Blue-Bird Weather

He rose from the table, and as she turned to meet his pleasant eyes he

smilingly thanked her for waiting on him.

"And now," he said, "if you will say to your father that I'd like to

have a little talk with him----"

"Father is ill in bed," she said, in a low voice.

"Oh, I'm sorry. I hope it isn't anything serious."

"I--think not."

"Will he be able to see me to-morrow?"

"I am afraid not, Mr. Marche. He--he asked me to say to you that you

might safely transact any business with me. I know all about it," she

said, speaking a little hurriedly. "I keep the accounts, and I have

every item and every bill ready for your inspection; and I can tell you

exactly what condition the property is in and what lumber has been cut

and what repairs have been necessary. Whenever you are ready for me, I

will come into the sitting room," she added, "because Jim and I have had

our supper."

"Very well," he said, smiling, "I am ready now, if you are."

So she went away to rinse her hands and lay aside her apron, and in a

few minutes she entered the sitting room. He rose and placed a chair for

her, and she thanked him, flushing a little, and then he resumed his

seat, watching her sorting over the papers in her lap.

Presently she crossed one knee over the other, and one slim, prettily

shaped foot, in its shabby shoe, swung clear of its shadow on the floor.

Then she handed him a sheaf of bills for his inspection, and, pencil in

hand, followed the totals as he read them off aloud.

For half an hour they compared and checked off items, and he found her

accounts accurate to a penny.

"Father bought three geese and a gander from Ike Helm," she said. "They

were rather expensive, but two were mated, and they call very well when

tied out separated. Do you think it was too expensive?" she added

timidly, showing him the bill.

"No," he said, smiling. "I think it's all right. Mated decoys are what

we need, and you can wing-tip a dozen before you get one that will talk

at the right time."

"That is true," she said eagerly. "We try our best to keep up the decoys

and have nothing but talkers. Our geese are nearly all right, and our

ducks are good, but our swans are so vexing! They seem to be such

fools, and they usually behave like silly cygnets. You will see

to-morrow."