y a light case.
The boys would better not go over that way, and then they'll be safe
enough. Dr. Hofer has it in charge, so it will probably be all right."

"I suppose so; but I'm always afraid of it," said Louise uneasily. "I
hope they'll quarantine them, or something."

"Of course they will," said her father. "No doctor that's half a doctor
would let such a matter go unguarded. The board of health wouldn't allow
it, either," he added, in a tone of such decision that Louise accepted
his belief as final, and thought no more about the matter.

Ten days later she stood before her mirror, dressing for a _Mardi gras_
party at the Fishers'. For the past three weeks, this coming social
event had been the chief theme of conversation in Blue Creek; for,
taking place, as it did, at the very close of the season, it was
intended to be a fitting climax to all the gayety which had gone before.
Louise had entered into the spirit of the occasion as heartily as a
young and pretty girl could do, and had spent long hours in planning the
new gown which her father had insisted she must have.

"Something simple and pretty, Lou; but good of its kind," had been his
only instruction. "Don't spoil it, for the sake of a few dollars; just
get something that can stand on its own merits, and not have to be
patched out with laces and ribbons and all sorts of other gimcrackery.
You know what I mean; but I want my daughter to look her best."

Nevertheless, after all her anticipations, Louise was looking a little
troubled and anxious, as she stood there, arraying herself in the pale
blue crape gown which fell about her in soft, clinging folds, unbroken
by any ornament except the crescent of pearls that fastened the high,
close ruff at her neck. For some reason, Ned had been feeling ill that
day. He had complained of being cold, in the morning; and, instead of
going to Mr. Nelson's as usual, he had lain on the sofa all day long,
too miserable even to go with Grant to the Burnams', where the boys had
been asked to spend the afternoon and dine. For the past day or two, Mr.
Everett had been away from home on business, and would only return just
in time to take his daughter to the Fishers'; and Mrs. Pennypoker had
made light of the boy's trouble, pronouncing it merely a slight fit of
indigestion which would be gone by the next morning. Still, Louise had
been alarmed, unnecessarily so, Mrs. Pennypoker had told her. But the
boy seemed thoroughly ill and f