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y v . . -w. ii i rav wi "nnT"" -saewtTTF. n
RS. JAMES'OGILVT sat In the treat hall of the
Tl ft I cattle In Scotland, which her husband had late-
I ly'bounht. "AH ancestral cagtle." ahe-ually
A A I called It. thlnklna perhaps quite truly thai It
was a mere detail If the ancestors belonged to
some one elae. Besides. If one paid enough
end they had paid a great deal It wa only
right that the ancestors should be thrown In,
The hnll was particularly ancestral In effect, for ancient
armor loomed out of the shadows In every corner, and great
grand fathers and mothers stared haughtily down from tar
nlshed frames or peered from behind tattered banners carried
triumphantly in battle by long dead heroes of the family
r-ame.
Sirs. Ogllvy In a tea gown, copied by a modern French
dressmaker from an old Bcottleh portrait, was trying her best
to live up to the castle, and feeling load of responsibility
not unlike boredom. By and by tea would come In, wonder
ful Caravan tea at 8 guineas a pound, with a gorgeous silver
service, brought by two magnificent footmen In livery which,
with their white heads, made them look like giant cockatoos.
Put the worst of It was that there would be nobody save her
husband and herself to drink the tea or see the footmen, and
they were secretly getting little tired of both. Nobody ever
came except the clergyman from the village, and Mrs. Set
forth sometimes, for really there Was nobody else to come,
and by this time, having been at Dorloch castle for the best
or worst) part of a month. Mr. and Mrs. Ogllvy devoutly
Wished themselves back In Minneapolis.
After spending several summers abroad they had decided
to leave America " for good," and live In England. A lady
who had promised (for consideration) to present Mrs. Ogllvy
to the queen riext summer had suggested that the possession
of a Scottish castle, as well as a house In town, would bs t
paesport to favor In high places. The Bcottlsh cattls had
been duly acquired (singularly enough It belonged to cousin
of the lady In question) and Several novels which Mrs. Ogllvy
had read led her to believe that the "smart thing" wai to
spend Christmas In your friends' country houses, or your
own, If nobody else Invited you.
Nobody had Invited therm therefore they had to do ths
second best smart thing, and might have found some satis
faction in doing It If they could have collected a large house
party; but they knew few people in their adopted country,
and besides, as they were learning sadly, there are Cduntry
houses and country houses. Theirs was not In a neighborhood
to attract visitors In the dead of winter.
Tea came, and with It Mr. Ogilvy, back from a
' constitu
tional." his legs looking reedy In knickerbockers and stock
ings of a pronounced plaid. The lady in the tea gown greeted
the gentleman in knickerbockers listlessly, but his manner
was so alert that she roused herself to ask If anything had
happened,
"Well, I should just think something has." he replied
with his best English aocent, which he thought suitable to the
owner of Dorloch castle. " Who do you think Is at the village
jnnT But you'd never guess, Carrie, so I'll tell you. The
marquis of Borrowdale."
" What on earth should he be doing there?" exclaimed
Carrie Ogilvy.
" He's en panne with his motor car and won't be afrie to
get it repaired for a couple of days. Something wrong with
Its inner workings. And now there's come this snow first of
the season. If It lnsts he'll have to leave the car and go south
by train."
" Did you see him?"
" Tes. And what's more, I asked him to dine here to
night; you'd be delighted to see him."
"Of course he said no."
" Of course he said yes."
" O. my goodness. Jimmy!"
" I thought you'd be crnzy with Joy."
" Well. It will be nice to have a real live marquis, but he's
the only titled person I ever met. except Lady Potter, and
she's nothing but a knlghtess or whatever you call It, and I
only met th marquis crossing on the steamer, I didn't talk
to him more than once and then I had to say ' you ' all the
time because I didn't know how to speak to a marquis. Do
you call him 'marquis.' or 'your lordship,' or what?"
" I guess people of his own class, like US, Just say Lord
Borrowdale, and It's all right," Jimmy reassured her. " Don't
you be afraid of him, we're as good as be Is, and I bet we oould
buy and sell him. though he's said to have some money and a
couple of nice enough placet somewhere or; other which he
got when he came into his title a while ago, I don't know how
long. But I do wish he could have somebody to meet him.
