Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1902-11-27

thought. Again she covered an awE-
ward pause. Dear me, l wonder
where Ruth is this very minute"
''When saw her last, dancing with
young Ransome. A harmless youth,
assure you," he added whimsically as
Mrs. Burns made a motion to rise.
Don't go, please, until l have some
thing must tell you before we land"
1t was coming. The guilty chaperon
closed her eyes tiguratively and pre-
pared to take the plunge. She would
pledge her aid and give it.
Leslie
She started. Five years had passed
since she had heard that name from his
lips. Vaguely she wished he had COM
menced some other way.
"Do you remember when father sent
me abroad? l was fresh from college,
not much more than boy. l knew lit
tie of life-women least of ALL My eX-
periences abroad with fellows l liked
first bewildered and ven fascinated
me, and when father wrote l might
make another year of it was wild
with delight.
"But you remember / wrote to you
regularly. I supposed you understood.
When read of your coming out was
tremendously proud. think I ordered
lilies of the valley for you by cable. l
remember, too, thinking that when
you'd had season Of that sort Of thing
and I'd finished my jaunt we'd settle
down and be-very happy. I never
dreamed that you were waiting for
me to say So / thought so clever a girl
as you could read between the lines of
my letters, and somehow / wanted to
hear a certain little word from your
own lips"
The woman at his side started to
speak, but he waved her aside. The
crimson glow Of his cigar had turned
to gray ashes, but he still clutched it
between his fingers.
"The letter announcing your engage
ment reached me in Madrid. I've never
been in the God forsaken hole since.
When reached America, you and your
husband had gone abroad. For year
I tried life on the street, but could not
stand for it, Then tried shooting lions
in Africa and tigers in India. That
went better than fleeing lambs in Wall
street. I was visiting with a mighty
good fellow on Curzon's staff when
heard-quite by accident-that you
'were-free. Two days later I turned
my face westward. did not intend to
stop in Paris-but you were there.
thought-great heavens, how hoped
you'd be glad to see me, but you were
not. And, Leslie" his tone was actually
commanding, II want to know why"
The woman had been listening with
bowed head, but with strangely hap
py light cleaning in her eyes. Hesitat-
ingly, incoherently, she explained her
conduct in Paris, in London and aboard
ship. Before she finished Hackett, pos
sessing himself of both her hands, ex-
claimed:
"And you really thought it was that
child! Oh, Leslie, Leslie, couldn't you
read the truth in my eyes?"
Mrs. Durns suddenly recalled her du-
ties as chaperon She withdrew her
hands from his masterful grasp.
"How could l look you in the eye
when 1 knew 1 was unfaithful to the
trust imposed on me by Mrs. Cuscad-
DEM"
The old piquant humor rang in her
voice. She had risen. From the saloon
came the Naturalization of light
music. The deck was free from prone
naders. They were alone for the first
time in five years.
49, =
"Oh, what will Mrs. Cuscadden sayY"
Hackett bent over her to gather up
her wraps.
81 really don't see that she has any
thing to do with out little affair, provid-
ed you return her daughter heart whole
and free from international entangle-
ments," he answered joyously.
A shadow fell across the bar Of light,
then another, and the figure of girl
was silhouetted against the brilliant in
terror of the ship.
Mrs. Burns, where are your We're
to have a good old fashioned Virginia
reel to celebrate our last night on
board Do hurry up! We have part
ner waiting for your
Then as Hackett's dark figure sudden
ly loomed up behind Mrs. Burns he
glanced mischievously at Ruth and ex-
claimed, with happy ring of owner
ship in his voice:
won't do for her partner? rather
think this dance is Miner