Middletown transcript., 1904-08-13
a FASCINATING GUEST
BIZ FLORENCE e ARNsrRoSG
RY FLORENCE G. ARMsTRoNG

over, with perplexed con-
traction of her brows, the
V thin sheets OF her sons
letter ;"I wish he had
been more explicit AN old chum OF
mine'-as if 'chum' might not mean any
thing lis going to stay in your part Oh
the world. / wish you would show her
its a woman, my dear some little
civilty. She was awfully good to me
when I was locked up at can
for the life of me decipher the name J
and now she herself is in trouble, having
lost her old man, although most OF her
friends myself included - thought II a
happy release There-he doesn' t say a
word more; and, as he is off to Burmah,
we can't ask him to explain"
Lily Adaire raised herself from her pile
of cushions and extended slender hand.
"Let me look at the letter, nanny"
she said. "Jack's episles are mvar-
iably suchia jumble that two heads are
better than one over them
She read and re-read the. sheets oil
scrawled handwriting.
"No-I can't make anything more out
of it than you have done, nanny" she
admitted regretfully. HE is careless
fellow not to tell us more and he knows
it will be months before he can write to
us again. His friend may have come and
gone before we have ap opportunity OF
knowing who she is. All, stay+here is
scribble inside the envelope Tell Lii
she is sure to like the dear old creature
she is Mrs. Valancy" Well, it is not
very much, but still it is something. We
must find out if there is anyone answer
ing .to that name in the neighborhood;
the Castle girls or Mr.. Osterly will be
sure to know. Suppose you 60 across and
ask?''
"And leave you my pet ?'
sob, Pm all right | feel strong
enough for a trot through the woods by
myself"
eff you tried it, you would be moaning
and groaning all night, and Jecks would
have to rush off at daybreak for Doctor
Gem! How reckless you are, Lii! If L
was not always ON the watch, Doctor Gem
would never be out Of the house r.
Lilias Adaire made pretty moue. The
continual presence Of the handsome
young Doctor at her side would not have
been an runmixed evil to her. She was
young, and, if she had been little less
slender and had had just a shade more
color in her face, even the most critical
of her own sex would not have denied
that she was pretty; but she looked too
fair and fragile.
eff you can be happy over the box OF
books that came this morning, l will
make my way to the Castle, and perhaps
bring one Of the girls home to tea," she
said, shaking up the cushions on which
her daughter had been lying.
"Oh, that would be nice of you!'' cried
Lily, Frightening. "Let lit be Ethel.
Pm sure she'll want to hear all about
Jackw
Mrs. Adaire paused
"Was Jack serious in that quarter?'
she said.
'Do brothers ever confide their little
secrets to their sisters?' Lily asked.
Ethel likes him"
'tThat's not it. Did he like Ethel?'
"Of course he liked her-in way!
Isn't she one of the dearest girls in the
world? But I don't in the least know
how far the affair went"
II can Idly confess would rather he
liked her than that he should like my
own niece" Mrs. Adaire said, with
little sigh.
''You needn't be afraid of Clara" Lily
witha laugh. 81 know
enough to be certain Of that. Now run
away, dear little mans; and be sure you
bring Ethel back to teal
Being in no particular hurry, Mrs.
Adaire leisurely pursued her way
through the woods until she reached the
stile by the road to Castle Cliffe, which
intersected the leafy glades and formed
boundary-line between her own residence
and her brothers. there she paused, ar
rested by the sound Of approaching
wheels. The vehicle presently stopped
at a curve in the road, just out of sight,
although the voices OF its occupants
reached her ears. Mrs. Adaire was as
devoid of curiosity as many of her sex,
but hearing her own name shouted upon
the highway caused her ears to tingle
Hastily she mounted the moss-grown
rails, and, as she stood with one foot over
the topmostA bar and with her hat fopp-
ing into her eyes, an open carriage drove
swiftly up and stopped in the middle of
the road not ten yards from her. At the
same moment some unintelligible words
M6TS enUubSu w HOL AZ lOuSu fOiCc.
In her bewilderment she could do moth
ing but stare at the pretty woman clad
in deep. widows weeds who sprang from
the carriage and approached her.
''Pray, my good woman" said the
stranger, in silvery tones, "can you
direct me to the residence of Mrs. Adaire?'
Mrs. Adaire, still in state of bewilder-
ment, could not find voice to reply, until
a repetition Of the question in a slightly
imperious tone put her on her metal.
II am Mrs. Adaire," she said, with as
much dignity as she could assume.
The fairy-like form in the roadway
sprang forward, two little hands sheated
in the most unexceptionable of gloves.
were extended to her, while voice that
was silyer-sweet rang in her ears.
81 am Mrs. yaIancy. Doubtless your
son has mentioned me to you?"
The fair widow was looking into Mrs.
Adaire's flushed face with soft gray eyes
and most sympathetic smile. Mrs.
Adaire elapsed the little hands.
''0h, Pm so glad-so very gladl How
good of you to save me the trouble OF
searching for you! was on my way TO
L T.. l.