The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1895-07-20

smile and outstrotched hand apparently as
of old, and yet how glacially differentl
Plain words might have conveyed to Va
vasour more coarsoly, but not more clear
ly, that all was changed since the parting
in the Cannes railway station, not many
months before; changed too, since the
dispatch of n charming missive, which
bore an Engolberg postmark not yet
month old.
NJ dc Boisville had politely passed on |
during the interchange of greetings, and |
Navasour had not been brought face to
face with his successful rival. Lady Hunt
err however, had said to the latter at part |
ing:
"Au revoiri We shall meet again in the
drawing room, and you must tell me all
your news, the dear old home news from
England. We have had no dinner and are
starving We arc going to dine with NJ
do Boisville. You must know him. 1
shall introduce you after dinner. He Is
quite charming"
The suggestion OF a gracefully dealt
coup de grnco In her ladyship's words had
not been lost on John Vavasour, The
Pearsons had necessarily missed the meet
ing in the hall. They were able to form
q very accurate guess of what had occur
red, however when Vavasour Joined them
in the drawing room as they sat there
with Lady Hunter They had not expects
ed such prompt action ON the Hunters
part. Mrs. Pearson realized with sharp
pang what complete triumph of Rosie 1t
meant, The vioomte must have oil but
declared himself John Vavasour had
come too late to create even complication
or doubt, for at that moment, while Va
vasour sat with Them calm, but pale, Ro-
sic was walking outside in the moonlight
with the viUomte, the young people having
gone out on the terrace from the dining
room, allowing Lady Hunter to join the
party in the drawing room alone.
II hope Miss Hunter is not kept in her
room by fatigue" John Vavasour had
/ formally said to Lady Hunter, who had
/ then explained her absence with somewhat
elaborate deliberaton.
Mrs Pearson was not in an amiable
mood naturally enough. 1t was hard, con
sidering tho numerical disproportion Of
/ the sexes, that Rosie should have had a
choice of two men, and to the BUSTING of
| Amy. Navasour's position instead of ex-
citing compassion in Mrs. Parsons
breast, moved her in the other direction.
Sho showed decided disposition to turn
the conversation on the vicomte-"rub
him in, p" rs 1t WERE
! "Who is NJ. de Boisville?" Vavasour in
quired at last.
"You must hear Lady Hunters elo-
| quence on the subject, said Mrs. Pear
son, with a meaning smile milne would
hardly do him justice.
Lady Hunter was not to be drawn. She
merely responded by saying that she
would presently introduce the vicomto to
Vavasour.
4.I 4 L.. a.
ciety this year. Vavasour remarked. Il
was staying with Woodtown at the en-
bassy. His father is the ambassador to
Paris, you know, and his mother is a
Frenchwoman. Does your friend know
the embassy people'"
He knows every one, all the right peo-
pie, so many of our friends. OF course he
knows the FORESTS In Paris, Lady Hunt
er said.
He has often spoke Of Lord Wood
town, )" struck in Amy, and seems quite
intimate with him"
"Oh, indeedl' exclaimed Vavasour.
| Tho peculiar dryness of his tone escaped
observation, for Just Mt the moment Rosie
and the vic0mte passed ON the terrace.
The face of the latter, happening 10 be
turned toward the hotel, was caught by the
light of the electric lamp ON the veranda.
1t showed quite clearly to the party in the
drawing room.
THAT is NJ. dc Boisville, " Lady Hunter
said to Vavasour mot man to be easily
forgotten. Do you remember to have met
himt"
Eyes; l do recognize the face, !" said Va
vasour slowly.
do you know hint" Something in the
speakers voice and manner made tho in
quiry come sharply from Lady Hunter.
The Pearsons looked at him also with
eager interest.
Yes; / know that man."
The Significance of his voice was now
unmistakable.
The ladies started. Lady Hunter hastily
exclaimed: what do you meant What
do you know"
"That man'-Vavasour spoke with
great deliberation-'is not French
man."
"Nonsensel" Lady Hunter interrupted,
with laugh of relief. There is no doubt
on that subject. You have mistaken the
man."
THE question is easily decided" Va
vasour rose abruptly from his chair.
"Might ask you to come with me to the
terrace, ladies' Pray be calm, Lady Hunt
er. l have no wish to make u scene.
There Is no need to do So
The Pearsons, surprised and expectant
after all, something was about to result
from John Vavasour's appearance ON the
scene-and Lady Hunter, vaguely alarm
ed, followed Vavasour to the terrace. The
party had IL almost to themselves, owing
to the late hour.
Vavasour, going in advance paused un-
der tho electric lamp to survey the ter
race. Were not two figures apparent in
the distance? He waved his hand toward
them. They are coming" he exclaimed
in moment They have seen mo.
cannot see them just now, They are hid.
den in the shadow of the buildings"
What was going to happenS Lady Hunt
er felt distinctly uneasy. The Pearsons
thrilled with expectancy. The situation
was sensational. The time, the place, the
waiting, with all eyes turned in the same
direction, gave it an indefinable air OF
mystery
At last figure slowly emerged from the
darkness-ono only. No Others followed
Rosie alone appeared in the light walking
toward them.
The scene which ensued was dramatic
enough to satisfy tho most highly pitched
expectancy. John Vavasour made his ex-
PLANTATION. He knew the man well, his
striking appearance making Identification
easy and sure. do Boisville was an as
sumed name. The supposed vicomte was
no Frenchman, but an Englishman
Here Lady Hunter and Mrs. Pearson
broke in, appealing to each other simnl.
taneously.
But surely you can contradict thisi
You know all about tho man..
| Then tho worst ratna IN li1ht ba anna l.
ing discovery of their mutual and mis-.
placed trust In each others knowledge.
Panic seized ON tho ladies, and they rushed
forthwith to tho most desperate oonolu.
sions. The man was q bagman, a valet,
a burglar or worse. The case was toe
dreadful for the Pearsons to exult at hay
ing their rivals supposed triumph turned
into such crushing disaster. For them,
too, the affair was horrible. All the days
and hours passed in tho wretch's society
were awful to think of. Rosies faltering
account of what had occurred on the ter
race gave the finishing stroke to the situa-
ton. The man, she now knew, had dis
appeared at once ON recognizing Vayasour
on the veranda.
HE had the impertinence to say au re-.
voir as he left" Rosie wound up, with q
catch In her breath and a shudder.
II don't think he will trouble you again.
You may make your mind easy on that
point, Miss Hunter. The man will not
reappear," said Vavasour decisiyeIy.
who is her What is the mystery Il
1t something dreadful For heaven s sake,
explain" chorused the ladies.
Vavasour was human. He had been
ruthlessly thrown over for this hotel ac-
quaintanoe, this supposed French noble.
man. He may have been actuated by a
desire to punish the Hunters In some way
by not being explicit or did he wish ia
spare them the horror of some CHASTITY reve.
iationp At any rate, he would give no fur.