Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1895-03-29


and bounteously ornamented drawing
room.
Mr.. Ardell was well-preserved man
of perhaps sixty-fve-very precise and
q little exacting, with severe notions
Us regarded conduct, principle, in
tegrity and such like old-fashioned
laws of life.
"Ah, Philip! This is an unexpected
pleasure. Glad to see YOU"
'"Thanls you, sir. Thought you might
like my company, as probably Gwen
may not return-and-"
"Or possibly that you might find her
here? En-, Philip? Very natural, my
dear boy. Very natural. Still your inn
pulse is somewhat prophetic"
Mr.. Ardell stretched out his hand for
o yellow envelope which lay on small
table beside him. Il fully expected
Gwendoline to luncheon, and not feel
ing quite the thing, a little liverish in
fact, had ordered James to meet the
1890 train from R to look after her
luggage and find her a cab, when,
about HAS, l received this" handing
n telegram to Blount, who read: "Shall
be home tonight. q. d."
"That means by the last train, l sup
pose," said Blount.
mo doubt. Very thoughtful of her,
knowing she was expected and that
should send to meet every train till she
arrived. She sends this to keep my
mind at rest"
"When is the last train due?'
"About 1O:2O," returned Mr.. Ardell.
"Then shall go and meet her and
till $50. A hanson will rattle across
the park to the Great Western in twen-
ty minutes"
"Yes. do, Philip. Gwendoline will'be
glad to see you. There is Bradshaw
in the dining-room. Well make a note
of the time"
DINNER is on the table," said James,
the solemn man out of livery, who ruled
the lower regions.
Philip Blount followed Mr.. Ardel
down stairs contentedly enough,
though. being somewhat given to sus-
picion and self-tormenting, he debated
that telegram in his own mind. Why
did she not say shall return by such
or such a train?" Whv did she leave
things in such a vague condition?
James might have been dancing at
tendance at Paddington from 6:30 on,
leaving his functions to be Indifferent
ly performed by the housemaid and re-
dali 70 ho snnnnuanipnpn
of a female waiter.
Dinner was, as usual in Lonsdale
Gardens, remarkably good-a matter
of no small Importance in Blount's
eyes-and Mr.. Ardel was exceedingly
conversational in a careful and didac-
tic manner throughout it.
W.. dessert was put on the table
and James departed short pause en-
sued; then Mr.. Ardell said: Il think
you will find fresh Bradshaw on the
writing table in the window. Let us
make sure of the train before you
start"
Philip rose and went to the table
whence he returned with Bradshaw
and another book, handsomely bound
in deep red with gold letters and deco
rations.
You are right" he said, "the R
train is due at 1920" He handed Brad
shaw to his uncle and continued: Il
see you have Everard's book here.
Life in the Wild Woods don't fancy
him in print--doesut give me the idea
of writing man."
81 have not read the work, returned
his ~ncle, with tinge of disdain in his
tone. THAT copy was presented 70
Gwendoline. was rather annoyed al
her accepting it, though do not very
well see how she could have refdsed 1t.
But MIR. Everard is not a man ] like.
He is pretentious and dictatorial, IN
fact. inclined to take liberties, or
should say. he presumes ON come con-
nection with old friends of Gwen
dolines to come here much oftener
than like, and assume a familiar tone
with my niece of which totally disap-
prove"
Eyes, my dear uncle, have noticed
it also, and it makes me indignant.
However, he has gone to the continent
and"
"Why, yes, know. He wrote to
Gwendollne explaining why he could
not go to this party and mentioned that
he was going abroad, very unneces-
sary proceeding, as I told my niece"
"And what did sha say?"
"Wen. she laughed and said that for
all / knew, it might be very necessary"
"a curious answer" said Blount I'M
easily. What do you make of it?'
What 1? Oh, nothing. 1t is really
unimportant, only fancy that Mr..
Everard aspires to a matrimonial al
lance with us, rather an audacious
project on his part.
II should think it was!" cried Blount.
"He tries to seem on confidential terms
with Gwen. but"
s.She has too much sense to heed him.
In fact, she would not offend me by en-