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. '.■/■.;■ > • w ES," said a girl's Tolce, "we * • 7 I are devoted to animals In I j this house." >->] "Meaning dogs?" said a <L— I man Eitting on the other side of the hearth. "Well. yes. meaning: cats dogs ar.d horses, and anything else that comes under the category of domestic animals. Living in Queen's House crescent, and having no carriage, be cause we have all our work cut out to keep Queen's House-crescent going ■without that luxury, means having no horses. We had them once — we haven't got them now. But we have two dogs and three cats." "And you ' like cats best?" per sisted the man. "No. I don't know that I do. I like all animals, just as I do the majority of people. I am quite devoted to Oscar, and Oscar is equally devoted to every one of us. Oh, yes, we have had him a long time, six or seven years. Little Tim we took in out of the street one bit ing March day. The maid who brought him in thought he was not up to much. I saw, as eoo n as I cast my eye over him, that he would turn out a beauty. And so he has — not only a beauty, but the monarch of Queen's House erescent." -"&fi$£ptt "And the cats?" "Oh, the cats! Well, there's Motri., m , vmr . mtim wenna, she's a black lady of no partic ular value, Just a piece of ordinary English black velvet, guaranteed never to go off color, and warranted to wear well. Then there's a blue Persian, whom we call Arbuthnot Woods. He is a person of value, and a gentleman of fortune, possessing real property in the shape of silver cups, medals and collars. But the pride and darling of my heart is Maudie Marguerite." "MaudJe Marguerite Is a cat?" said the men. Tes. I suppose an unfeeling person would call her a cat." "Oh," cried another voice. Just be yond the ring of light cast by the fire. "EfBe believes in a rather queer creed •where her animals are concerned. She believes they all have souls." "And eo do you," .rejoined EfBe. "And eo I do. I love my animals; they are always the same, they never turn on one, they are never spiteful. If they do by chance happen to scratch or bite, they neve^ mean it." "And Maudie Marguerite is a Per sian?" "Tee, a Persian.". "Blue?" "No, not blue. She is a golden tabby with amber eyes," Eflle Harkaway re plied. - The voice from the big chair beyond the ring of light ' broke In again. "MautJie Marguerite is a very nice Per sian tabby, what is i ordinarily known among tshow people as' a French long haired cat." "Nothing of the kind," rejoined Effie. "She's a rich golden-brown color, heav ily marked with black, with eyes of amber. French tabbies, as a rule, have eyes like green jade, and Maudie.Mar- ; guerite has none of the usual marks of a French tabby."*. "As how?* "Well, a French long-haired tabby usually has very long : limbs, and : a larger head than you find in the major ity of Persians, and they, are gray and black, without .any; tawny tints. ;This little cat is squarely made, thick In. her body, rather 6hort and : stumpy, on her legs. Her feet are not ': very ' small' and have tufts of black fur between :. the toes. She has a bushier look than you usually find in a French cat.- ' On - her forehead the black marks -make a'dis tinct M on the tawny, background, ■which is the reason we have called her Maudie Marguerite." - • by offering a consideration for short stories equal to that paid: byxtHe* ! r/^^; ';/;/:■• •'.;.• " }!y -.\.^. ':;:[.:"< L\ ;,■':■■:' \'/\ll<y- story will be considered that is less 'than 3500 nor more than best magazines, and for the purpose of bringing young and unknown $?*- f? W W^ &0^ J&^^L *?£% f "^kJP'' 35cp wprds in length. The length of the story must be marked in writers to the front, the Sunday Call announces a weekly fiction con- ' iysil R ".iff Hjf H . B §S l| war if plain figures. ■ • • • test in which a cash prize of $50 will be paid each week for the best U fit W^ JT^ J& $sJ§ Jl *%'*& £k%±». $/ t u • • * . . „«. story submitted. There is no section of America more, fertile in "ma--/"' .; • ■ ; ™* •■ . ** . . In the selection of stones names will not count. The unknown terial for fiction or more prolific in pens gifted to Rive' spirit ito the --■•-'■■ ■-■ . -■.