BY CLARA F. GUERNSEY.
“HELLO, girls! I say, hello!”
This polite salutation was addressed to two young girls who were standing at the parsonage gate in the little village of Valery’s Corners. The taller of the two colored with vexation, and looked back to the house as though she hoped no one had seen or heard.
The second answered in a clear, rather peculiar voice, “How do you do, Carlos?”
“I say,” returned Carlos, “I was up to your place, and seen your folks to-day.”
“I hope they were all well,” said the girl who had spoken before, while the other took no notice of Carlos whatever.
“Well, no, they wasn’t, jest. I thought I’d tell you—”