The Delta independent. [volume] (Delta, Colo.) 1886-19??, 1897-07-07
XVII.

that it served to satisfy for time the
craving for gadding about which pos
Sessed her now and then. for all her re-
peated praises of quiet home life.
Moreover, she brought with her a
friend, whose presence could hardly
but add to her peace of mind; for she
dearly loved to play the hostess, the
more, perhaps, because her opPortuni-
ties for assuming the role had been 50
limited. AS it happened, 1 had only
a glimpse of this visitor. DIR. Banks
had sent me an urgent message to
hasten to one of his patients, and was
driving briskly toward the sick mans
residence when l met the carryall.
homeward bound from Bassettville.
Mrs. Loring and her niece were slowed
away under u multitude of bundles in
the stern of the old ark on wheels,
while the forecastle was shared by the
youthful John and n stranger, of whom
l could make out little, except that he
was dark bearded man, clad in fash
ionable raiment. At the time, l sup
posed him to be some stray traveller
bound for the village and profiting by
the happy accident of the carryall voy-
aging in that direction.
The evening was far advanced when
/ returned to Mrs. Weston's, and, ul-
though that lady enlightened me as to
the arrival of Mrs. Loring and her guest,
/ was quite willing to avoid intruding
upon them. hrs. Weston could tell
very little about the newcomer. She
thought that he was 4 foreigner, with
one Of those outlandish names that no
body but an alien could understand. Il
was easy to conjecture that Mrs. Lor-
ing had CHANGED to meet him in Trent.
and had insisted upon bringing him to
Bodneytown, to talk over old times and
to gossip about people they had known
in the Lord knew what distant land.
In the morning, 10 doubt, an oppor-
tunity would be given me to pay my re-
spects.
But the morning brought no oppor-
tunity Of the sort. When called upon
Mrs. Loring she was alone. and her
guest-Col. Mendoza she called him
was out for . ramble about the neigh
borhOod. He had expressed n desire 10
visit the beach. she explained, and, in
asmuch N he had taken Johnson's boat,
WIS probably cruising about the hay or
some of the many channels branching
of from it. She expected him to re-
turn in an hour or two, and she was
anxious, SO very anxious. that should
meet him. Couldn't arrange to dine
with them? Really IL was distressing
that another visit to Banks patient
would prevent an acceptance of the in
vitation. The colonel was such a
charming gentleman, SO very, very
charming, so courteous, SO erudite, So
widely travelled. and SO on through the
list OF applicable adjectives. However,
that afternoon or evening, or at supper
yes. that would he a capital time
the meeting could be brought about.
OF course I acquiesced, and then, as
Miss Gray was not in sight, parted with
her aunt rather abruptly. After
quarter OF an hour with Jones, whose
ease showed no unfavornble symptoms.
came the call upon Lamar. Contrary
to his custom, he was pottering about
his domain that morning, lurcd from
the house. perhaps, by the beauty Of
the day, which, however. was not potent
enough TO change his manner. for he
gave me his stereotyped greeting, and
our talk was as brief and formal as
usual. He asked no questions as to the
progress the injured man was making.
and I volunteered no information on
the subject. Then, in turn, came the
ride on Banks business. returned
from IL early in the afternoon. and after
. hasty meal-I challenged any man to
linger unnecessarily over q country
dinner gone cold for n couple of hours
.;..l hA <,f
Mrs. Clark's residence, and strolled in
her direction.
"rve come to make Q CALL" said I, tax
ing a seat beside her.
"How fattering to u.s." she answered,
with a smile. ''I'll bear the news to
my aunt at once"
"Oh. there's no hurry. Let me catch
my breath. I'm here to see your visitor
this time"
But don't you know that he has
goney" she asked.
NO. 1 supposed him good for two
or three days at least. Certainly Mrs.
Loring didn't expect him TO bid good
by 10 speedily. He must be . genuine
bird of passage"
~He surprised US. Really, we saw
very little Of him; for he started out
early this morning and didn't return
until nearly noon. And then he was
on TO Trent without waiting for dinner.
He explained that he had recollected an
important engagement, which must
have es'caped his memory when, carried
away by the pleasure of meeting my
sunA ~ accepted her invitation"
rhsts odd" mid I, idly. . good deal
relieved, on the whole, 10 find that
need not meet the stranger, who. no
matter how agrseabDe he might have
been, would bsve Issseped my chances
for . chat with Dur0thy. Come, let
us solsre ourselves for his fight by a
cruise in your boat You'll be co~-