Middletown transcript., 1904-05-21

famed Luttrell c. "a lie owner 0
one of the finest estate ennty. s
He had almost finished lis diliuer AM
was quietly contemplating a eSfefs
stroll round the grounds with ene q 1si
best Havanas, when sharp bark mad.
him look up just in time to behold til.
black poodle once more dasl,ing across
the lawn in hot pursuit Of butterfly.
In an instant he was all interest. 1
the dog were there, his mistress wouid
not be far away and, even as the thought
passed through his mind, the same laugh
ing tones which had been ringing in hi,
ears for the past half-hour were borne
distinctly towards him. Bending for
ward, lie saw the girl herself, slight
graceful figure, leaning back in one Of the
low bamboo chairs which stood SO inyit
ingly beneath the shade of the trees.
She was not alone however. In close
attendance this time was a man in even.
ing dress, who had seated himself by hel
side on a straight backed form,
which he had evidently chosen in prefer,
ence to more luxurious seat half yard
farther away.
Yes at second glance he came to the
conclusion that Miss Luttrell was even
prettier than he had imagined her to be
at first. There was nothing statuesque
about her beauty, nothing absolutely per-
feet in her features but the face before
him was one which, once seen, could
never be forgotten.
There was most bewitching emile
upon her lips now as she laughingly re-
piled to some remark of her companion,
who was leaning forward swinging his
stick backwards and forwards and trying
to knock off the heads of some daisies
but his head was turned towards the girl
beside him, at whom he was gazing in
rapt attention.
Who is the fellow? murmured the
stranger, as he put up his eye-glass and
surveyed the individual in question with
an air Of curiosity not unmingled with
envy. Her brother? Fiddlesticks !!
More likely her father with shrug of
his shoulders, though an unmistakable
cloud gathered upon his face as he noted
the unpaternal manner in which he had
laid his hand on the. back of her chair
and was listening to her words. l can
always come within year or two of
anybody's age and that fellow is either
forty-four or forty-fve if he is day!
The man whom the stranger at the
window set down SO decidedly to play
the unromantic part of parent had the
word Bachelor" written upon every line
of his countenance. At the same time he
was noticeable-looking parsonage, gen.
tlemanly in appearance rather than hand
some, with a clean shaven face, clearly.
cut features, and dark almost fascinat-
ingly determined eyes set deep beneath
overhanging brows which gave character
to an otherwise unremarkable face.
For the past few minutes however the
spreading branches of the trees had
thrown everything into shade. But the
sun was setting in q crimson gloiy, and
,ne golden shaft strayed beneath the dark
heavy foliage, where it fingered for few
seconds to bring out the lovely blending
If tints in the girls nut-brown hair and
% light up every feature of the man by
ler side.
The deuce broke involuntarily from
,he strangers lips.
Yes, sir-beg your pardon, sir Ched-
lar cheese or Stilton? The waiter was
engaged brushing the crumbs from the |
next table, but in an instant he was at |
his post.
Neither ! was the brusque reply. But
yith OBTAINING gesture-haye you such |
/ thing as visitors list? II you have,
ct me see it.
Certainly, sir will bring it at once.
And the waiter smiled to himself as he
ollowed the direction of the strangers
yes and then turned away. 1t was
stonishing what an amount of interest
he could raise by the mere mention of
Hiss Luttrell and her ten or twelve
housand a year!
Great was his disappointment however,
s he laid the book on the table and
pened it at the page at which it had be-
un to open naturally, to find that, in
tead of the strangers eyes being riveted,
s everybody's always were, to the bot
DIN of the leaf, where the names of Lady
Toward and Miss Evelyn Luttrell boldly
onfronted the reader, with the full ad-
resi- appended, they instantly wandered
IF to a few lines above, where, in easily
letters, was wrltten-Gibert
alkland.
Thank you-that will do. He closed
be book and pushed it aside. j
l am sorry to trouble you, sir, but
nd the waiter placed an inkstand and
ems at his elbow-perhaps you'd kindly
id your name.
My name? Oh-yes-yery we'll!
He was staring somewhat abstractedly
trough the window but at the request
e took up the quill, dipped it into the
TX, and was just beginning the line with
rather awkward-looking 49," when he
iddenly paused, hesitated second, and
is pen hurriedly through tie capital,
nally wrote "Major Brown, London in
ear legible characters.
A few minutes later Major Brown, as
e designated himself, rose abruptly from
is chair and, with his hands in his
ockets, was crossing the room towards
le door, when glimpse of dainty lace
andkercllief lying half concealed be-
cath the folds of a table-cloth attracted
is notice. He stopped to get it, and,
ancing at tile monogram and crest en-
roidered in one corner, was about to
and il to one Of the walters to deliver.it
J its rightful owner, when faint smile
'r the moment dispelled the frown which I,
4