What about Mrs. Seaforth?"
" O, I don't know," objected Carrie.
" Srre's a mighty pretty woman and as sweet as she's
pretty; young, too, though she's so qulat. She can't be more
Wren 23."
" She's 2fl If she's a day," said Carrie. ' But what I mean
Is, I don't like to try to bribe her wlfh a lor1. I feel a If
the was the sort that wouldn't like It. Besides, he'll probably
change his mind and fall us at the last minute. Then we'd be
pretty mad."
" Send a note to The Firs with the carriage and beg her
to come without giving any special reason. She'll think we're
lonesome and want her company. She's alone there and It
would liven her up." '
" It's snowing harder every minute."
" Pooh, she won't mind that in the closed carriage, and
It's only a short two miles between bere and Ths Firs three
miles this side the village."
" Well, I'll write the note, and then I must a'sk the house
keeper to see that we get an extra good dinner. I'll impress
her to hear that we've a marquis coming."
" Not a bit f It. Old Mrs. Mackeller's a heap more used
to the aristocracy than to our kind. Lord Borrowdale will be
here at 8. I said 8, because It's smarter than half past 7."
"Good. That was thoughtful of you, dear. It's long after
B now and I must hurry."
This she proceeded to do. The housekeeper, an awe-ln-splring
person In black satin, was Interviewed and the note
written. Of the crested envelope he coachman took charge
and was told to wait at The Firs for an answer or for Mrs.
Rcaforth to return in the carriage to the castle.
Now that Mrs. Ogllvy had made up her mind to tend, she
btsvtn to hope that the lady would accept. Her real reason
for hesitating lay in the arguments which Jimmy bad put
fcrward In favor of the Invitation. It was exactly because
Mrs. Seaforth was young and pretty that Carrie had won
dered whether her presence would be desirable or the reverse;
but now that the time for Lord Borrowdale's arrival was
drawing near her confidence In herself as a hostess wavered
and she thought with relief of Mrs. Seaforth as an adjutant.
Besides, whatever Mrs. Beaforth's antecedents might be (Car
rie had no acquaintance In the neighborhood to enlighten her
on this poJnt) she was evidently accustomed to good society.
As Mrs. Seaforth had lived quietly for some months at
least (Carrie fancied from words Bropped bere and there) on
n Insignificant estate In a remote part of Scotland It was im
possible that she really oould be " smart "l nevertheless, even
the air might have a good effect with Lord Borrowdale; and
as Mrs. Seaforth bad been " oloe " to Mrs. Ogllvy ever since
an accident to the latter'a carriage In front of The Firs, Carrie
lelt that she owed the lady some small debt of gratitude.
There was no Mr. Seaforth, but aa the local parson and
ills Wife were known to be friends of hers It was apparent
to the meanest Intelligence that he must have died quite
properly. Altogether, the quiet little tenant of The Firs was
suitable enough fellow guest, even for a live marquis, and
on reflection Carrie hoped that Mrs. Seaforth would come.
Time went on, however, and the carriage did not return,
though according to the Ogllvys' calculations It might easily
have done so. At last an ancestral. clock struck the hour of
8; and the last stroke had not sounded when one of the '
cockatoos announced " Ths marquis of Borrowdale."
Carrie and Jim jumped up, and trying not to appear nerv
ous went fussily forward to greet a tall, slim, brown, clean
shaven, clean featured man of 34 or 8fi.
He had taken a fly from the Inn, he explained, and soon
after starting the srow storm had Increased so tremendously
that the driver had proposed going back, saying that a later
return might be dangerous; but finally the man had been per
suaded to proceed. Lord Borrowdale did not say how, but It
was not difficult to Imagine.
" Dear me, I suppose that's the renson why the carriage
hain't come back yet from The Firs!1' exclaimed Carrie. " We
hadn't looked out of the window lately and didn't know the
weather was getting worte, but If poor "
" Mrs. Seaforth," the footman't voice Inserted In the right
place; and a youthful, girlish looking figure In filmy black
advanced across the hall.
