ither side, were sufficiently scattered to be secluded, and it was to
one of the most imposing of these that Uncle Eben guided the
automobile. He crossed the creek on a primitive but substantial bridge,
turned to the right, and the first driveway led to the house that was
to be Mary Louise's temporary home.

"This is lovely!" exclaimed the girl, as they rolled up a winding drive
edged by trees and shrubbery, and finally drew up before the entrance
of a low and rambling but quite modern house. There was Aunt Polly, her
round black face all smiles, standing on the veranda to greet them, and
Mary Louise sprang from the car first to hug the old servant--Uncle
Eben's spouse--and then to run in to investigate the establishment,
which seemed much finer than she had dared to imagine it.

The main building was of two stories, but the wings, several of which
jutted out in various directions, were one story in height, somewhat on
the bungalow plan. There was a good-sized stable in connection--now
used as a garage--and down among the oaks toward the river an open
pavilion had been built. All the open spaces were filled with flowers
and ferns, in beds and borders, and graveled paths led here and there
in a very enticing way. But the house was now the chief fascination and
the other details Mary Louise gleaned by sundry glances from open
windows as she rambled from room to room.

At luncheon, which Aunt Polly served as soon as her young mistress
could be coaxed from her tour of inspection, the girl said:

"Gran'pa Jim, who owns this place?"

"A Mrs. Joselyn," he replied.

"A young woman?"

"I believe so. It was built by her mother, a Mrs. Kenton, some fifteen
years ago, and is still called 'the Kenton Place.' Mrs. Kenton died and
her daughter, who married a city man named Joselyn, has used it as a
summer home until this year. I think Mrs. Joselyn is a woman of
considerable means."

"The furnishings prove that," said Mary Louise. "They're not all in the
best of taste, but they are plentiful and meant to be luxurious. Why
doesn't Mrs. Joselyn occupy her home this summer? And why, if she is
wealthy, does she rent the place?"

"Those are problems I am unable to solve, my dear," replied the Colonel
with a smile. "When old man Cragg, who is the nearest approach to a
real estate agent in the village, told me the place was for rent, I
inquired the price and contracted to lease it for the summer. That
satisfied me, Mary Louise, but