Virginia gazette. [volume] (Williamsburg, Va.) 1893-192?, 1899-04-29

any DEAR FRIEND Dine with ~
tonight. l most pArticulariy want


was godfather 70 the boy. and ssnce he eot
into his teens had been ca3oiea into being
bear leader each summer. A he cared
neither fer fishing, boating, hll climbing.
nor any other Maid pursuit suitable % his
position a. the only son OF a widow, holi-i
aaT time vas nv hardest work in sne year.
l found Ms Winthrop even more charm
Ing than usual. The little dinner was PIT Z
fest the wines irreproachab.c. and Berthe
seemed quite clothed and an ms Tizht mud
1t was some slight relief 20 hnd that for the
drst time / was TO be allowed TO cart my
godson abroad
BERTHE has taken quite a turn for archi-
lecture Of late" said has mother 90 me az
dessert. Gle lorSs TO see the Belgium
churches. \ friend Of his has just gone Of
with his bicycle
Berthe was Just %. wonder If the bicy--
cling friend happened % have a sister with
hun. or what was In The wind. However, 1
succumbed as usual, and a few days later
found "a both on board one Of she COM
Portable vessels that run between uar,r.ch
and Antwerp.
Arriving 40 Antwerp in the early morning
we "did" the cathedral. saw the Old Ruhens
pictures unveiled, as 10 was a fete day,
visited the quaint Old Pantin museum. thc
yearly exhibition of paintings. ard thc new
bouievards. and then az Bcrue's instance
sped onward.
/ suggested Drucas ana Client "a our ncxs
hal,ng place. but he looked sum.
You see. thc MISTER did rot quite under
stand me. IL IS not churches and things I
care for. 70 - scenery, especially river
scenery" he said. convincing'y. Then he
. ccscanted upon the beauties OF the Mouse,
particularly its grand capacities for fshing.
Now. fishing is a weakness OF mine. although
. BERTHE did nos know It
Twenty lour hours later we were steanirg
through .he rocky and woodland scenery
\ OF thc river Meuse.
Gradually. but certainly. 7 and my god
sons relative positions had changed. ANY
how. / tlreed when we awokc next morn
ing no D.rant chat thi- was the p.easan,cst
same Ve hsi had together.
Brcakfast.ns in the fine room overlook.
ing the riv,r. we ordered carriage 90 drive
CD Wau'-crt. a village where Berries
friend and h.s fishing rods were putting mp.
Here we were met by Bertie's friend.
really a pleasant. gcntlem3nly feIow-Quite
fisherman. who would take no denial. but
insisted upon my taking his place iu a punt
moorel nearly opposite the hotel. and using
his roc and tackle ior Che rest of the day.
4 and BERTHE viii take a spin. can bor-
row bike for h.m. Pc sad. and a splendid
day 3 fishing ] had 90 &C.. ] really enjoyed
f mysel.-untl supper time came-and B-.tic
, ana his friend failed 60 appear.
With a desperate effort unearthel what
. was in ms mind of the French language
and appealed 90 the head waiter. From him
! gathered that they never expected gen
tiemen back from Dnant until midnight.
I I paced the road gioomly in the moon
light, imagining every sort 81 horro- n hlch
would blast poor Lucie Winthrop's harri-
-.....- 10 b Z
, would never ict her precious son cul ot my
! sight again-untL the wanderers returned
IN high good spirits.
Berthe said he was enchanted with the
, music az Dinant. There was a place called
a casino. where anyone could enter free and
r hear two splendid concerts a day-conrcrts
that beat any thiug he had heard in London.
] said little. hut next morning. when The
two suddenly annoupced that they were
taking another "sp,n, ] ordered a carriage.
md. as ] Thought, following them 20 Dinan.,
2 entered the casino.
My fears were ai,ayed by the appearance
+ If the place. a large wei appointed house
= in the 6ranle Rue. entering. ycu pass a de-
serted refrcshment-room. with billiard
2 tables on your right and a deserted oIic,
4 on your leit, and are confronted with
charming garten-tah'es and chairs uucei
: the c.umps az trees. and a kiosk for thc or
chestra az the end. Evidently the two lad,
u were not here.
= So / wandered about the town. unched
ana returned Go hear charming concert
e in the afternoon, which was nainiy az
tended by young and mildle-aged persons O,
the opposite sex.
: / dined at the Pestes. and went 70 the
a ccnCert in the evening. sitting among fami
ly groups, who chartered and laughed ans
= drank coffee out Of tall glasses IN a mos
Uraiseworthy fashion.
Stn no Berthe and Harold. ]. was leav
n Ing the place 60 be driven back 70 Waulsor
when l came upon them coming down
y photographed staircase, 80 deeply in con
o versation that they did not see me.
When they did they looked confused. bu
> soon recovered their eQuanimity and toe
q ne they had become members OF the Cercl,
des strangers, as IL Is called, having founC
e fellows 20 Introduce them, and that thel
= had been playing backgammon and chess
tie iavorite games IN the place.
c / frankly told Berthe that unless I coul,
= become a member TOO, I cousi not real,
ccantenance his lettering about q place hi
L mother, who objected on priaciple 70 az
card games, would BE- Mortified az the mer
mention Of. However, the two seemed >.
L pleased that ! should Join the circle that
began 20 think myself a suspicious old spoi.
IL sport, and next day, when We al drove owe
: together, and II was impossible 20 find any
- enc l knew 90 introduce me lthe man r.
e ties friend Harold knew had LEFT Din2ntl
le. the lads 90 free and enjoy their ouie
game Of chess upstairs while hstes ed 70 III
n enchanting musie-for that it undo1bteil
Is
r I was enjoying my peaceful holiday 70 tn
rrr.a Il 80 LII H-.. r