Lord Borrowdale had been standing with his back turned
toward the entrance door, and as a shrill exclamation of,jox
from Carrie Ogllvy broke Into the announcement of the new
comer's name It could have conveyed no meaning to the ear
of a stranger.
Mrs. Seaforth was slenderly petite, pate, and golden
.hslredi Mrs. Ogllvy was of a sumptuous personality; there
fore In rushing to greet her guest she overwhelmed the
smaller woman as an Incoming wave overwhelms a pebble.
Tt was not until a volley of welcoming words had been shot
forth, and Carrie had whirled sllklty round, holding the other's
hand In hers, that either of the men had more than a glimpse
of the late arrival.
" Mrs. Seaforth; the marquis of Borrowdale," breathed
Mrs. Ogllvy, hoping against hope that she was accomplishing
the introduction In the right way.
The tall man and the slim girl (she seemed little more)
turned, faced each other, stared, glared, frote; and then Mrs.
Seaforth must as suddenly have thawed, for she burst out
laughing, showing two delightful dimples.
At this Lord Borrowdale bit his Hp, looking as it tie would
have given anything for a mustnche to pull; but at last a
spark of humor kindled In his eyes. He did not laugh, but
something between a grin and a smile gave a glimpse of white
teeth.
"How do you do, Mro. Seaforth f" he said, and held out a
brown hand.
Her little white one hesitated for the fraction of a sea
ond before It fluttered Into his palm, where It was gravely
shaken up and down and released.
Then Carrie Ogllvy, tingling with the electricity In the
air, said exactly the wrong thing and knew It WSS wrong as
she said it, " O, have you metS before?"
" I er believe we have somewhere." replied Borrowdale.
" A long time ago," added Mrs. Seaforth. " I had almost
forgotten."
" You have not changed," remarked the man.
" Not in any way," replied the lady, " What Weather!"
" Rather Weak."
"But seasonable. I came near not getting here." This
last sentence was for the benefit of her host and hostess, to
whom Mrs. Seaforth now gava her attention. " Your coach
man said that if It had been a mile further he couldn't have
done It; but I did not realise how bad It was until we had
arrived or I would not have dared to come on. Luckily the
man seems to think It will clear; and It Isn't the depth of the
snow that matters, It Is the wind and the blinding storm.
Flakes as big as my hand!"
" That's not saying much for their sise," responded Jimmy
Ogllvy gallantly; but Borrowdale did not smile and It was a
welcome relief at this moment that dLnner was announced.
The table at which the Ogllvys dined In the huge dining
hall was so small as to look like a tiny oasis In a vast desert
and It was round in shape which brought the diners close
together. Lord Borrowdale talked to Mrs. Ogllvy and Mrs.
Seaforth talked to Btr. Ogilvy, and Carrie and Jimmy had the
awful consciousness that they had committed a social crime
of some iort, though what might be its nature they could not
divine.
Were these people hereditary enemies, children of" rival
factionl; had they merely met and quarreled; or had there
b?en a lawsuit about property? Thls It was to be aliens in a
strange land. Ignorant of things which, had they been "In
society," they would have had at their finger ends.
Somehow dinner passed not unpleasantly, though the at
mosphere was still electrical. If Mrs. Seaforth could havs
sung for Joy when her hostess rose she restrained herself ad
mirably; but once In the yellow drawing room she did not
even wait for ooffee to appear before she asked Carrie If shs
would mind ordering the carriage.
" Tou lee." she said. " It will take some time to jtet
ready, and I musn't be late on account of the storm."
Mrs. Ogllvy gave the order and when the servsnt had gone
she faltered. "I am so afraid that-that-I mean, In Inviting
you to meet er "
" Don't worry about that." cut In Mrs. Seaforth quickly.
" It's nothing of consequence. Quite an old affair. A little
er family misunderstanding. But If you'll say good-by to
Mr. Ogllvy for me I think I would like to get off before they
come In."
" If you please, madam, the coachman telephones from
the stabiea that he regrets It is abRolutely Impossible to take
the horses out tonight, as the storm has grown worse rnstead
of better. There's Urltts part way up the doors already," an
nounced the footman.
"Nonsense!" ex-Rilmedi Carrie,
n hour and a half."