-.'.. writer will have the same standing as the popular author, material at hand than is California and the West. Therefore; the Sun-- ,. . g . ; " ''*>.■*»! *H day Call offers S50 for the best story submitted each week by a West- J*M}&s. f8®5ST ; -"'-;JHHifc"-' v ■ IMf&WAB^ As one of the obi'ects of the Sunday Call is to develop a new corps ern writer. Stories of Western life and Western' characters will, as a \. «*f^«g2». ■ ffiPr®^ ~ '^^BP'HHi • ' t#PBllk of Western writers no stories under noms de plume will be considered- rule, be given the preference, but all strong stories, and especially : % . ; M*™; Wi ' ifliMl a story earns publication it will be well worth the writer's name. strong stories, by new writers, will receive careful, consideration. fiSlal&w fiffifil^' ' 1W H3 ' ■ JhML^ " f ;Vf ;"'*": l\/ Each story will be iudeed strictly upon its literary merit. Type- • '^j ;^^Bfel -Stories not accepted will be returned at once.. Those selected written copy is the easiest to read and will receive the first consider- h« jfl%£a pa 131 H^'finfl tart KpeS will be published one each week. . ation from the editor, but do not hesitate to send a story in hand- ' *lg£knJtt • *BBBlJS& '' ' WttifliMffl "■ v writing if you cannot afford to have it typewritten. - ■ ' ' AJI81^ r-v V^BHHr ' This fiction contest will be continued indefinitely. Fifty dollars in cash for a story of not less than 2500 words and • B •' -..". ' • - '■■.. \\/i not more than 3500 words is approximately $17 per thousand words, -."'.' — . : ' , —•:;<' >\ An? author may submit as many manuscripts as he desires, but no or 1.7 cents per word. The highest price paid by the leading magazines - ;^- •■'-' ■ ■•--^'c,.i,^iri *^ i.%1 ■' - - - '■ ■ ■■ ■■ ■-■" ; ■'• writer will be permitted to win more than three prizes during the for the work of any but the very best, writers is rarely more than !r~ % r ■« • • .^"OWlUea IO Ilie'~ ., ...... . ; contest. ' - two cents a word, more often one cent and a half, and generally one ■ ' "^ ' c '■• '- 1 - ~: ■■-. -£•- "■'-... '■ '■'■■■ • : ' - 1 . " cfnt. With the majority of maeizines the writer, after his storv is ac- Ha' • B^ HlH 'H?^' *%JP d^^* J&k f? H Always inclose return postage. No manuscripts will be returned ceptcd, is compelled to wait until the publication of his story before » II i%8' a W &J&, H^ H £jb m H ' un^ss accompanied by return postage, •he is paid, a period of seldom less than six months, and usually from %Jp £ >Q ®Jr &iki M A^%k i&m*f ".>/•: • X/1II . nine months to a year. , The stories accepted in this contest will be ; . t.V , > . ... ; ; *■"'■, - ... „ ■•""". :^. '^ .-^^T *F mr -. Write on one side of paper only; put name and address legibly on paid for immediately upon publication, and will be published on the : ; ' . -"- v -' ~ : --^- •■■•' • ' ----- ■• ■ •■■ ■■ •- ,. l ast pa ge, and address to the SUNDAY EDITOR OF THE' CALL, first Sunday following the rodfing of the week's manuscripts. *- -:^'>^*M«m-SrSiv' - v '.- ; —ai- " ' SAN FRANCISCO, CAL: : ' .' v ■'■■ '. •*-'! /v ;.. -.'-, j " . V : ... ."'■'■- "May I see this paragon?" asked the man." . ; '; . '. ■_ ;';-,' ■' ' "Certainly; I shall be. proud. to show her to you*. :" Stay here and f talk;tbGer aldine, and I will find the Altogether Adorable.": : \ ; ; •„ ; The girl whisked out, of her big chair and crowed the big studio toward the door. '■;.:_ ;: ■- :.• ' . . ■'; " ...