Because of Stephen by Grace Livingston Hill Read Free Book Online Page B

wholly unnecessary . She felt that her womanhood was sufficient to protect her from insult here in the house of her brother. She was not in the least afraid to be out there and direct where things should go. If Stephen was trying to help Philip to be a better man, then she ought to help, too. It would be another way of helping her brother to help what he was interested in . And these friends of his, could they not be helped, too? It was a pity for Stephen to feel so ab out it. She wished she had had t ime to argue with him, for she really ought to be out there to tell them where to place things. It would save a lot of trouble later.
    Thus she stood thinking as she heard the stamping of the horses' feet about the front door, the creaking of the wagon-wheels as they ground upon the steps, and then the heavy footsteps, the voices of men, the thuds of heavy weights set down.
    She wearied of her imprisonment the more that there was no window in her room from which she could watch operations; and at last, when she heard them discussing the best way of getting the piano out of the wagon, she could stand it no longer. She felt that she was needed , for they had made absurd suggestions, and her piano was very dear to her heart. She must tell them how the piano men in the East always did. It was ridiculous for her to be shut up here, anyway. Stephen might as well learn that now as any time. For an instant she knelt beside the gray cot and lifted a hurried prayer,—-just why she knew not, for there was nothing to be afraid of, she was sure,—and then with firm hand she turned the knob of her door, and went out among the boxes and barrels of goods that were all over the room, until she came and stood framed in the sunny doorway, the brilliant noonday glare upon her gold hair and shining full into her dark eyes, her little ruffled sleeve falling away from her white wrist as she raised her hand to shield her eyes.
    "Stephen, wait a minute," she called; "I can tell you just how to move that. I watched the men put it in the wagon when it started. It is very easy. You want two rollers. Broomsticks will do."

Chapter 5
    There was sudden silence outside the front door. The two strangers turned and stared admiringly and undisguisedly . Stephen looked sheepishly triumphant toward Philip, and Philip drew his black brows in a frown of displeasure.
    "My sister!" said Stephen airily, recovering himself first , and waving his hand comprehen sively toward the two men. He felt rather proud of this new possession of a sister. His own eyes glowed with admiration as he looked at her trim form in its blue and white drapery framed in the rough doorway, one hand shading her eyes, and the animation of interest in her face.
    But now Margaret was surprised. Why did Stephen introduce her if he had considered these men too rough for her even to appear in their presence? It was curious. Was he afraid of Philip? Ah! They must be friends of Philip's whom Stephen did not admire, and yet whom he had to introduce on his partner's account, and so he wished to evade it by keeping her out of sight. Well, what mattered it? A mere introduction was nothing. She would let them see by her manner that they were strangers still.
    So she acknowledged Stephen's naming of them as "Bennett" and "Byron" with a cool little nod, that only served to increase their admiration. Perhaps the coolness of her man ner was to them an added charm. Stephen rose in their estimation, being the possessor of so attractive a sister.
    After she had given her wise, clear direc tions,—which proved to be exceedingly sensible o nes, they could not but acknowl edge,—she vanished into the house once more, but not, as they supposed, from hearing. She went quickly into Stephen's bedroom, from whose small window she could watch their movements. She intended to see that her directions were carried out and that piano safely landed in the proper place. Just one short instant she was out of hearing as she