The Saint Paul globe., 1904-05-28


DO not remember my first meeting
a with Mrs Cavendish, but I dis
tinctly remember the day, ran across
her in town, when She was accom-
panied by young girl whom she in
troduced as her niece, Miss Rose Len
| noX, now making her temporary home
with her. Mrs Cavendfsh had fire.
quently invited me- to- spend a week or
two at her country house, CaVendish
hail. in Kent, but dislike verbal in
vftations, and hithertaI 7 had not cared
to accept In this instance, however,
| one glance. at the girls face decided
me, and L responded that should be
delighted. 1 parted from them on the
understanding that would arrive the
following week.
After that the days seemed to drag,
until at last l found hwself seated in
the train en- route for the little Kentish
town that was my destination. A warm
welcome awaited me at the hall Mrs.
Cavendish, a wealthy widow, with an
extensive knowledge of the world,
made delightful and accomplished
hostess; and Miss Lennox-welI, no
man, bIase and cynical as even 1 was,
could have wished for sweeter di-
vinfty. I do not disguise from myself
that my every. speech and act had it's
main root in her. and she would have
been less than woman had she not
guessed at something Of the kind. Her
aunt called her Rose, and 1 speedily
began to call her Miss Rosie, but it
was rare that had a chance of speak
ing to her alone. had to remember
| that was a guest, and in that capac-
ity Mrs. CavendislT made great de-
n1andS on me.
One morning Miss Rosie opened
letter at breakfast Which made her
look rather grave. and upon consulting
with Mrs. Cavendisf both she and that
| lady agreed it would be necessary for
her to go up to London the next day
and stay until she had completed the
| business in hand, which had reference
to a small legacy, bequeathed her long
since and only now about to be paid.
/ was very much dfsmayed to learn
later in the day that she would be alb
sent week, If not more. My invita-
| ton had not been specified for any par
| ticular length of time, and I feared
/ that / must shortly offer to take my
| departure. 1 felt / had scarcely re-
| ceived sufficient encouragement to
| venture to pour out my heart to her
| before she left, but if must leave be-
| risk it. All day I sought for an oppor-
tunity to speak, but none presented it
self
| The next morning she was down
early, owing to the journey before her
| I was always punctua1 myself, and
| was already there, but Mrs. Cavendish
| had not yet put in an appearance. I
| could count on a few minutes, and
would make the most of them.
| You ought not to be going away
Miss Rosie" I remarked, Just when I
| am here. You should have chosen an
| other time to 60
We'll, it's only for afew days." she
replied BRIGHTLY week or a fort
night"
You said week yesterday" I in
terrupted, land You must not stay
longer than week. If you do shall
| come and fetch you back"
Good gracious." she exclaimed, at
can't make and difference to you
either way
That's not for you to say" I re-
turned with dignity, because you
don't know what a difference it makes
to me. Perhaps-'
At this moment the. entrance of Mrs.
Cavendish cut short my speech. much
to my vexation, for l fancied had be-
gun to read not unfax erable signs in
her averted cheek and vdowncast eyes.
Mrs. Cavendisn scarcely seemed her
usual anIicable self that morning. I
could understand she felt upset at
Miss Rosie's going. but that need not
have made her so short and snappy
with her. We made a hurried and
rather uncomfortable breakfast, and
then escorted Miss Rosie to the station
As her train finally disappeared from
view and ere We left the platform
Mrs. Cavendish turned and harangued
me excitedly. Was / about to commit
the indiscretion Of falling in love with
girl with baby face, and no more
knowledge of life than a wax doll! "A
girl who had no means beyond small
capital which she was living on in the
most reckless way. Who had neither
wealth, nor power. nor talent to rec
ommend her. What would your grand