Waterbury evening Democrat., 1895-04-22

piqucd9 How would he meet the Huntcrsf Ho was not likely to mako a scene, but helthcr was ho man to walk captive in the train of a triumphant rival. The situ- alton could hardly fail to have interesting developments.
 John Vavasour faced it at once with characteristic determination. When tho Trubsoc party entered tho hall from their carriage, hc stood thcro to greet them. Roth mother and daughter instantly rec ognized the importance of tho moment No surprise had ovCrtaken them; they woro fully equipped with the armor of forewarn- ing Lady Hunters motherly manner was unchanged, except for a subtle shado of difference ns between universal and par ticular motherliness. Rosies composed greeting was n triumph in its way-the smile and outstrctched hand apparently us of old, and yet how glacially differentl Plain words might have conveyed to Va vasour moro coarsoly, but not more clear ly, that all was changed since tho parting in tho Cannes railway station, not many months before; changed, too, sinco tho dispatch of n charming missivc, which bore an Engelberg postmark not yet a month old.
 NJ. de Boisvillo had politely passed on during tho interchange of greetings, md Navasour had not been brought face to facc with his successful rival. Lady Hunt CT. however, had said to the latter at part ing:
 An revoirl Wc shall meet again in tho drawing room, and you must tell mo all your news, the dear old home news from England. Wo havo had no dinner and arc starving. We arc going to dino with NJ do Boisvillr. You must know him. shall introduce you after dinner. Ho Is quite charming"
 Tho suggestion of gracefully dealt coup do grace in her ladyship's words had not been lost on John Vavasour. Tho Pcarsons had necessarily missed tho meet ing in tho hall. They werc ablo to form n very accurate guess of what had occur rcd, however, whun NavaSour joined them in tho drawing room as they sat thcro with Lady Hunter. They had not expect cd such prompt action on tho Hunters part. Mrs Pearson realized with a sharp pang what complete triumph of Rosie 1t meant. Tho vicomte must hnvo all but dcclnrrd himself John Vavasour had come too late to create even complication or doubt, for at that moment, while Va 'vnsour sat with them, calm, but pale, Ro sic vas walking outside in she moonlight with the vicumte, the young people having gonn out on the terrace from the dining
 
 party in the drawing room alono.
 II hupu Miss Hunter Is not kept fin her room by fatigue" John Navasour had formally said to Lady Hunter, who had then explained her ahscncc with somewhat elaborate dVlibCration,
 Mrs. Pearson was not in an amiablo mood naturally enough. It was hard, con sidcring tho numerical disproportion of the sexes, that Rosie should havo had n choice of two men, and to tho uusting of Amy. NavaSuur'S position, instead of ex- citing compassion in Mrs. PCarsOn's breast, moved her in tho other direction. Sho showed a dccidotl disposition to turn the conversation on the vicomte-"rub him in," mS it were.
 "Whu is M. de Boisvillc?' Vavasour in quircd at last.
 You must hear Lady Hunters elo- quCncc on tho subject" said Mrs. Pear son, with meaning smile. "Mine would hardly dc him justice. Lady Hunter was not to be drawn. She merely responded by saying that sho would presently introduce tho vicomto to Vavasour.
 Il have been a good deal in French so- cicty this year" VavaGour remarked. II was staying with Woodtown at the em- | bassy. His father is the ambassador to Paris, you know, and his mother is a Frcnchwoman. Docs your friend know the embassy pcoplo!' 'IIc knows every ono, all the right pco- 1 pie, so many of our friends, Of course he ! knows tho Forrcsts in Paris" Lady Hunt | CT said.
 lilo has oftcn spoke of Lord Wood intimate with him." l ..Oh jndapdi' Pxclnimed VayaSOur | Tho peculiar dryncss of his tone escaped | observation, for just al the moment Rosie l and the vicOmto passed on the terrace. | The fnco of tho latter, happening to be | turned toward the hotel, was caught by the light of the electric lamp on the veranda. It showed quito clearly to the party in the drawing room.
 That is Nj. dc Boisville, " Lady Hunter said to Vnvnsour, mot a man to be easily forgotten. Do you remember to have met him''
 "Yes; do recognize the face, " said Va vasour slowly.
 Do you know him!" Something in the speakers voice and manner made the in quiry come sharply from Lady Hunter The Pcarsons looked aI him also with eager interest.
 "Ycs; l know that man.
 The significance of his voice was now unmistakable.
 The ladies started. Lady Hunter hastil, exclaimed: What do you mGanf W
 do you knowf"
 That man"-Vavasour spoke witt great dcliberation-''is not . French
 man.
 "Nonsensel" Lady Hunter interrupted
 With laugh of relief. There Is no doub I h,x- DHnT, fh
 man."
 "The question Is easily decided" Va
 vasour rose abruptly from his chail
 Might ask you to come with mo to tn
 terrace, ladies? Pray bo calm Lady Hunt
 CT. havo no wish to mako sccnC
 Thcro Is no need to do so."
 Tho Pcarsons, surprised and expectar
 after all, something was about to rcsu
 from John Nhvasour's appearance on tl scCnc-and Lady Hunter, vaguely alarn
 ed, followed Navasour to the terrace. Tn
 party had 1t almost to themselves, owin
 to tho late hour.
 Vavasour, going in advance, paused LII
 der tha electric lamp to survey tho te ! race. Were not two figures apparent
 the distancoR He waved his hand towal
 them. They are coming" he sxclaime in a moment They have Seen me. cannot see them just now. They are hi' den in the shadow of the buildings." What was going to happsnI Lady Hun
 CT felt distinctly unsasy. The Pearsol thrilled with expectancy. The situatIC was sensational. The time, the place. ti ! waiting, with all eyes turned iD the san l direction, gave 1t an indeflnable air mystery.
 Atlast figure slowly emerged from | darkness-one only. No others follo~e Rosie alone appeared in the light walkiI toward them.
 The scene which ensued was dramai
 enough to satisfy the most highly pitch expectancy. John Vavasour made his e |. planation. He knew the man well, . striking appearance making Identifcati Il easy and sure. De Boisville was an {