The Press., 1897-12-23
MEETING STEPPAPA

Well" exclaimed Millie, "this is quite the most horrid thing mamma could have doner'
 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 Millie War wick was strolling, arm in arm fashion, with her sworn chum, Ethel Bidwen, another English pupil
 Ethel waited for further elucidation.
 "She has gone and married againr almost shrieked Millie.
 Well. there's no very great harm in that, dear,' returned Miss Bidwell ''In fact, it will be rather nice for you.
 But a stepfatherl Oh, it was too bad of mammal reiterated Millie.
 "I 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 I am sur prised at her remaining a widow for ten years.
 Millie went on reading the letter.
 Worse and worse.' was her next
 
 Macintosh, and he's Scotch. Then he'll have red whiskers and a strong accent. All Scotchmeu do, don't they? They were married very quietly in Edin- burgh, without telling any of their friends. l am to join them at Paris and go on with them to Switzerland and have a jolly time, Fancy going on a honeymoon trip with one's own moth eri''
 Where are you to join them?' asked Ethel Next Thursday at the Hotel St Moscow-that's W here so many English people go 1 suppose MT. Macintosh can't talk French. Oh, dear, it's alto gether too bad of mammal" r- l There was no consoling poor Millie, and when her friend saw her of to Paris on the following Thursday Miss Warwick still declined to be comfotted | "Please take me up to Mrs. Macin- tosh's rooms,' said Millie when she arrived at the Hotel St. Moscow.
 The garcon, bold son of Peckham, scratched his head.
 missy
 "Yes, Mrs. Macintosh. I aua he, daughter.
 Well, said the waiter, "I'm sorry to lave to inform you. miss. that there ain't no Missis Macintosh 'ere. There'i Mister Macintosh. what arrived aboui two hours ago. Probably it's i'm yor want?'
 As she entered the sitting room Mil lie stopped dead and would possibly have retreated had not the bold, baC man from Peckham hastily closed tht door and retired, for, sitting by, the window. perusing paper, was young gentleman of not less than 90 and no more than 25 years of age, irreproach ably garbed, dark, clean shaven apt not very bad looking
 "I shall be polite, sometimes cordial, Millie had concluded, after debating the matter with herself for many miles "but on no account affectionate shal thus let him know that. while do no wish to cause any unpleasantness,e er shall go my own way and be will g, his.
 However. Millie's plan of campaigl collapsed like bubble When MT. Macintosh rose from hi chair. Millie collected herself with al effort, and, advancing, held out . littl gloved paw.
 'How do you do, MT. Maciasoshe' she said.
 'Thank you," he replied, after a mo , ment's hesitation. II am very we'll , Then, as Millie continued standing, h added, handling her a chair, "Won' , you sit down?'
 Millie seated herself
 "Er-l expected to find mamm r here, said the young lady. after a awkward silence of quite a minute f duration
 "Oh, l See. " replied Mr Macintosh Then an appalling idea hashe , through her brain. Her mother an 3 Mir Macintosh had discovered thei , mistake aliAady In one short wee } they had fallen out They even trav , eled separately Doubtless he had mar
 ried her for her money. and her mothe = had discovered this
 ''I had better not say too much abou q mamma until 1 know exactly how tn land lies, Millie decided '"I may onl aggravate their differences '' After a long and awkward pause, Nil Macintosh suggested that perhaps sh might like to look at the English illu: v trated papers while she was waitiug %I "I have bundle of them in my carr. 6 all, ," he said "I'll get them for you. AI While he was absent Millie reviews the situation again. x "I hone he won't be as severely poli 6 as this always" she thought 'It e R ident that shall have to break the ic Y I will let him see that, however he ms " have fallen out with poor mamma, I ii # tend to be friendly" Z During tea Millie told him numero, Y anecdotes about her life at Fraule x Haussmann's, after which he retaliats % in the gayest fashion with stories V Oxford varsity. Thus they passed Il x time away until the first Anner .gol 2 sounded. x This reminded Miilie of the flight 1 e hours x "I had forgotten all about mamm Q When will she be here?" she exciaime $ Possibly she is blocked on the line, & murmured MT. Macintosh .'At al X rate, you had better dine here whi q you wait for her.
 & But Mir. Macintosh's careless refe 8 ence to her mother jared on her al X damped her spirits Things were ev
 dently very had indeed. His indifferen x to his wife's whereabouts was positiv x ly shameful
 \ During dinner. therefore. she W -.