walked up the driveway to the spacious front lanai—a double-decked lanai with vines clambering in wild profusion over both stories. As he stood waiting for an answer to his ring, he was reminded of the youngster at home, by the persistent chatter of a mynah bird among the vines above his head, and was about to step back in order to see what had aroused its excitement, when the trim little Japanese maid appeared at the door and he asked for Miss Katisha Morton and gave his card, and then set down in a wicker chair on the lanai to await her arrival. Immediately, from somewhere within he heard an impatient exclamation, evidently when the maid's message was delivered, and he felt strongly inclined to rise up and depart without performing his errand. However, in a moment the screen door opened and Katisha appeared, looking particularly creamy.
"Oh, Mr. Harris, how very sweet of you to come!" she exclaimed, gliding forward with one of her most caressing smiles and taking his hand in both of hers. "You are so good to take such a lot of trouble just for us. And," she went on, "I am just brokenhearted because you have come at such an unfortunate moment. You see, we are absolutely swamped today. Some dear old friends came this morning on the President Cleveland, and are going on to the Orient tonight; and so the day is booked up full with all of the things that we have got mapped out
