914 BRAGGADOCIO.

Bessie and Tom, who had just got through the
first warm greetings, were startled by a loud
knock at. the front door. Bessie ran to open
it.

There stood Howard, his face as red as a
brick, and streaming with perspiration, his
trunk still upon his shoulder.

“Mr. Framingham! Oh, I had forgotten
till this moment that the Cramers have gone to
Paris. Put down your trunk in the entry, and
come in. I am very glad to see you, sir.”

“To Paris, did you say!” eagerly inquired
Howard Framingham, putting down his trunk.
‘*It is very strange that they did not inform
me of their intention.”

“They have been in New York ever since
the first of March, preparing to go abroad, and
were to sail the first of this month; so Mr.
Starr told me. No doubt you have just missed
a letter by coming away the day before it
arrived. Come in and make yourself at
home.”

“How is this, Tom?’ said Howard; “the
Cramers gone to Paris,”