\ ■"Turnron the lights as. you go out, Effle," said Geraldlne, and in a moment' •half : :-a" dozen '-electric flight*,' delicately, shaded, flooded the apartment with a delightful radiance. Geraldlne Harka way got up from her lounging chair and went nearer to the fire. "You -have started her on her pet subject. Mejor Bruce," she said, laugh ing a little. - "Effle is mad on animals." "And children?" he put in. ' "Yes, I think, she would be very kind to children . if , they came in , her .way. They do not come very much In our way. | Three sisters and a brother living together, all grown up, we haven't a cousin in the world,MS,nd most of our friends are Bohemians like ; ourselves. Somehow \ we know -very .little about children. we lived in France we always gave to the Little Sisters who came begging for the orphanages, and now we are In London wq, send some thing at this time of the year— as, much as we can afford— to one of the recog nized ways of entertaining the ." poor kiddles, and taking them out of their squalid surroundings. So these cats and dogs of ours fill d very real.want In our lives. 1 do not know myself that Maudle Marguerite is all, as a beauty,*. that Effle, describe* her... .You may think her ' a' very, ordinary ' epeci-, men of a longrhalred tabby. 1 ; " "A golden tabby' wilh anioer eyes," Major Bruce .repeated," in: a musing tone. : "It Js a pretty description, Miss Geraldlne." ;' "Yes, .very pretty. I arh^raintlng her portrait I like , painting,; animals. I would i rather be ,* , a C< second -i Madame Ronner for, choice,*,' you ' l:now, than I would' paint; the* portraits Tor 'fair, fat anti . forty,' everi if . I got • paid ; in three figrurea for : every one of r r them. See, there It ', is,!! the said, . pointing ; to V a half -finished portrait of : a .. cat ; on : an easel nearby.. .\j^ . « /. - Major'. Bruce' "got'up* and leis urely across the hearth to get a better look at the, picture. "Your, work Is un commonly v; strong -• and :. uncommonly Rood. I shouldn't ■ be a'- bit .: surprised if you turned out a second Madame Ronner. By the bye, MiS3 Geraldlne, have you ever tried your hand " at horses?" "I :have." r . ■ . "I wish you, would take. a commission from me." I have got a favorite charger, -who was with 1 me all through^ the war Most of the -fellows *left \ their foui: footed friends behlni ! 'yheri. they came home. I .was lucky, enough- to keep mine ; with me all the \time. i He < was never sick or sorry? hj. single day, and more than - once - he- saved - my -life.".™. "I should love, to paint him for you." said Geraldine 'Harkaway/ . "Do you want a big picture or a liitle one, a THREE INCHES OF SNOW fancy picture or a: portrait?". ' "Oh, I want a portrait, absolutely '.a postralt. A respectable Bize— as big as that," 'pointing to a large canvas -that stood: against. the wall. , .-• "All i fight. I shall ; have ■: to come •, to his stables. and paint him ' in the yard. there is nowhere here to pose an anir mal of. that, size."*:? '..';•: ..'■' . _^ . . "I will , make ; every .'. arrangement,'-' said Major; Bruce. >-" VI think I;can;par range • for - you ; to ; ' * ' ■■■-" patnt I him : under cover. You could not, possibly .-Y:' isit outside this weathr er.' There is a; feel- ing of snow In the air to-day, / It Ms nippingly cold with a sting in the wind ! which always be tokens the same thir, b . ,,,.. ''Well," Bald Geraldlne, "if ,you,can ™L arran se -tor-- me to . work under Smfj \ e u could walt tm the weather Is a little bit more genial.!' ' •''. rv w*!? 8 '^?* 1^ Is np particular, hur £■«'♦ t u * ' Mlss E ffle— oh ! : haven't you got the cat?" ;-;••-, . "Oh. I can't • flnd her anywhere.^ I have searched the house. from top to bottom." n S1 J!1, Is hIdIn ff somewhere," said Geraldlner "you know what a mis chievous thingr she is. ■ Last njght' we looked for her everywhere.'- literally from roof to cellar.. V We madei up -our minds that she had -gone— gone -for 1 ever, and where do you think we found her? - . , : - ■■ • / "Nay, how can I tell." ■ .VWell, she was curled . up in a big china bowl on the top of that; press— in that bowl./ She might have stayed there for a week,">we should never have thought of looking^ there for her" but my .brother came in to put. out the lighta and saw; the -lady emerge from her hld'.ng place." >-f ' .; 4 • v. < //Perhaps she Is there now," fiuggested Effle.. I , : " • ' ■ ■' . BUtthe, Altogetheri'Adorable was not hidden ;in the bigchina bowl. * Presently, Major Bruce took his leave with a .promise ; to ' come back the ' next Rfternoon to tell. Geraldine .what ar rangemehts'he had been' able ' : to i make for the commission '.which* he had 'Just given -her. • .