Part 54 (2/2)
And remember, if there should be any trouble whatever, call me at once,--in some way,--and I will drop everything and come.”
”Thank you! You are so good!”
He laughed softly. ”Good to myself!”
They sped along Edgewood Avenue, and the car stopped in the shadow of a great maple. Miss Sterling threw off her borrowed wrap.
He stepped to the ground and put out his arms. What could she do but walk into them!
”I will go in with you,” he said, as he set her gently down.
Her face was still aflame with his kisses when they entered the big door together.
Miss Sniffen met them in the hall.
”You are late,” she said with a half smile. ”Have you had an accident?”
”Oh, no!” Nelson Randolph answered. ”We went up to Bryston to dinner, that is all. Miss Sterling thought she had better return home early, but I coaxed her to keep on and find out how Belgian hare tasted.” He laughed lightly and said good-night.
Miss Sterling's foot was on the stair when the superintendent arrested her.
”You are too late for chapel,” she said severely.
”I was afraid I would be,” was the reply.
”This must not occur again. Do you know that Mr. Randolph is to marry Miss Puddicombe?”
”I heard so,” she smiled.
”The wedding-day is set!”
”So I was told.”
”Did he tell you?”
”Oh, no! I heard it a good while ago.”
Miss Sniffen looked a little disappointed and turned down the hall.
Juanita Sterling closed the door of her room, struck a light, and threw her hat and coat across a chair.
On a small table a twin frame held photographs of a man and a woman.
She took it in both hands.
”Father, mother,--dears! do you know that your 'little girl' is happy?--happier than she has been since you went away?”
The last words broke in a sob; but the eyes that looked up into hers were smiling.
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