"

"Come Ruth," sang out Dorothy, as she and Aunt Betty and Alfaretta
made their way after Mr. Ludlow. "Come or you will be left behind."

"I promised I'd wait here for Mr. Dauntrey," answered Ruth. "He is
coming back for me. My luggage is all here, and I can't manage it."

"Very well, we will wait for you in the stage," answered Dorothy, and
linking her arm in Alfaretta's, followed close after Mrs. Calvert, who
was walking just in front with Mr. Ludlow.

"There's Mr. Dauntrey," whispered Alfaretta. "He's with that little
dancer, Miss Winters."

"So he is," whispered Dorothy, "I hope he has not forgotten Ruth. Mr.
Ludlow usually attends to Ruth himself; I wonder why he has not
thought of her?"

"Maybe he is provoked at her," answered Alfy, very softly so as the
couple just in front would not hear them. "He looked at her real cross
like, at the Pennsylvania station to-day. She was standing, talking
very earnestly with Mr. Dauntrey, and Mr. Ludlow called to her twice
and she never heard him."

"Maybe that's why. But see, there he goes back. I guess he has gone
after Ruth now," replied Dorothy.

"Here we are. Now all get in. We must hurry," announced Mr. Ludlow.
"Are we all here? Let me see--Mrs. Calvert, Dorothy, Alfaretta, Miss
Winters, Miss Robbia and Mr. Carleton," as the pianist came in sight
carrying two suit cases, "but where is Ruth? Ruth and Mr. Dauntrey,
where are they?"

"Mr. Dauntrey has just gone back after Ruth. She was gathering her
luggage together as I left the car. Mr. Dauntrey said he would hurry
back and get her if she would wait," answered Dorothy.

Just then Ruth and Mr. Dauntrey came in sight. The girl held his arm
and was looking up into his face, chatting pleasantly, while in back
a porter, very much laden down with Ruth's belongings, trailed along
after them.

The occupants of the bus caught just then a sentence spoken by a
passing couple. "See the little bride and groom here on their
honeymoon." At these words Mr. Ludlow frowned deeply and looked very
cross indeed. He spoke not a word to Ruth as she was handed into the
bus by Mr. Dauntrey, but quickly got in and shut the door behind him.

In a few minutes they had reached the hotel. Mr. Ludlow registered for
the party and then the keys were supplied for the rooms assigned to
them. Mrs. Calvert and the girls went quickly upstairs and dressed for
dinner. The evening meal is always quite a function in Washington. The
people for the m