“I wish,” said Beth, slowly, “I knew you.”

A sudden wave of scarlet swept over Eliza’s face.  She rose quickly to her feet, with an impetuous gesture that made her visitor catch her breath.

“I wish I knew myself,” she cried, fiercely.  “Why do you annoy me in this manner?  What am I to you?  Will you leave me alone in my own room, or must I go away to escape you?”

“I will go,” said Beth, a little frightened at the passionate appeal.

Eliza closed the door behind her with a decided slam, and a key clicked in the lock.  The sound made Beth indignant, and she hurried back to where her cousins were busy with the laughing, chattering throng of visitors.

CHAPTER XIII

THE BOOMERANG

The lawn fete was a tremendous success, and every farmer’s wife was proud of her satin badge bearing the monogram:  “W.  P. L.,” and the words:  “FORBES FOR REPRESENTATIVE.”

Certain edibles, such as charlotte-russe, Spanish cream, wine jellies and mousses, to say nothing of the caviars and anchovies, were wholly unknown to them; but they ate the dainties with a wise disregard of their inexperience and enjoyed them immensely.

The old butler was a general in his way, and in view of the fact that the staff of servants at Elmhurst was insufficient to cope with such a throng, he allowed Louise to impress several farmers’ daughters into service, and was able to feed everyone without delay and in an abundant and satisfactory manner.

After luncheon began the speech-making, interspersed with music by the band.

Louise made the preliminary address, and, although her voice was not very strong, the silent attention of her hearers permitted her to be generally understood.

She called attention to the fact that this campaign was important because it promised more beautiful and attractive houses for the farmers and townsmen alike.

“We had all grown so accustomed to advertising signs,” she said, “that we failed to notice how thick they were becoming or how bold and overpowering.  From a few scattered announcements on fence boards, they had crowded themselves into more prominent places until the barns and sheds and the very rocks were daubed with glaring letters asking us to buy the medicines, soaps, tobaccos, and other wares the manufacturers were anxious to sell.  Every country road became an advertising avenue.  Scarcely a country house was free from signs of some sort.  Yet the people tamely submitted to this imposition because they knew no way to avoid it.  When Mr. Forbes began his campaign to restore the homesteads to their former beauty and dignity, a cry was raised against him.  But this was because the farmers did not understand how much this reform meant to them.  So we gave them an object lesson.  We painted out all the signs in this section at our own expense, that you might see how much more beautiful your homes are without