*."". v, ? ' : - ; ':-7'l s 7 . "Gerrie,'.' , said . Eflle, when ' the- door had -closed behind hinv '/tliafs-a nice manl?.; „ :■■.': ',..'•:. ■ ;. : ' ■■'-■; .- : ". .; ; '.-.- '.'He is a nice man. ■ lit has jiisfgiven me'a'CQmm".s$ioni"£ ;";.''; •' "A'comnitgHion??,.' v' ; / jj.. \~S., r^l^'.^ iVA'Mt to paint a favorite charger that wan I. ail - through the; war , with him '-' * "Didi-you settle. a" price?"" j'No.^we never, mentioned it. "I. have never, painted a hprse as a commission,' ar.d'I shall ,leave»th.e price tp him." ' "I think you'can. very, safely do that/' said : Blffle, with* a I, light laugh.' Their confidences '. were disturbed by the "en trance of Winifred, x the i third of " the Bisters.'-' \ ';; . •. -:?•<../■] ■-■■■>---.:/■ , '.'Qh, roy; dears, how cold j It" \la." said she. "I have never , been out-on such THE SAN -i FRANGISGO SUNDAY, GALIl a bitter' day In. the whole . course of my .life.. ■:■ By the c way, I hope '= you '.two; won't mind. ; Ihave invited Dickie Mid- , • dletoh ; tor &p'end v : Christmas ■•_ day. ■ with us.V -.:: ' ; :?iX? '■'■>"' '■'■••■'-'■ '■ •*"• ■*■.'-"■:■■' r t '.'Dickie, Middletori! Why? 1 ! : -'. , . .: . . ; 'i/Oh.l because 'he; was so lonely jand* so'; wretched; ,",He thbught;he' was gof ; . inBr-ydown | into }the country.' but vthe. . people ■ he was going to have got \ scar-" ..lot fev<?r,,and..JDickle.was so ineffably- .miserable pt the V Idea of spahding Christmas at his club." V "AH right,: the. more. the merrier. We might 4iave askedi* Major/Bruce." . .'--That was what he' was spelling for. Why didn't you?" : ' "Why didn't I? Well, I knew he was spelling far it." "You might just . as .well. All ; alone, poor chap, .with 5 not a soul to speak to; on/, leave— not ; even ;? his ;,reslment to cheer him up, poor; fellow!" v "Oh, weJj,"- said Winifred, easily, Vit is a very simple 'matter to rectify that. I will drop him a note to-night and tell him'if he has5riothing"'better r to dd."'^.' can put in~* Christmas day here. I shouldn't ba a' bit sUrprised if we; have • a white' Christmas. t;Itiwas. beginning i to snow I when I came, in,, and the, cold" is something horrible." . , - : t In due course : of "time the three:girlH sat down; to dinner.. RoyjHarkaway, - the brother,- who lived with; them,7and> was, as Eflle put.it; their, greatest pal,^ was dining ouUthafnight.iBo'the three;, sisterssat at the < round! table together. ■ It was . at the: end' of * the m'eal,"r when .: the smart parlor •* maid brought lnUhe ' .coffee, that the"subject of Maudle Mar guerite came "uppermost. : "If: you 'please, Miss,", said the maid, addressing, herself to Maudie Margue-: rltbV owner, "we "cannot find : Maudle. Marguerite anywhere." •« ,,. i',-^^ M'-'And jl canndf find .her. anywhere; % Simpson," ; Effle?replled.% '.'Youido not think she has got out?" i r^ ; .'.■'■ >. v:i 'T-. don't iknbwfwhenf she^could jhaya jgot r out.VrShe'haa not'beenidown.in the ; kitcheh since lunch time.- She generally: icomes doWii"forJhe'r,hot milk . at!after;\ i>rioon,;rteatime.'**:;I have never;? known : her" to".ieayeitvyo" meals and ".hear, two, ,be\la without!: coming^ for; her ■ food: ■ , I havesearched'all over. the.' house. Miss Kffie. Kllen^arfd'I have .been searching ; while. you; were at dinner. We haven't .left a corner. V'j^^SBB^HSWiBBBBBBbBB ■ Then the 'hue and: cry -began, but It . i was : very.;: soon u evident, that , Maudie ' Marguerite. . was .i missing. ;.' There was , no; lack of interest' in- conducting the ■ search: ;\The -house .was 'carefully :gone; over Z fromT" roof * to t- basement. • : E very i( -.drawer^; and .wardrobe i»> searched,^ - every ■ basket * and* box Vas opened; • but there was '■ no Maudie Marguerite. •'■• ■-:■'• ■ "■■:■■..