The Somerset reporter., 1897-09-02
MEETING STEPPAPA.

AZ AAA4 AAiO ~ Ii L Al a.
well" exclaimed Mile, this is
quite the most horrid thing mamma
could have donen
Fraulein Haussmann Of Hanover had
a large garden behind her finishing sem
mary for young ladies, and it was up
and down this garden that Mile War
wick was stroi1ing, arm in arm fashion,
with her sworn chum, Ethel Bidweu,
another English pupil.
Ethel waited for further calculation.
She has gone and married aQainr'
almost shrieked Mile.
well, there's no very great harm in
that, dear, returned Miss Bidwell.
In fact, twill be rather nice for you. !"
But stepfatherl Oh, it was too
bad of mammal reiterated Mile.
II am not surprised that she has
married again, > said Ethel. when she
came to see you in the winter, she
struck me as being almost as young
looking as yourself. Indeed | am sur
prised at her remaining a widow for ten
years. ?"
Mile went on reading the letter.
Worse and worse" was her next
piece of information. His name is
Macintosh, and he's Scotch. Then he'll
have red whiskers and strong accent.
All Scotohmen do, don't they? They
were married very quietly in Edin-
burgh, without telling any of their
friends. | am to join them at Paris and
go on with them to Switzerland and
have jolly time. Fancy going on a
honeymoon trip with ones own moth
err
"Where are you to join them?" asked
Ethel.
Next Thursday at the Hotel st.
Moscow-that's where so many English
people go. l suppose Mr. Macintosh
can talk French. Oh, dear, it's alto
gether too bad of mammal"
There was no consoling poor Mile,
and when her friend saw her off to
Paris on the following Thursday Miss
Warwick still declined to be comforted.
PLEASE take me up to Mrs. Maoin-
toshs rooms said Mile when she
arrived at the Hotel ST. Moscow
The earcon, a bold son of Peckham,
scratched his head.
"Missis Macintosh, did you say,
miss"
Yes, Mrs. Macintosh. l am her
daughter.
We'll, said the WAITER I'm sorry
to ave to inform you, miss, that there
amt no Missis Macintosh ERE. There 8
a Mister Macintosh, what arrived about
two hours ago Probably it's i'm you
want?'
As she entered the sitting room Mil
lie stopped dead aud would possibly
have retreated had not the bold, bad
man from Peckham hastily closed the
door aud retired, for, sitting by the
window. perusing a paper, was young
gentleman of not less than 30 and not
more than % years of age, irreproach-
ably CARRIED, dark, clean shaven and
not very bad looking.
81 shall be polite, sometimes cordial, +"
Mile had concluded, after debating
the matter with herself for many miles,
but on no account atfectionate l shall
thus let him know that, while | do not
wish to cause any unpleasantness,
shall go my own way and he will go
his u
However, Miles plan of campaign
collapsed like bubble.
When Mr.. Macintosh rose from his
chair, Mile collected herself with an
effort, and, advancing, held out little
gloyed paw
How do you do. Mr. MACINTOSH"
she said.
Thank you," he replied, after mo-
ment's hesitation, Il am very we'll "
Then, as Mile continued standing, he
added, handing her a chair, Won't
you sit down."
Mile seated herself
Fri expected to find mamma
here, = said the young lady, after an
awkward silence of quite a minutes
duration.
"Oh, see. 3" replied Mr.. Macintosh.
Then an appalling idea flashed
through her brain. Her mother and
Mr.. Macintosh had discovered their
already. In one short week
they bad fallen out. They even tray
eled separately Doubtless he had mar
RED her for her money, and her mother
bad discovered this
4 had better not say too much about
mamma until ! know exactly how the
land lies, Mile decided Il may only
aggrayate their differences "
After IA long and awkward pause. Mr..
Macintosh suggested that perhaps she
might like to look at the English illus.
trated papers while she was waiting.
81 have a bundle Of them in my carry
all, +" he said. "I'll get them for you. "
While he was absent Mile reviewed
the situation again.
II hope he won't be as severely polite
as this always, 3" she thought. Its ev-
ident that | shall have to break the ice
/ will let him see that, however he may
have fallen out with poor mamma, in
tend to be friendly.
During tea Mile told him numerous
anecdotes about her life at Fraulein
Haussmann s, after which he retaliated
in the gayest fashion with stories of
Oxford varsity Thus they passed the
time away until the first dinner gong
sounded.