, 1897-12-02
A YOUNG DIPLOMAT.

e"NS
present a card at the entrance to the
gardens, and the bowler hated old gen
tleman at the gate welcomed them as
though they We're most important mem
bers. Miss Llewellyn and Master Ken
meth Waller, her friend. walked on the
grass in the direction of music.
anybody you know here, Miss Llew-
ellyn?"
II don't suppose so. Kenneth"
you don't know many people. do
you, Miss Llewellyn?"
Very few"
Wonder at that" said the small
you know Did you use to come here
when you were well off? Do they sell
lemonade here?'
Seems possible. You think that ev.
erybody ought to have plenty Of
friends""
PLENTY Of friends" said Kenneth
wisely, but one i'll particular. Worder
how old you are?"
THAT said the young woman good
temperedly. THAT is the only question,
Kenneth. that you must never put to a
lady"
II should guess" he said critically
as they sat down in the low chairs near
the refreshment tent and watched the
people, ''tint you were about 26." Miss
Llewellyn gave q quaint gesture Of hor.
ror. well, 25 then. Fancy!' The
small boy whistled amazedly. Twenty
five and ncs married yet"
"Young man. said Miss Llewellyn,
flushing and affecting a tone of grave
severity. II find your conversation
much too personal. You would like
lemonade. ! think, and two pieces Of
cake"
The scarlet coated band perched on
seats near the glass house, with u crowd
of smartly dressed folk in front of them,
started a cheerful selection from a comic
opera. Miss Llewellyn, a composed
young woman in an ordinary way, as
young women are who work for their
living, found herself in quite u delight.
ed mood. Music can do much when it
tries.
"Of course, " said her candid guest.
with cake ut his mouth, II don't mean
to say that you mightn't get married
even now, | had an aun NICE who was
close upon 30 before she could get any
n to look at her."
The instance is encouraging, Ken.
meth. Don't eat too fast, mind
Still, said the youth wisely. "if l
were a girl l should be jolly careful not
to miss n good opportunity. Are those
orchids they're carrying there? Hasn't
that chap got u brown face who's telling
the men where to take them? Seem to
have seen him somewhere before.
Shouldn't like to be an orchid. should
you, Miss Llewellyn? Why, you'd have
to grow out III South America and PEG.
pie would have fearful trouble to find
you and risk their l~ives-hello, brown
faced chaps coming this way!'
Miss Llewcllyn looked up and then
looked down again quickly, and for a
moment her face went rather white.
Her hand trembled as she held it out.
mr.. Bradley. " she said. How do
you do? l did not expect to see you
here"
Il did not expect to see you again
anywhere, " he said.
There was the pause that comes after
the banalities Of greeting. Master Wal
Ter. not having spoken for quite half q
minute. felt that he was in some Ian
ger Of being overlooked, and coughed.
This is my little friend, Kenneth
Waller" she said. kenneth. this is
Mr.. Bradley"
whats the matter with your face?"
asked the small boy. Have you been
abroad?"
Mr.. Bradley placed a broad fist on
the round iron table aud leaned down
toward Master Waller good naturally.
He seemed as confused at the meeting
as Miss Llewellyn. aud as unprepared
with conversation.
"ihave been abroad. young man. I've
been hunting orchids"
Are you home for good now?' asked
Kenneth.
Miss Llewellyn gripped the parasol
that rested in her lap with both bands.
II can t do any good at home. said
MIR. Bradley. II am of again to South
America in a day or two.
"Why don't you stay in London?"
Nobody asks me to stay"
''should have thought. said Master
Waller, THAT you could have got some.
body to do that. Have you any foreign
postage stsmps about your"
Friendship between. the two gentle.
men Was cementedi and made permanent
by the production Of several foreign
stamps and an envelope to place them
in. People were coming up 10 the re.
treatment tent now, the band having
decided to rest for half an hour and re-
cover breath. und Master Waller invited
Mr.. Bradley to take his chair.
lyon don't mind!'" asked Bradley
CT Miss Lfewellyn.
"No, AZ all. she said politely.
MAJ I smohs,"
Let me- affiks tie nAtoh." inter
posed Master WALES. tt1'm awfully
good at that. And telPu al n Of your
adventures"
"They wouldn't interest Miss Llew-
ellyn."
"Girls don't count" said Master
Waller. "Tell me. Make it n where
you nearly lost your life"
So 10 or 10 minutes weIS thus occu.
pied, the small boy seated on Bradley
knee aud staring ut hin. with open
mouabed astonishment. Miss Llewellyn,
her head bowed, studied the band pro
srannst N appaEsntly . hbostoes search
lue che misqRints thaka musical p!o
szanHs always o6sra. Bradley told Tx