were only four days past, classes and lessons seemed to the Quartet never to have existed; or if so, only in a dream. And i

t any rate, they had put the thought of them resolutely out of mind, following Peggy's, "one thing at a time, and when

pretty phrase it makes a virtu

he time being, the

y Vanderpool, and Horace, who seemed a prime favorite with that influential lady, had introduced Priscilla. Mrs. Vanderpool was in charge of a rummage sale to be held for the benefit of a local charity, and recognizing Priscilla's e

kindle. "Somehow I never thought much of rummage sales," she ow

ed. "Every family has a lot of things packed away

anything we could spare that woul

ance. Why, she'd discard a piece of furniture we would be proud to put in the parlor. A chair

s something in th

lot of stuff that's no further good to them; and other people get a

Mrs. Vanderpool expect to make su

nt up, if you make sales enough. And in a rummage sale th

a practice of hoarding useless articles. If a piece of furniture broke down, she had it mended if it were worth repairing; if not, she either gave it to some poor family who could make use of it, or else had it carted away by the rubbish

gy worked with the others, she was conscious of a return of her former misgivings. Undoubtedly among the contributions arriving by the wagon load there were many articles which would be useful to some one, but Peggy wondered who would be able to make use of the cracked pitchers and leaky kitchen utensils which were coming in such quantities. She looked disapprovingly at the lo

to Peggy rather hard that they should encourage the unenlightened to purchase such monstrosities under the mistaken notion that they were beautifying their homes. She was glad to turn to the book table where, if nowhere else, really worth-while bargains were offered. Ther

three girls who were her most intimate friends were working away enthusiastically, their bright faces unclouded by a doubt. Peggy had been a little startled by the

?peration, she would have refused, and would have done her best to dissuade Amy from her reckless scheme. But the results had been all that could be desired. Aunt Phoebe had her new carpet, and was radiantly happy, while Uncle Philander-Behind-His-Back had undoubtedly been taught a lesson he sorely needed. Strange to say, he did not seem

ing would be sold at prices almost too small to mention. Instead, it seemed to the astonished Peggy that a good price was set on articles which from her standpoint were quite valueless. "O, don't you th

y," she replied. "Of course we want to make all we can. Then we'll reduce

king for charity, they knew very little about the practical problems of the poor. She looked at the three-legged chair and wo

ar," she said, "and you would be wasted on the books. Nobody buys books at a rummage sale except the people who would buy them anyway. I'm expecting great things from that persuasive to

hatless, holding their money tightly, and looking about them with sharp, dark eyes in search of the bargains they coveted. In the evening the shop girls and factory workers were out in full force, and Peggy noticed u

"It's none of my business," had never proved effective in her case. And though she stuck to her resolution on the first day, the developments of the second proved too much for her. It was late on that aftern

ymonds' washing, off and on for many years, less because of her excellence as a laundress, than because she needed the work. Then Elvira had grown up, and taken her mother's place at t

ing aspirations. "Joe likes things neat and clean," she explained, a little wistfulness in

eed, Elvira. Why, of course you can keep your house as nice as anyb

ter Joe's return she had frequently gone to see Elvira in the little home the young couple had purchased, and were paying for on the installment plan. In view of the girl's bringing up, it is hardl

anner of the women who were calling his attention to one thing after another, on the point of investing largely in the heterogeneous collection. B

ew little things to take home to the wife." He slapped his pocket. "It's pay-day, Miss

an unmistakable odor radiated from Joe's person and confirmed t

r stock. "What's that, Miss Peggy?" He indicated by

s a chu

ng a churn ever since I got

t a churn, Joe; yo

n went to a battered table and he gave it a seemingly close examination. "I'll take it,

as a table for the

of that." Peggy's eyes followed his extended finger and she frowned. "Why, Joe, that

kered Joe. "Nothing small about me. My pockets are p

e. You don't want any of this stuff in your

I know wh

what you want. If you were quite yourself you'd never

" Joe's manner had lost its suavity.

not yourself. And I know by to-morrow you'll feel awfully sorry

kened his propensity to take offense. But on the other hand, there was something disarming in the way Peggy spoke of his wife and his home, and her smile was app

e right, Miss Peggy. When a fellow's had a few drinks, most

hat you and Elvira want

y, Miss

Elvira I'll be over

. But her congratulatory mood was not to last. For not long after

mer at last," smiled the lady. "W

ut buying a lot of useless things," she answered, "but of course I wouldn't let him. You see

elieved her mind by a long stare, turned majestically away, and Peggy heard her a little later, talking animatedly of some one who, it appeared, was totally lacking in the business instinct. Peggy thought she could come very near guessing the identity of the pe