■■•■• ; ; - ii.' ■ :■■-■-■• ;; '.': There :was ■ desolation and woe ; in the hqn&e of ; Harkaway; for.when the cold arirti' wintry.*. morn';- broke upon a white worlds the- Altogether ; ; Adorable was still:'.? missing from her ' accustomed place.'-; \-'/ : '\ ' '. '.":. ."- -.." --. : ' -'-.-:?/ ,T "Three' inches of snow," said Effle, when : she ' same down ■ to bre.akf ast— ."threi inches of .snow! , And that little If creature, i who , has ||Tneyer-b«eh xput in « the 7' cold ' In - her hffe^out Vin this!'*; v-andi she; flunk her ifhands' out with a traffic gesture. "Oh,, she crept in sornewfcere," paid Geraldine. - X "Oh,; /yea, into ; a:V ; ■ ' : a" some coal hole some damp, evll.sinelllng coal hole." That's better than' the snow and wind," said 'Winifred.. . "Oh, It is . a ; poor beat. No warm milk; no basket lined with -warm-flan nel. The best: is a damp, dark, noieoma coalhole.";. -Sk^Ml? % : "The question , Is," said Geraldine, whatareyou going; to do?" VTo do? :i I;don't, know what to do. Shall --I /make-' a, pilgrimage' to alt the houses in * Queen's " , House-crescent, ring up the servants, with apologies, say ? ci\;il ; things, > only to be : told : that ;th«y ■ haven't ; Been ■ her,* but they'll , send her i homei if ' they < do'— i know." ' -"I Should certainly go to all the houses in the Crescent," said Winifred, sensibly. ;;.:.^; ; '^'*; : ,, : ',r: : V^--- " "'■■.■<£;'< v"I will.'f cried Effle.* .■ "I will go : - to every one but No. 16. -I won't go to No. i6.v ■ ».•••; ""Why hot No. 16?" " \,"Oh, the;. mari'^mightr' think I was making an excuset~-'!~ -^ i> , _ ; "I don't think," ;"s'aid Geraldine, v ."that he looksithat kind'of^manrJI^thlnkhe is;a;painter, orhe wouldn't have taken' a-houseVwith such i a*, big : studio!-.Be sides,' you:wouldn't seo him. 1 ' "■' '■ '-:., - "I saw. him \ the - other,; day? as I ;• was going dov.n the street,'.'. said Effle. '.'-"Hb looked 1 at rae'ln such' an odd way— as If « he • knew /me." ! /, :* - r -.-;r.- - v»,, ; "Or/ as I if " he ■ wanted to know you ?" put; in <,,-- ;-,;v.. ■• ; , V Well; • yes— as If : he wanted to "„ know me/| No,t no,; I ; wouldn't go to No: 16— noit not 5 for,? the world!" . •S "Then":? there's another thing ,you might .^ do. /'Put r bill in -every shop window "all. round the neighborhood."- * of :bill? Printed?" -. . : "Have it j printed If you : like, jbut ' you could; 1 do' iti.wlth ai,brush, and -some sepia. ;, Gerrle ; might • draw* a * portrait from , memory : of poor ; Maudie 1 Margue rite.".-:.:. . ,.,' . -_ : ■;, V'l wish,'' . .flashed Kffle, , "you wouldn' t; make > & Joke iof .; it; ,- We " shall never get her ' back^lf Jyou ; make; a Joke of. it^very.influence:ls'agalnst'Jt." ■-■/•"Oh^nonsehso!" •; c^ied „ at which? Geraldine, shot a warning | glance at 'her.tmeaning. that. Effle,. the pet and baby.'of the estabHshment;]must notlbe teased, on * subject which lay so near , her heart. -It was Geraldlne who sketched out half a dozen descriptions of the Alto gether. Adorable, using a big brush and making a very effective placard; it was Guraldlne who helped Effle in her in .quiripe, and in going round the shops whjch were nearest to Queen's House crescent; and it was Geraldine who. when the, pilgrimage from one end of Queen's House-crescent. to the othar wos completed, suggested that she should go across and make inquiries at No; 16. • ' • . '. "No, not No. lB-^not for the world,", said Effle. ' ;"But I should only speak to the parlor maid, and I have seen her several times before." > ' '"No. not No. 16. I have a feeling against it." ifs$&9p9B©Sfel! "Oh, if you have a feeling 1 against it. that "is another matter.". -; •.:■;. Arid -so the sisters ;went into the house again, and at lunch, as' had been the cast at breakfast", time, the. lost Maudie Marguerite was 'the one topic of conversation. _.' It was Christmas