The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1893-05-20


The next morning Mr.. Chessall called
at Mrs. Lilburnes before twelve o'clock.
She was not very pleased at being called
off from housekeeping cares, but disguised
her annoyance admirably.
adelaide is out" she said, "walking
with Miss Gray She didn't expect you,
Tn sure.
Mr.. Chessall smiled complacently at the
mention of Miss Gray. Adelaide's friend
ship for Miss Gray amused him nightly.
II shouldn't have come so soon" he
said, ''if 1 hadn't brought piece of news.
We have actually distinguished stranger
stopping at Knagford, and | thought you
would like to hear about it.
Mr.. Chessall received every morning by
post the Times of the day before; he had
brought the paper with him, and he now
read an extract.
"The distinguished traveller and explorer,
DR.. Wilson, has now left town and betaken
himself to the rural seclusion of Devon
shire. He proposes to spend month or
two in the little village of Knagford,
where he will devote himself to his forth
coming book"
Mr.. Chessall read this passage very
slowly, and then looked at Mrs. Lilburne.
"It's not often that Knagford gets such
distinguished visitor" he said. "The
papers have been full of him, you know.
He had great reception given him by
the Geographical Society, and he was at
the Princes garden-party, you know"
Mrs. Lilburne replied vaguely. She
was thinking how fortunate it was that
she had been out the day before, when
DR.. Wilson had called. For she had not
cared to encourage his visits to the house
five years before, and she might have been
very chilly in her manner to 1.-The dlstin-
guished traveller and explorer" through
being unaware of his social Importance.
"I think | shall call on him at once,
Mr. Chessall continued "Now that we
have got lion, we ought to entertain him
as well as we can"
"He called here yesterday afternoon,
Mrs. Lilburne said with some triumph in
her tones.
Mr.. Chessalls astonishment was evi-
dent, and Mrs. Lilburne was glad to have
something to explain.
"Dr. Wilson was in practice here, she
said, ''before you came to Knagford. We
knew him very well; he and George were
very friendly.
MIR. Chessall was duly impressed with
this intelligence and rose to take his leave.
81 think l shall call all the same" he
said. "But what pity that our picnic
wasn't fixed for next week"
Mrs. Lilburne appreciated to the full
the importance of the news MIR. Chessall
had brought she set herself to scheme
elaborate hospitality for the distinguished
traveller. There must be a dinner-party
apd garden-party and another picnic
not at Remington Castle.
She propounded these schemes at the
luncheon table. to which Adelaide had in
vited Miss Gray.
That lady established the fame of DR.
Wilson by one clinching fact.
''His portrait was in all the illustrated
papers Of last week." she said, "and short
biography of him. But Knagford WASH
even mentioned"
Adelaide made public protest against
her mothers schemes of entertainment.
"Why take so much trouble ?" she said;
ssI dare say he'd rather be quiet and write
his book"
This speech of Adelaide's reused the in
dignation of her younger sister.
eThat's all very well for you, Adelaide,
she said; 81 suppose you prefer walking
about the garden with your Augustus to
ANYTHING else. You ought to think ot
Others who are glad enough to meet mar
who won't be quite as heavy and stupid
as-as most of the men round Kuagforc
are.
When lunch was over Adelaide and Mis-
Gray sought the coolness and shade of thu
arbor ip the garden. They sat together
long time in silence, till at last Adelaide
broke out abruptly!
"I.aura, it was here | saw him last,
month before he started on the Borneo ex
pedition.'
Miss Gray's look expressed sympathetic
curiosity.
"He came to say goodbye" Adelaide
continued. 81 think he knew should b'
alone. And he told me why he was going
The expedition was dangerous one, bu
if it we're successful be would gain wealth
and some reputation, and then he wanted
to know if-if | could give him any hope
in case
Miss Gray darteda look of mild reproaci
at her friend.
"You never told me anything about II
till this morning" she said.
81 couldn't, somehow" Adelaide replied
'sI never mentioned It to anybody. was
yery much afraid of mammals knowing it.
s.What did you tell him ?" Miss Gray
asked after pause.
Adelaide hung down her head as she re
piled;
''I don't quite remember. But | think
| told him that there was no one else-ant
that hoped he would succeed. And
gave him two roses, one red and ont
white"
1t WIS Hfc Jodhs drSof ~+NSi"fNO 49,
tinued, "and | haven't seen him since
But now am so afraid that he has come
down to-to see me. If he has, it will b.
dreadful, for | know he is not man who
would take things quietly. If he shoul'
make scene
And Miss Lilbarne gave little shivel
of dismay.
Her friend fastened to reassure her.
every likely you are alarming yourself
about nothing, Adelaide, she said. "tiv
years is long time, and most men hav'
very short memories. "
aBut, then, why has he come to Knas
ford ?" Adelaide queried.
Miss Gray looked at her friend doubt
fully.
'sTell me, Adelaide" she said solemnly
"did you really care for him r.
~ don't know Adelaide replied, rap
idly, "you mustn't ask me. Itwas so lon:
ago, and | was only just eighteen. Per
haps did little But wish he hadn'