" Ii's etrane, tnaMam. but It s true. It must be what they
call a billiard. The wind is shrlekiug down the chimneys
something awfuL"
1
' There couldn't be In
S
IS
"What about the cab which brought Lord Borrowdale?"
asked Mrs. Ogllvy. "Did it go back?"
" No, madam; it la here; there's plenty of room In the
tables."
. " I must walk home," said Mrs. Seaforth, briskly.
" O, madam," protested the excited footman, " you would
perish on the way."
The two ladles sprang up, and pushing back a yellow cur
tain tried to look out of the window. Nothing was to be seen
ave a whirling mass of whiteness, and the howling of the
wind was loud In their ears. They were still gazing at the
wild swirl, when Jimmy's voice at the door made them turn.
" Say, Carrie," he cried, " I want you to help me to show
Lord Borrowdale common sense. He felt he should get back
early, and word was sent out to the stables where his cab
was waiting, but It'll have to wait. This storm has turned
Into a big bUztard. It would be madness for man or beast
to put his head out of doors. Of course, Mrs. Seaforth and
Lord Borrowdale must stay all night; that ought to go with
out saying, but Lord Borrowdale won't hear reason. He's
got a sort of ' Pike's peak or bust ' idea Into his head, and 1
want you to go In with me In getting It out."
" Why, of ccurse they must stay." echoed Carrie. " I
was Just going' to tell Mrs. ' Seaforth so. We can let them
aava everything they want." f
" I must get back," broke In Borrowdale.
" I must get back," Insisted Mrs. Seaforth, the two speak
ing at the same Instant, as If upon-a signal. And It was not
until a visit had been paid to a neighboring door, And some
thing like a ton of snow had seemed to blow In with the wind,
at the rate of two miles a minute, that the guests would be
lieve their fate Inevitable. When they saw that it was so,
however, they resigned themselves sportlngly to live through
ths evening. Of course, after breakfast next morning, they
should be able to get away.
But the next morning came, and the bllsxard was no more
weary of bltssardlng than a debutante of dancing at her first
tall. Nothing like It, according to theyld servants, had been
known for many years. And the day was Christmas eve.
There was nothing to do except to make the best of the ad
venture, to go on wearing other people's clothes, and being
resigned. But when the fiat of Irrevocability had gone forth
Mrs. Seaforth and Lord Borrowdale happened to meet at the
landing of the stairs which led Into the great hall. One was
running up, the other was runm4nr down, and after a slight
start the woman would have passed on, but the man stopped
her.
" Look here, Mabel." h said, (hurriedly. In a low voice.
" I'm glad to have this chance of a word with you, though
I wouldn't have aought it. I want you to know that this con
tretemps isn't my fault These idiotic Ogllvys " "
"I quite understand; but they're not Idiotic. How could
they have known? It's such an old story now seven years
old."
" Well, nheflr ought to have 'known. That's the worst of
picking ub with stranger!. How long have you been In thla
neighborhood?"
"Six months. I took a fancy to It. And you? Not that
t have any curiosity. SMIl where did you come from last?"
" Across the world. I've been round It Got home only a
lew months ago. Met the Ogllvys on the ship, crossing."
" Have you fallen In love with any one?"
" Not I. As if I could after "
Such a dreadful experience."
" I wasn't going to say that, tt was on my tongue to say
but never mind. I'd rid you of my presence" if I could. Per
haps this afternoon I"
" No, no, you mustn't think of it. Tou would be snowed
under. Really I I don't mind. If you don't."
" O, I? Not In the least. Except for you."
"It'e-lt's an adventure. Isn't It?"
" It Is."
' Perhaps we shall laugh at It afterwards when we're
at the opposite ends of the earth again."
" Laugh well, I'm not,, sure what my emotions will be
then." " I'm not quite sure what mine Is, even now. But I know
one thing, whatever our feelings towards each other may
be. we can't go on all day, and perhapa tomorrow, treating
each other Hke Hke '
" Clothes horses."
" Tea, exactly. It is so getting on my nerves. We will be
polite, and exchange views on the weather."
" Good. That will give us plenty of conversation."
