Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1888-02-02
CHAPTER Xxx.
WELL DONE.


On the day following her meeting with the
young American, Natalie looked for the
promised visit of his aunt and himself. But
| the morning passed, and the afternoon,
without their appearance.
'Surely," thought she, ''they must be here
| tonight"
Yet the clock struck ten and they were
| still delinquent. She was disappointed and
frankly acknowledged her disappointment.
Perhaps something may have happened
Politenes5, at least, will require their calling
soon," she said.
But the next day had nearly passed and no
! visitors.
About FIVE o'clock in the afternoon, she
went for stroll along the shore, returning in
| half an hour. AS she approached the house,
u carriage rolled down the avenue, and a
ty, stepped out, and with decided English
accent, smilingly said:
miss Rochefort, l believer at the same
time holding out her hand.
Natalie could scarcely restrain smile at
being called by that strange name; but she
took the proffered hand and said, quickly:
Eyes, and this is Mr.. Fox's auntl''
''A1iss Bessie Strong,'' finished the other,
as she gazed admiringly and encouragingly
upon the handsome girl before her.
Natalie was much attracted to Miss
Strong rs the latter to her, the manners of
the charming lady being so easy and gra-
cious-the grace of the old school that al
ways was so fascinating to the Princess.
The girl then, half timidly, half reproach-
fully, ventured the remark:
~ rather looked for you and Mr.. Fox yes
terday. Why is he not with youa'
"Yesl" replied Miss Strong. with slight
accent of interrogation; Il had intended
coming yesterday, but my nephew was sud-
denly called away on q matter OF business
and left me to arrange certain affairs at
home. Otherwise, we would certainly have
come"
They conversed pleasantly for some time,
each liking the other better as the visit
grew longer.
AS she arose to go, Miss Strong said
lightly and half jocularly:
II must send my errant nephew to apollo
gize for allowing you SD long to remain eX-
pectant. 1 do not know when he will re-
turn. It may not be for several weeks.
Poor fellow! he was greatly worried about
something or other. l tried to make him
tell me what it. was; but he would not.n
Natalie's countenance became grave in a
moment (Ah, Mr.. Fairfax, your plan was
| effectual mono could have been more effect
| ual. He VINO secures woman'S sympathy
and pity without causing her to suspect that
| he is endeavoring so to do, or even that he
| is aware of the existence of this sympathy
and pity is on the highway to win her love.
Your shaft was well aimed, and lent home
to the mark.)
| After Miss Strong had left, Dolores APP
preached Natalie with the question:
Little mamma, where is MIR. Arthur
Fox!'
HE has gone away, my dear, and perhaps
will not come back for 4 long time.'
| Without her being aware of it, Natalie's
voice was tinged with sadness, and whether
| it was that the child was affected by the
lugubrious tone, or by the news, she began
I to weep.
won't my Mr.. Fox come back for long
timel Why did he go aways Max, he's
gone away, and he didn't come to say good
| bye to US, either. Isn't he naughtyl'
| Natalie thought so, too.
She found 'Stella Mea'' Ga copy of which
she Lad furtively made for HERSELF, and
sang it
She began to question who this Mr.. Fox
| was. He had said Fox was not his real
| name, and that he was DESTROYS OF privacy.
This little musical composition of his pos
sessed certain amount of merit; yet she
felt sure that he was not professional
! musician. There was something, too, about
the man that continually reminded her OF
some former acquaintance, or some one
| whom she had seen at some previous time
| Who it was she was sorely pazzled to dis
cover.
For o dag or two longer, life at Edited
went on in very much the same quiet, un
disturbed way.
Natalie returned the call Of Miss Strong
The latter informed her that she was really
quite worried ebout the absent nephew
He had not written her even once since hi.
departure. She had not the slightest no
ton as to his whereabouts.
All that evening Natalie was singulari,
abstracted. She could not rid her mins
(nor did she care TOD of thoughts abou
this man.
Do not imagine. good friends, that sh