ir chaperon, had not remained on the houseboat merely to polish the po

decks lined with flowers, and for Madge to draw a beautiful plan

ere abloom with daisies. A farmer's lad could be hired for a dollar to dig up the daisies and to bring a wagon load of dirt to the boat. The day before Eleanor had engaged the services of a carpenter to make four boxes, which exactly fitted the sides of the little upper deck of the hou

ant. Eleanor had a natural gift for making things about her lovely and homelike. So she thought and thought. Wild honeysuckle vines were growing in the fields with the daisies. They

tore for them. In the bow of their boat Eleanor had hung up a flag. On a background of white broadcloth, stitched in bands of blue, was the legend "Merry Maid." This was Eleanor Butler's chosen name for the houseboat

ing had happened to disturb her. She walked slowly on, so occupied with her own thoughts she did not notice that she was in a lane between two fields enclosed by fences. Some one called to her. She could not distinguish the voice. It called and called again. She thought it must be one of the girls who had come out in the field to meet her. As there was no one looking, Miss Jones managed to climb over the rail fence, and now she walked in the direction from which the sound of the voice came. After a time the voice ceased. It was a shorter stroll to the boat across this field, so the teacher went leisurely on. In a far corner of the meadow she saw an odd object unlike anything she had ever seen. It consisted of two sticks that looked like the legs of a scarecrow which had a square board fastened in front of them. From between the sticks were two other brown objects, long and thin, and behind it sat a young man busily engaged in transferring the peaceful scene to canvas. Miss Jones was gazing curiously at this object, with h

o express the rapture they felt in the transformation she had wrought in their beloved houseb

as she knew she would not have time to get over the fence before the animal would be upon her. In her terror s

her return. They decided to take a short walk with the idea of meeting her and, leaving their boat to take care of itsel

Miss Jones, and a b

they do? They felt powerless to help, yet not one

on deck as a protection from the sun, and Madge had caught up one of them as they started out. In the next instant she had climbed the

all her will power, she staggered a few steps, then dropped to

quering fear, the bull gave a dreadful roar and made a quick lunge at Madge. She sprang to one side but managed to thrust her umbrella full in the animal's face. With a rumble of defiance the bull dodged the umbrella and made another lunge at Madge. Its lowered horns never reached her. A rope swung skilfully forward caught the animal by the leg just

sitting position, stared wildly about he

feet. "It was this that made the mischief," he said,

were now hanging down her back, giving her the appearance of a girl. "I heard some one calling to me, or I would n

man in astonishment. "Certainly

ny Ann faltered weakly. She wa

, with an expression of solemn gravity. But t

group and, despite the fact that the chaperon's narrow escape

d the artist. "Please f

y hurt. When they saw the whole party shaking with laughter, the two girls exchanged curious glances. "Luncheon has been waiting half an hour,

possessed of a keen sense of humor. It would seem rude and ungrateful to run away and leave him just as their lunc

us?" asked Madge boldly, fearing their

pt your invitation if Miss Jones will second

luncheon with us, Miss Jenny Ann, wouldn't you?

ughed their chaperon, the color rising to her b

n was triumphantly escorted abo