morning, Christmas ■ in dirty London. Ths "church bells were ringing through the snow, which was trying very hard to" make the world re splendent, and to cover up the dirt and; misery of a London winter. The tr^cs !n the moon-shaped ihclosure which gave Queen's House T crescent Its name were white and .dainty, but the roads and pavements were in an inde scribable state of squalid-looking, half frozen mud. Christmas, day ; was qjilte spoilt for the Harkaways. The; great pile of letters and parcels .which arrived about 11 o'clock w«re ' as v Dead ' Sea fruit, because Effle was. so unhappy at the absence of the Altogether Adorable.; "Come, we may as well enjoy our* presents," said Winifred. "Oh, yes," chimed in Geraldine; "come. Effle, there's a present for. you . from Bobby. Myers." "Yes, I. see there's something from . Bobby Myers. I will open "Hi oh, yes, .1 .will "open it. "I wonder If *I: were to put a- bill in the window— what do you think?" . "Oh, my dear, there! will be nobody passing." "I have a feeling that if I were to put a bill in the window— Gerrie, write me a bHl." , .; . , . ■•; So Geraldine left her parcels and quickly fashioned a bill setting forth a brief description of the lost adorable, one. "I shall put it in the dining-room window,"'. said Effl«, "and then every one who passes will read it. Half the. shops are shut to-day." .."Of course," they are all shut, and only some of them will keep their win dows open." Away went Effle, carrying the- sheet of paper in her hand. "Poor Effle, , I do wl?h Maudie Marguerite would turn up, or. »!yen if she's ..dead, that,, we knew," said' Geraldine pitifully, as, the door, closed 'behind her, younger sister. ."She i wlir turn up," said Winifred.' "Mark my words; she will turn up. But, all .the /same,' even: if she. do«sj- two ■ nights out : In this , horrible weather are enough U-. to :: 'finish oft a little delicate creature like i that." '< ■ Then Effle; came "in again, and, with .the, feeling of ; having taken one more step toward \ the recovery of , Maudle Marguerite.' began to .open her letters with < more | zest than :she had •■ shown so far. .'They had not finished their.pleas ant, task before a great peal came at ' the front door.\ ' "-/ , '. "That's Major Bruce,". said Winifred. vwas;not ; MaJor, Bruce; ;; on .the ; con-" tran'.Simpson^ broadly 'smiling, usher ed in the young man from No. 16 carry ing Sunder * his * arm .' a ; very 'sleek and prosperous-looking Maudie Marguerite. •'"T think' this is 'your 'property." he - said, as he' advanced into \ the studio. He lqoked from: one to, the other of the Uhree sisters, not- ; knowing, whom .to pointedly address. Effle rushed forward and > seized . Maudie Marguerite in her arms. . - "Oh; my. little duck, my darling! Oh. where did' you find, her? We know who =- you 'a re; but we don't know your name. You live at Not ' llaHHHHPH . "Yes," teaid ; the young man. ■ laughing: a little. ,"I ido; live at No. . 16, and my " parpe i« Carthew.v • * "Cafthew!" echoed the ~ three sisters in the sunle breath. "Geoffrey Car 1 the w ?" ."The: same, ladles, at ypur. service. . You ' see. I am ' beforehand with ; . you/. I , know your name. .- 1 . have not been in England lonp. and I have been abroad for so long that I scarcely know.a soul in London. I am very bold, very, im- pertinent, but may I say 2 am very glad this little pet of yours was lost, because It has been the means, If you will allow it so. of introducine us." "Oh, yes, of course," cried Geraldide, ■who was an artist before everything else-^'of course, we are only too de lighted to make your acquaintance. Sure 1 - Maudie Marguerite's . introduc tion Is good enough for anybody." "Do you call her Maudie Margue rite?" Goeffrey Carthew inquired. "Yes. that is her name, but we almost always call her the Altogether Ador able." **And she belongs to you?" "No, to my sister here. She !s pet to all of us, but she belongs to Effle." "And do tell me," said Effle, finding her voice at last— "do tell me, how did you find her?" "Well, it was like this. I. was coming home the night before last, quite late, when I ran against this little creature in the station entrance." "The s cation entrance?