said Mrs. Comstock tersely.
Wesley and Billy laughed, but Margaret did not enjoy the remark.

While they were searching the stores for something on which all of them
could decide, and Margaret was holding Billy to keep him from
saying anything before Mrs. Comstock about the music on which he was
determined, Mr. Brownlee met Wesley and stopped to shake hands.

"I see your boy came out finely," he said.

"I don't allow any boy anywhere to be finer than Billy," said Wesley.

"I guess you don't allow any girl to surpass Elnora," said Mr. Brownlee.
"She comes home with Ellen often, and my wife and I love her. Ellen
says she is great in her part to-night. Best thing in the whole play!
Of course, you are in to see it! If you haven't reserved seats, you'd
better start pretty soon, for the high school auditorium only seats a
thousand. It's always jammed at these home-talent plays. All of us want
to see how our children perform."

"Why yes, of course," said the bewildered Wesley. Then he hurried to
Margaret. "Say," he said, "there is going to be a play at the high
school to-night; and Elnora is in it. Why hasn't she told us?"

"I don't know," said Margaret, "but I'm going."

"So am I," said Billy.

"Me too!" said Wesley, "unless you think for some reason she doesn't
want us. Looks like she would have told us if she had. I'm going to ask
her mother."

"Yes, that's what's she's been staying in town for," said Mrs. Comstock.
"It's some sort of a swindle to raise money for her class to buy some
silly thing to stick up in the school house hall to remember them by. I
don't know whether it's now or next week, but there's something of the
kind to be done."

"Well, it's to-night," said Wesley, "and we are going. It's my treat,
and we've got to hurry or we won't get in. There are reserved seats, and
we have none, so it's the gallery for us, but I don't care so I get to
take one good peep at Elnora."

"S'pose she plays?" whispered Margaret in his ear.

"Aw, tush! She couldn't!" said Wesley.

"Well, she's been doing it three years in the orchestra, and working
like a slave at it."

"Oh, well that's different. She's in the play to-night. Brownlee told me
so. Come on, quick! We'll drive and hitch closest place we can find to
the building."

Margaret went in the excitement of the moment, but she was troubled.

When they reached the building Wesley tied the team to a railing and
Billy sprang out to help Margaret. Mrs. Comstoc