The Houma courier. (Houma, La.) 1878-1939, 1897-06-26
a NICE ARRANGEMENT.
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4 don't want him At all" said Mrs.
St. Julian.
"Then why not tell him SOP re-
turned her husband, from behind the
outspread Times. Surely you needn't
stand upon ceremony with Tedi"
But I should be sorry to disoblige
him--and, unluckily, he seems really
anxious to come. He says'-referring
% q letter which lay open beside her
plate-"that the Morrisons have put
him of on account OF their mourning,
and he can't go to Mary, because her
children T down with scarletina-''
Then he must cen make the best of
things here. / don't suppose he'll find
Harding and his boys very c~ongenial
company"
~Congeniali Eleven cricketing youths
who win describe everything in heaven
and earth as 'rippin'.' And half a doz-
eE girls to match-I chose them to suit
the boys taste"
'.Well, AIleyne comes-ifhe does como
rather for his own convenience than
to please you. So you needn't take the
matter greatly to heart
'But I must get some n to talk to
him, Tom. I can't have him on my
hands all day. Let me see. Maud At
heck's at home-I think I'll ask her
over She knows nearly as much about
the Mongols as he does. I will write
to her at once. She must come on Mon
day afternoon. Ted proposes to arrive
by the 7:15.
The house party assembled for the
Cumberleigh cricket week-consisting
of the famous Cambridge Double Blue,
Norman Harding, and his eleven; the
maidens invited to admire the prowess
of those heroes; Miss Afaeck; and the
st. Julians themselves-was gathered
together in the long library when Prof.
Alleyne entered it at eight o'clock
on Monday evening. His entry-very
quietly made-was followed by a gen
eral sensation of disappointment The
youthful company hungrily awaiting
his appearance to adjourn to its dinner
had expected to find in him a more
typical specimen of the professional ge-
MUS; it had looked for a long-haired
scholar of so, who should nave stopped,
and worn spectacles, and an lift
ting coat. Now AIleyene (who appeared
to be about five-and-thirty, and was
by no means ill-looking) had a singu-
larly upright figure; his clothes were
perfectly well cut; he used no glasses,
and actually boosted a mustache.
Maud Afleck, who had been promising
herself deep draughts at the fountains
of his erudition, reflected sadly that his
profound knowledge of all things Mon
golian had probably been much exag-
gerated by report.
Two hours later, on the men coming
into the drawing-room, Mrs. st. Julian
beckoned the professor to her side.
well, how did you get on at dinNer?
] saw your partner seemed to be enjoy
ing herself. Clever girl, isn't she?"
why on earth did you tell her who /
WASP" demanded the professor in re-
turn.
'My dear Ted, 1 didn't tell her any
thing. She knew all that was to be
known about you, beforehand. Most
people seem to know you beforehand.
That's the penalty you pay for being
famous Mrs. st. Julian showed her
pretty teeth in an engaging smile.
II did not suppose he began, in a
modified tone, that a young lady
But Maud is no ordinary young lady.
Surely you must have discovered that
for yourself. She was educated at Cir
ton
II felt sure of it" murmured the pro-
fessor.
And she took a frst-class in his
tory. Not that that's anything, COM
pared with what she's done since. DR..
nunstan told me, only last week, that
something she wrote a little while ago
had made two bigwigs in Berlin sit
up as he expressed IT'D Won't you go
and talk to her? I'm sure she's dying
to ask you questions about the Mon
gols."
THANK you'll had quite enough OF
that interesting subject during dinner.
Besides, you mistake. These tripos
heroines never have anything left to
learn. 1t is enough for them to get an
opportunity of airing their own opin-
ions"
MAUD isn't at all that sort of girl, /
assure YOU. She is most anxious to inn
prove herself. Have you noticed her
hair? Isn't it odd and pretty?"
The professor looked again. The hair
IN question: dusky red, set off to @l-
miration by the girls white satin gown,
was incidentally curious and-yes, it
was pretty.
Miss Af1eck seems to hold aloof from
your other guests" he remarked. IF
you think she would really prefer talk