" Here comes Mrs. Ogllvy. I'm golng." And she ran up
stairs so swiftly that Carrie, who had been having a talk
wKh the housekeeper, did not know ehe had been there.
The Change for the better In Lord Borrowdale's and Mrs
SeafortJh'a way of treating each other was so marked at lunch
on Christmas eve that Carrie was encouraged. " It's an 111
billiard that blows nobody good," she remarked to Jimmy.
"I do believe they are golrw to make up that silly family
quarrel of theirs, whatever It was. Wouldn't it be lovely to
bring about a reconciliation?"
" It'a on!y that they're trying to keep up appearances be
fore us," said Jimmy. " I can see that thev hate each other.
Nloe Christmas lookout for us."
This sentiment Carrie echoed, but she did not Intend to
'have her Christmas spoiled. Fortunately, plenty of provis
ions had been laid In, and though they were cut off from the
outer world, they would nqt bo deprived of turkey or plum
pudding. She had her present re dy for Jimmy, and doubted
not that he had one for her. There were bank notes for the
UDDer servants and gold tor tne humbler, and though there
would be no greens or holly, nobody need forget that it was
Christmas nobody, unless it were the two prisoner guests.
Carrie racked her brains to evolve gifts for them, but the
problem was difficult. She could not offer JJiem some of her
old Jewedry, and yet she could not bear that they should re
ceive nothing. 'Finally, she decided to consult the house
keeper. " I suppose," she said, " that there's nothing In the
way of old ch4na, or silver, which you have In your Inventory
of the things we bought with the castle that would do as
Christmas presents for Lord Borrowdale and Mrs. Seaforth?"
Mrs. Mackellar raised her eyebrows and pureed her lips.
she replied.
" Unless what? I hope you have an Idea."
Something like the pale ghost of a smile flickered over
Mrs. Mackellar's statuesque features.
" Well, madam, I was going to remind you of some little
trinkets in the teawood cabinet in the Japanese drawing
room. There's a thing called the magic wishbone, a pretty
bit of carved ivory, which you might be willing to pat with
to the lady, as she's a frlemd of yours, and It's supposed to
bring good luck, according to the legend. And there's the
wishing ring, if you remember, made from a single piece of
Jade. That has a story, too; hut they're both written down
In the catalogue In the drawer underneath the cabinet, which
you have probably read."
Carrie was obliged to confess tha she had not opened the
catalogue or noted the cot tents of the cabinet with any par
ticularity. But she was eager now to hear the stories.
Ihe magic wishbone, said Mrs. Mackellar, could appar
ently be broken In half by two persons for a wish, but It
, could not be put together again except by those who were
, happy or about to be happy, in lve. By the right persons,
however, the two pieces could be united aa If they had never
been severed. As for the wishing ring, It was for the finger
cf a man. He had but to rub it, when on the hand, to see the
face of the woman whom Providence Intended for his wife.
These things were little Japanese fetiches Which, Mrs. Mac
kellar said, had beem " In the family for a Jong time. Mrs.
Ogllvy was glad she had consulted the housekeeper, qtid In
stantly decided to take her advice.
That the ceremony of rubbing and wishing should be
properly performed It was necessary witnesses should be pres
ent when ring and bone were bestowed, and by way of mak
ing the occasion doubly festive Mrs. Ogllvy arranged that the
gifts should appear during the Christmas dinner. She would
give something to Jimmy at the same time, and he must do
the like for her.
Snow and wind were still fierce on Christmas morning,
and the white drifts were far np the windows, for it would
have been useless, so far, to attempt clearing them away;
but the husband and wife and the two victims of a " family
misunderstanding " were wonderfully merry together.
After lunch they played bridge, and then, tired of sitting
still, Carrie proposed battledore and shuttlecock. They had
a wild game, Into which, after the first stiffness, Mabel Sea
forth and Borrowdale entered as enthusiastically as the oth
ers. At tea time It was made known to whom it might con
cern tfhat the wind had dropped and the snow was oeaslng,
but, strange to say, the news was received qurte without en
thusiasm, as If It had been an ordinary piece of intelligence.
