g
the Ridgeville road and passing the house of the Brownes, where the
family were assembled upon the wide piazza, enjoying the evening breeze.
At a glance she singled out Daisy, who was reclining gracefully in an
arm-chair, with a pond-lily at her throat, relieving the blackness of
her dress, and Allen Browne leaning over and evidently talking to her.

As Miss McPherson drove very slowly, and looked earnestly toward the
house, which was at a little distance from the road, Mrs. Browne, who
was watching her, ventured down the walk, bowing half hesitatingly, for
she had never been on terms of intimacy with Miss Betsey, of whom she
stood a little in awe.

Reining up old Whitey, the lady stopped and waited until Mrs. Browne
came to her. Then, extending her hand, she said:

"You are welcome home again. I did not know you had come until I saw
your carriage go by, and the phaetons with Allen and a lady in it," and
she glanced toward Daisy, who, having heard from Allen that the stiff,
queer-looking woman in the buggy was her aunt, had arisen to her feet
for the purpose of getting a better view of her.

"Yes," Mrs. Browne began, "we got home to-day, and a more tuckered out
lot you never saw. Home is home, if it's ever so homely, I tell 'em. By
the way, I'm glad you happened this way. I was goin' to send you word,
I've brought home with me one of your relations, Mrs. Archibald
McPherson, your nephew's wife, and I hope you'll call and see her. She
is very nice, and so pretty, too. That's her in black."

"Ahem!" and Miss Betsey's thin lips were firmly compressed. "Ahem!
yes--Mrs. Archibald McPherson. Why is she in black?"

Then followed the story of the telegram received on the Celtic, and the
terrible shock it was to Daisy, who was for a time wholly overcome.

"Seems pretty brisk now," Miss Betsey said, glancing sharply toward the
airy figure now walking up and down the piazza with Allen at its side.
"Why didn't she go home at once to her daughter?"

"She did talk of it," Mrs. Browne replied, uneasily for she detected
disapprobation of her guest in Miss McPherson's tone. "I think she would
of went, but it seemed a pity not to see a little of America first. She
will not stay long, and I hope you'll call soon. I b'lieve you have
never been in my new house."

"No, I have not. Who, may I ask, is that tow-headed man, with his hair
parted in the middle?"

"Oh, excuse me," and Mrs. Browne brightened at once. "That is Lord
Hard