The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1900-09-25

CHAPTER XII.
THE FIRST OF MAY.

and frock coat and set off to walk to
South Kensington to call upon my sister
Janet, who, by the way, was widow,
her husband having died of malarial
fever when with his regiment on the
west coast of Africa.
found her in the morning room in
the act of writing note of welcome TO
me. She greeted me with all her old
sisterly affection and when she had done
SO made me sit down before the fire
and tell her all my adventures.
We have heard the most wonderful
tales about you, she said, with smile.
"How you were captured by sort of
female Captain Kidd Of fabulous beauty,
who carried you off to an island in the
Pacific, where you were made to dig
sufficient gold to pay your ransom
'sIndeed?''
It has been recopied into all sorts of
papers, /" she continued. "But I've no
doubt it was a mass of mere fabrication.
Own the truth now, wa It it?'
Every bit, - answer ed candidly. IT
have been very much annoyed by those
stupid newspaper paragraphs. It is just
like the rabid craving Of the age for SEN
sationalism. But before go any fur
ther, Janet, ] want to tell you some
thing. am going to be married.
"You, George! Why, you always used
to say you had made up your mind never
to do anything SO foolish
$50 did, but you see have changed
my mind. ;"
$50 it would appear. And, now, who
is she? Tell me where you met her and
all about her.
This was what dreaded, but it had
to be met and faced.
SWELL, in the first place, her name is
Allie. She is ~ years of age and an or
phan. Her father was captain in the
English navy, but is now dead. She is
very sweet, very accomplished, and very
beautiful, and feel sure, Janet, if only
for my sake, you will offer her a hearty
welcome when she comes home.''
"You know me we'll enough to be
sure of that, don't you, dear old George?
And is anything settled yet? How soon
does she come home, and when are you
going to be married?''
To your first question can only an
swer, as soon after the LIST of May as
possible. On the 1st Allie will arrive in
England. Now will you wish me hap
piness, Janet?'
with all my heart and soul. But
am dying to know more. Tell me where
you met her and indeed all about your
adventures; remember, you have been
away whole year.
I told her as much as I thought pru-
dent without revealing Allies identity,
and when my story was ended we sat
chatting on till lunchtime.
When I left the house in the after
noon, knew had insured kind re-
oeption for Allie when she should arrive
in England
{ Now 1 must skip the greater part Of
a year and come to the middle of the
last week in April, just three days, in
fact, before I knew I might expect my
darling.
had her own assertion that she
would be in England on the LIST of
May, and had never known her fail to
keep her word. just as that thought
passed through my brain there was
ring at the bell, and a few seconds later
my man brought up telegram on
salyer. With fingers trembling with
eagerness tore the envelope open and
read the following message:
Arrived this morning. Bundaberg House,
Surbiton. Come quickly. ALLIE.
There and then ran out of the room,
gave the telegraph boy in the porch half
crown for his trouble, seized my hat
and stick, hailed hanson and babe the
cabman drive me with all possible speed
to Waterloo. The man was smart
whip, and as he possessed a good horse
we covered the ground in grand style.
When we reached the station, I paid
him off, purchased my ticket and ran
on to the platform just in time to catch
the 6:l5 express. Principally at five
and twenty minutes to left the train
again at Surbiton and, proceeding into
the station yard, called another cab.
DO you know Bundaberg House?' !
asked the man as took my place in the
vehicle.
He shook his head and called to one
Of his mates.
where's Bundaberg House, Bill?"
"Out on the Portsmouth road nearly
to Thames Ditton," was the reply
that big house with the long bricl
wall next to Tiller's.''
II know now, SIR said the man.
climbing on to his box.
every we'll, then! An extra chilling
If you hurry up, I cried, and away ht
went.
At the end of short drive we pulled
up before pair of massive iron gates
A passerby threw them open for us, ant
we drove in, passed round a shrubbery
and pulled up at the front door. pait
the cabman off, and then, having watch
ed him drive down and through the
gates again, rang the bell. Next mo-
ment the door opened and trim maid
servant, without inquiring my name,
invited me to enter The front door
opened on to nicely built and furnish.
ed hall, and from it passed into hand.
some drawing room. twas empty, but
before had time to look round the
folding doors on the other side were
%hro1,v, To - ,-l A1:o y, :, ..,....