Then came dinner,. and with-dessert the gifts were handed
on a silver tray. Carrie hurriedly explained to her guests
the magic properties of the ring and wishbone, adding:
" Now, Mrs. Seaforth, there's no good trying to break It
except with an unmarried man, so you will have to choose
Lord Borrowdale!"
" O," echoed the lady, " I must break It with an unmar
ried man, so I will have to choose Lord Borrowdale." Then
she laughed and held It out to hfm, as frankly as if there
had never been a family misunderstanding. He laughed, too,
but before they could part the bit of ivory Carrie cried out:
" Have you wished?"
They had not, but proceeded to do so, looking absent
mindedly, no doubt Into eaoh other's eyes. The Ivory
snapped; Mrs. Seaforth's bit was the shorter, so She would
have her wish, and Lord Borrowdate would be married first:
At this they laughed again, and seemed a trifle confused; but
Carrie held them to their duty. The ceremony was not com
plete; the wishbone must be joined, as If It had never parted.
" There Is where the magic comes In," she said. And" I
should think so," Borrowdale was heard to mutter, but ta
the surprise of the actors and their audience the thing was
done by Borrowdale and Mabel Seaforth, as If by a charm. It
was really wonderful to see how the breach was healed.
Then, " Don't forget to shut your eyes and rub your
ring," Carrie reminded Borrowdale. " Immediately after you
will see the woman who Is to be your wife."
He alowly slipped ths hoop of Jade over his finger, then
suddenly looked up, straight at Mabel, something almost'
like defiance In his eyes. " Do you know," he said dellber-
ately, " I believe I won't shut my eyes, for if I wish and
keep them open I shall see the woman I want for my wife;
whether she Is to be or not remains to be found out. Now
I shall wish aloud. Ring, ring, give me back the old hap
piness I threw away. Give me back my wife. Grant that
we may unite once more, like tha, magio wishbone, as if the
bond had never been broken."
All this time his eyes were on Mabel Seaforth, and she.
waa going from red to white, from white to red again.
" Ronny!" she exclaimed.
" Thank you for the dear old name. Is my wish to come
true? If It Is, tell me so.befqre the friends who have brought
us together."
" O, Ronny, you speak gratefully of them now, , but yes
terday you were angry!"
" Only for your sake. And yesterday was yesterday. To
day is Christmas. I have always been in love with you, you
know, but you sent me away"
" I didn't. Tou went."
"It was you who suggested the separation.
" Because you wanted It."
" Tou had euch an awful temper!"
" And you were such a flirt!"
" I wasn't. I oared only for you. But I wae too proud
to defend myself."
" Can the caring come back?"
" I don't think It has ever gone."
He slipped the ring from his finger to hera. " Tou are
witnesses to this second marriage of ours," he said to the
Ogllvys, who had sat through the little scene aa If turned to
tone.
But his last words broke the spell. " You don't mean to
say that you two people are married."
"Bt-ema so odd you never knew; but of oourse yo are
strangers."
"Foreigners," apologized Carrie. "How awful! And to
think that I introduced you to euch other. And you've been
snowed up hers together ever since. But how could I guess?
Tou are Lord Borrowdale. She la Mrs. Seaforth."
" I wasn't Lord Borrowdale or Lord Anything when we
were married eight years ago. but plain Ronald Seaforth."
We staid married a year," said Mabel. " Then hap
pened that family quarrel ' I spoke about. I do really think
it waa my maid and his valet who forced us Into It. Ws
were both young (I was 101; we both had bad tempers. I
had a parrot and he had a dog, and his dog killed my parrot,
and-well, anyhow, we hadn't laid eyes upon each other for
six years umrtll until "
"This Christmas house party of Mrs. Ogilvy'a,"' Borrow
dale finished the sentence tor her.
"Good old bllxsard!" exclaimed Jimmy.
"Good old Christmas, and good old Mrs. Mackellar I"
breathed Carrie.
It was only fair that the should tell the housekeeper the
ronnuitlo result of her Inspiration, which she slipped away to
do before the evening wae over. " OnJy to think of their be
ing husband and wife!" she repeated for the fifth time.
Mrs. Mackellar sighed pttlerrtly. "O, I knew that
madam, all ths time."
lovs mrxjwy aw?"
1
