ly hidden from view; while Anna scrambled hurriedly up the slope
and looked anxiously about for some sign of Luretta and the missing
garments. But there was no sign of either; so she ran along the bluff to
where the pines offered shelter, thinking Luretta must surely be there.

And now Anna began to be seriously alarmed. Perhaps Luretta had been
swept out by the tide before she could save herself. And at this thought
Anna forgot all about shoes and stockings, all Melvina's fine garments,
and even Melvina herself, and ran as fast as her feet could carry her
toward Luretta's home. At the blacksmith shop she stopped to take
breath, and to see if Luretta might not, by some happy chance, be there;
but the shop was silent. Mr. Foster had gone home to his supper; but
Anna did not realize that the hour was so late, and ran swiftly on.

As she neared the house she stopped suddenly, for Luretta was standing
in the doorway, and Rebecca was beside her, and they were both looking
at Anna. There was no time to turn and run back.

"Why, Dan! Where are your shoes and stockings?" said Rebecca, coming
down the path to meet her sister. "You were so late in coming home that
Mother sent me to meet you."

"What did Luretta say?" gasped Anna, thinking to herself that if Luretta
had told of Melvina, and their making sport of her, that there was
trouble in store for them all.

"Luretta hadn't time to say anything," responded Rebecca, "for I had
just reached the door when we saw you coming. Now we'll get your shoes
and stockings and start home, for Mother is waiting supper for us."

"Luretta has my shoes," said Anna, and ran on to the door, where Luretta
was still waiting.

"Give me my shoes and stockings; quick, Lu! And then take all Melvina's
things and run, as fast as you can, to the----"

"Luretta! Luretta!" called Mrs. Foster; and Luretta with a hurried
whisper: "Oh, Anna! I haven't her things. Don't say a word about
Melvina," vanished into the house.

"Come, Anna," called Rebecca reprovingly. "Father will come to look for
us if you do not hasten. Why did not Luretta give you back your shoes
and stockings?" she asked as Anna came slowly down the path. "It's a
stupid game for her to keep them, I will say;" and she put a protecting
arm across her sister's shoulder. "But do not feel bad, Dan, dear; she
will bring them over before bedtime, if the storm holds off; and Mother
has made a fine molasses cake for supper." But Anna made no re