Middletown transcript., 1904-05-28
writipg-tabIe buslIy scribbinp off seyera

writing-table buSfIy scribbing off several
notes. But, anyhow, we were under an
obligation to him for getting wet through
on our account the other night, when in
that pouring rain he found us cab after
the theatre. After that, we were bliged
to be polite to him.
Yes-polite, OF course, agreed h. lady
ship, twisting her rings thou. htfully
round and round upon her fingers but
you have to be more than ordinary polite
to man who has saved your life.
/ Yes-that is it, said Evelyn lugu-
briously.
1t is very annoying-tlie whole affair
has been so unfortunate, proceeded Lady
Howard with emphasis. If it were alb
solutely necessary that you should be
rescued by somebody, all well and good !;
but there is not another person in the
hotel whom would not have chosen to
undertake the task in preference to that
| man.
Evelyn received the information in
silence. Leaning her elbows on the
edge of the table, she let her chin sink
slowly into her two palms and gazed out
refectiyely through the open window.
Still there is nothing really against
him, she suggested at length, with slight
though perceptible diffidence. He-he
is very nice to talk to. The only objec-
ton is that nobody knows who he is, and
that his name is "Brown"-plain common
"Brown"-without even an ''e'' to add
little elegance to it. And of course one
generally considers that an officer is at
least gentleman.
An officer? Nonsense, child Be-
cause he calls himself "Major Brown" do
you suppose that is any criterion Of his
position in society4 Lady Howard spoke
quite disdainfully. He may be an officer,
certainly-he has the appearance of
soldier-but it is far more likely, since
nobody can discover what regiment he is
inland there is no such name in the
retired Army list-that he is merely a
major Of Volunteers in an obscure coun-
try town, following vulgar but honest
trade as soap-boiler or sugar-refner.
He may be, OF course. Pigs, l believe
may fly, returned Evelyn. nibbling the
end of her pen with perfectly uncon-
WINGED expression. But there is nothing
suggestive Of either soap or sugar about |
Major Brown.
No-I do not say that there is but ] |
dislike making promiscnous acquaint-
ances. Mr.. Falkland was talking about |
him only this morning, and he seems
thoroughly to understand my feelings
upon the subject.
Yet month ago Mr.. Falkland was
quite as proniiscuous an acquaintance
himself. 1t was only by chance We got
to know him and in his case he had not
even done anything for which we were
under any obligation to him, was EreIyn's
prompt reply.
My dear child, what are you talking
about? Lady IIoward's tones were
slightly impatient. Mr.. FalkIand's was
quite a different case. We made hs
acquaintance by chance; but l should
have been just as reluctant to have had
anything to say to him as | am about tllie
1ther man if we had not discovered in
4
him an old friend of both my husband
md your father. At the same time ]
must say never met anybody before in
whom could place such complete coh-
idence. He is so different from the
General run of yonng men, who can talk
# nothing but their slootiEg. tLeir
lorses, and their dogs.
Oh, yes-he is very nice, OF course J
'ut-Miss Luttrell paused for moment
he is not exactly young man !,
Possibly not. The touch of impatience 4
n her ladyship's tones was superseded :
y one OF distinct annoyance. Neither,
he added, is this mysterious individual
18th whom you have struck up such J
arm friendship. should imagine there (
re only very few years difference in z
leir ages.
TO BE CONTINUED