for the 
 best," returned Mr. Kincaid briskly. "I'd have
 
 UNCLE GABE'S PARISH 357 
 
 hated to leave my two papers, and to turn all 
 those poor Italians adrift. And there 's the dic- 
 tionary, too ; I owe a duty there." 
 
 " But it keeps you so closely confined, Gabriel ; 
 and besides, the dictionary won't last for very much 
 longer, and your income is so limited ! " Mrs. 
 Jeffrey said. 
 
 " I 'm most grieved to lose that pretty rectory, 
 and the church. I had quite made up my mind to 
 live in one and worship in the other," remarked 
 Ursula, who was stroking and patting one of her 
 uncle's hands. 
 
 Uncle Gabe's face clouded for a moment, then 
 as rapidly cleared and grew bright, and the hand 
 which lay on the table began drumming a rapid 
 tattoo. "I'm sorry," he said cheerfully. "But 
 I don't regret what I 've done. Another call may 
 come to me, another parish quite as fine as this. 
 And if it should n't, I 'm not afraid, the Lord 
 will provide for me. I can trust the future with 
 Him."
 
 prrw 
 
 EUctrotyfed and printed by II. O. Houghton & Co. 
 Cambridge, Matt, U.S. A.
 
 A 000 090 346 8