gold. A low stone wall divided
it from the beach which led to the sea.

It was early morning. In an elegant boudoir, whose oriel window
overlooked the garden, sat three young ladies, respectively, Bessie
Glenn, two-and-twenty; Gertie Glenn, twenty; and Eve Glenn,
eighteen--all dark-eyed, dark-haired, and handsome, yet each of a
distinct different type.

"I declare, Bess," cried Gertie, indignantly, twisting the telegram
she held in her hand into a wisp, "it's from Uncle Jet! Guess what he
says!"

"I couldn't possibly," yawns Bess, from the depths of her easy-chair;
"it's too much trouble."

"Is it about Alice?" questioned Eve, maliciously.

"Yes," replied Gertie; "but you are to try and guess what it is."

"Why, I suppose some stranger has chanced to flutter down into the
quiet little village of Elmwood, and Alice thinks it her duty to stay
there and capture him."

"That isn't it at all," snapped Gertie. "Uncle Jet says Alice can not
come; but he has taken the liberty of sending another young lady in
her stead, and hopes Miss Daisy Brooks will be the right person in the
right place. She will arrive on the twentieth, at nine A. M."

Eve jumped to her feet in actual astonishment, and even Bessie dropped
her novel, with widely opened eyes.

"Just fancy some tall, gaunt old maid of a companion, with such a
name!" she cried, raising her eyebrows and picking up her book again.
"I think you will find the daisy a rather ancient and faded flower."

"She couldn't be anything else," assented Gertie.

"Wouldn't it be fun if she should turn out to be young and pretty, and
take the shine off both of you?" laughed Eve, puckering up her mouth.
"I would enjoy it immensely!"

"Eve, will you hold your tongue?" commanded Bessie, sharply.

"You'd better hold your temper!" retorted Eve.

"Pshaw! what's the use of being so silly as to quarrel over a Miss
Nobody?" cried Gertie, stamping her pretty slippered foot. "Guess what
else is the news."

"Haven't I told you I despise guessing?" cried Bess, angrily. "It is
not good form to insist upon a person's guessing--please remember
it."

"Write it down on ice," said Eve, _sotto voce_, mimicking her elder
sister's tone.

"Well," said Gertie, with a look of triumph, "I drove over to Mrs.
Lyon's yesterday to see how everything was progressing for that
contemplated marriage, and, lo! she informs me the wedding is
postponed for the present, and Rex--handsome Rex--is coming home
a