“Never mind, little pet,” said he, “when you are a young lady you will have forgotten all about the naughty fright you have had today. Don’t you think so, little Dark Eyes?”
This last to Meta who never for a moment had let her shining dark orbs wander from the fair face of the young rescuer.
“I don’t know,” was the naive answer the sweet childish voice made, which provoked a merry peal of laughter from the boyish lips. Alice too was smiling now, but if he thought to divert her thoughts from the question she had asked he was mistaken, for as soon as she could again recall his attention she repeated the request.
“Well now,” the young man replied in a hesitating manner, “I really have not done anything worth mentioning, and——”
“Please,” interrupted Alice. “I want so much to know. As an additional favor I ask it.”
“Very well, then,” he answered with a sort of desperation, at the same time hunting in the depths of his pockets and fishing therefrom a bit of pasteboard.
“I believe my name is scrawled on this. If that is of any value to you, you are certainly welcome to it,” and with that he handed her the little white card.
“Osmond Leland,” Alice read. Like an electric shock did the words thrill Imelda. Her hand caught the arm of her friend.
“What is the name? Read it again. I fear I have not heard aright.”
“Osmond Leland,” repeated Alice. “I am sure that is the name written very plainly,” and she handed the card to Imelda. The young man began to look with surprise at the beautiful agitated face of the lady who seemed to find something queer about his name. She turned to him with a quick imperious movement. All in an instant she knew why his face seemed familiar.