Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1902-01-06

truth-it was his misfortune rather than
their fault II 1t ranked.
The ranking process became very evil
dent In the drawing room after dinner.
The excursionists had not returned. Va
vasour's distraction of mind and uneasi-
ness were unconcealed After fldgeting
for some time he finally jumped up and
went out on the terrace. From the end
the road winding up to the hotel showed
clearly in the moonlight.
Just as the first sounds of a carriage APP
preaching the hotel reached the drawing
room Vavasour reappeared. There was
curious change in his face, though he in
quired, with affected Indifference:
What other man, besides the Vicomte
de Boisville, was with tho Trubsee party5"
"No other man," said Mrs. Pearson.
Have you seen them? Arc they coming?"
"Yes; ! saw the carriage on the road be-
low. De Boisville is dark, with straight,
strongly marked eyebrowsf"
THAT is he, said Mrs. Pearson. Very
foreign looking as to the face. His man
ner and his tailor are moro English"
Under the circumstances John Vava-
sour s undoubted popularity of speech and
expression seemed natural, though the
Pearsons were puzzled to detect the feel
ing that prompted it, Was he jealous or
piaued? How would he meet the Huntersf
He was not likely to make scene, but
neither was he man to walk captive in
the train of triumphant rival. The stu
alton could hardly fail to have interesting
developments.
John Vavasour faced it at once with
characteristic determination. When the
Trubsee party entered the hall from their
carriage, he stood there to greet them.
Both mother and daughter instantly rec
ognized the Importance of the moment.
No surprise had overtaken them; they were
fully equipped with tho armor Of forewarn-
ing. Lady Hunters motherly manner was
unchanged, except for subtle shade Of
difference as between universal and par
ticular motherliness. Rosies composed
greeting was triumph in its way-the
smile and outstretched hand apparently as
of old, and yet how glacially different!
Plain words might have conveyed to Va
vasour more coarsely, but not more clear
~, that all was changed since the parting
In the Cannes railway station, not many
months before; changed, too, since the
dispatch of charming missive, which
bore an Engelberg postmark not yet q
month old.
NJ. de Boisville had politely passed on
during the interchange of greetings, and
Vavasour had not been brought face to
face with his successful rival. Lady Hunt
er. however, had said to the latter at part
ing:
eau revoirl We shall meet again in the
drawing room, and you must tell mo all
your news, the dear old home news from
England We have had no dinner and arc
de Bo!syille. You must know him.
quite charming"
The suggestion Of gracefully dealt
coup do grace in her ladyship's words had
not been lost on John Vavasour. The
Pearsons had necessarily missed the meet
ing in the hall. They were able to form
a very accurate guess of what had occur
red, however, when vavasour joined them
in the drawing room as they sat there
with Lady Hunter. They had not expect
ed such prompt action on the Hunters
part. Mrs. Pearson realized with sharp
pang what a complete triumph of Rosie 1t
meant. The vioomte must have all but
declared himself. John Vavasour had
come too late to create even complication
or doubt for at that moment, while Va
vasour sat with them, calm, but pale, Ro-
sic was walking outside in the moonlight
with the vicomte, the young people having
gone out on tho terrace from the dining
room, allowing Lady Hunter to join the
party in the drawing room alone.
II hope Miss Hunter Is not kept in her
room by fatigue" John vayasour had
formally said to Lady Hunter, who had
then explained her absence with somewhat
elaborate elaboration.
Mrs. Pearson was not in an amiable
mood naturally enough. It was hard, con-
sidering the numerical disproportion OF
the sexes, that Rosie should have had q
choice OF two men, and to tho ousting Of
Amy. Vavasours position, instead of ex-
citing compassion in Mrs. Pearson's
breast, moved her in the other direction.
Sho showed decided disposition to turn
the conversation on the vicomte-"rub
him in,' as it were.
"Who is NJ. de BoisvilleP" vavasour in
CURED ut last.
"You must hear Lady Hunters elo-
quence on the subject, said Mrs. Pear
son, with meaning smile. Mine would
hardly do him justice.
Lady Hunter was not to be drawn. She
responded by saying that she
would presently introduce the vicomte to
Vavasour.
II have been good deal in French So
ciety this year." Vavasour remarked. Il
was staying with Woodtown at the en-
bassy. His father is the ambassador to
Paris, you know, and his mother is a
Does your friend know
the embassy people?"
''He knows every one, all the right peo-
pie, SO many of our friends. OF course he
knows tho Forests in Paris, Lady Hunt
er said.
HE has often spoke of Lord Wood
with him"
ssOh, indeedl' exclaimed Vavasour.
The peculiar dryness Of his tone escaped
observation, for just at the moment Rosie
and the vicomte passed on the terrace.
The face of the latter, happening to be
turned toward the hotel, was caught by the
light of the electric lamp on the yeranda.
1t showed quite clearly to the party In the
drawing room.
THAT is NJ. do Boisville, +" Lady Hunter
said to Vayasour, mot man to be easily
forgotten. Do you remember to have met
him2"
Eyes; do recognize the face, (" said Va
vasour slowly.
or,>> y III At,,aI