** "I saw it was a kitten of value — I know something about cats— and it was much too cold and wet and slushy to be dawdling about trying to find its owner, so I carried it home.""" "Was she wet?" said Effle, in an anxious voice. !v "Wet! She was th» most miserable little specimen of a kitten I ever saw in my life. Her legs were like sticks, she was wet through, and her com plainings were pitiful to hear." ' "What did you do with her?" Effie cried. "Well. I handed her over to my housekeeper. She, I believe, practically washed her and dried her in a blan ket-'.* "Did she really?" "Something of that kind. She was stuffed with hot milk, and I really be lieve she had a little brandy and water, but certainly before I went to bed she was dry and warm ana perfectly com fortable. I see," he said, abruptly changing the subject, and making a gesture toward the easel nearest > to him, ; "you have an artist here." i "That is my sister," said Winifred, indicating Geraldlne. - . '.'I*- .must congratulate you. on. the strength of your work— this is an ex cellent bit of draw ing." He lingered for some time over Geraldlne's can vases, and then Major Bruce cam© in with Roy Hark away, and the story of Maudie Mar guerite's . recovery was told over again. Roy's thanks were added to those ' of his sisters. "We are awful fools about animals here." he said, as he grasped Geoffrey Carthew's hand. "By Jove! ■ If you want to make new friends, you could not have a better way of introducing yourself." v fEgj|g "I do want to make new friends,** said Geoffrey, look ing straight into th»* eyes of the other. "I have been out of England for ten years. I don't know half a dozen men at my club: hardly a soul in, London and know of the family life nothing at all." "Then where are you going to spend to-day?" said Effle. "Oh. my servants want to be off on their, own account, so I shall go to my club." . . "The brother -and sisters looked- at each other, and then Winifred said. with ; a pretty, elder sisterly air, "Mr. Carthcw — er, would you mind — I don't quite know — would you care— won't you come and dine with us? We are hav ing . a kind of free-and-easy day. Ma jor Bruce has come now. We are go ing to do all sorts of silly things this afternoon, and sillier things this even- Ing. i We made a bargain with our servants that we should look after our selves to-morrow. Do stop — take, us as we are." • • "I "should love to." • • • A year had gone by. again it was Christmas day. Winifred Harkaway sat -at the very late breakfast table reading her letters. "Here's another for you, Roy," she said, throwing the missive ■ over to wher* her. brother was sitting. ."Oh, It's from Gilbert," and he put ,the letter down beside him and went' on reading the closely written sheet in his - band.'ssJKnHqp •* -•'■ /'"Have you had a letter from Gerrle this ."morning?" he asked. . "Ob, yes. She is worrying a little at our'being left alone together, you and I, Roy." : "Well, It's scarcely alone." "Not alone at all." said Winifred-- "I must write and tell Gertie how the lunch goes off at No. 16, and how the dinner goes off here to-night. Only think, a year ago to-day ther» were four of us, now Gerrie Is Mrs. Brrfce, and wintering in Egypt, and Effle. in spite of her determination not to give the man at No. 16 the smallest encour agement, la Ooeffrey Carthew's wife. 'What a funny world it is!" "There's just one thing:." said Roy. "If you want to get married. Win. you had better set up your matrimonial t*nt hare, and I can stay, on as your : lodger." "And If you." said Winifred, blushing a r fine and rosy red, "if you should be thinking of getting married, Roy " "Hullo!" said Roy, "there's* Eme com ing across the road with Maudie Mar guerite under her arm."