ttack of
the grip."

Mrs. Ayres lied, and Meeks respected her for it.

"We are to start before long for St. Louis, where my brother lives,"
continued Mrs. Ayres. "I am going to rent my house furnished. My
brother is a widower, and wishes us to make our home with him, and we
may never return here. I was obliged to go on an errand to the store,
and when I came home I missed Lucy and was somewhat anxious. I am
very much obliged to you. We are going away, and I have no doubt that
an entire change of scene will restore my daughter entirely.
Yesterday she had a sick headache, and is still suffering somewhat
from it to-day."

"That woman lied like a gentleman," Meeks said to Henry when they
were on their way home. "Good Lord! I was thankful to her."

Henry was regarding him with a puzzled look. "Do you think the poor
girl is in love with Mr. Allen, too?" he asked.

"I think she is in love with love, and nothing will cure that," said
Meeks.

Chapter XVIII

Henry looked more and more disturbed as they went down the street. "I
declare, I don't know what Sylvia will say," he remarked, moodily.

"You mean about the pretty little love-affair?" said Meeks, walking
along fanning himself with his hat.

"Yes, she'll be dreadful upset."

"Upset; why?"

"It beats me to know why. Who ever does know the why of a woman?"

"What in creation is the fellow, anyhow?" said Meeks, with a laugh.
"Are all the women going daft over him? He isn't half bad looking,
and he's a good sort, but I'm hanged if I can see why he should upset
every woman who looks at him. Here we've just escorted that poor
Ayres girl home. I declare, her face made me shiver. I was glad there
wasn't any pond handy for her. But if you mean to say that your good,
sensible old wife--"

"Get out! You know better," cried Henry, impatiently. "You know
Sylvia better than that. She sets a lot by Mr. Allen; I do myself;
but, as far as that goes, she'd give her blessing if he'd marry any
girl but Rose. That's where the hitch comes in. She doesn't want him
to marry her."

"Thinks he isn't good enough?"

"I don't believe it's that. I don't know what it is. She says she
don't want Rose to marry anybody."

"Good Lord! Sylvia doesn't expect a girl with a face like that, and
money to boot, to be an old maid! My only wonder is that she hasn't
been snapped up before now."

"I guess Rose has had chances."

"If she hasn't, all the men who have seen her have been ston