The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1905-11-12


The London bookkeeper looked an
anxious clerk; the, girl was glad when
she saw the pair alive at dinner. There
seemed to be little doing. Tho the
summer was already tropical, there had
observed in Hilda's hearing that the
recent days mastering would be tho
last for some little time. She was
thrown much in his company, and she
liked Mr.. Clarkson when Mrs. Clark
son was not there. In his wife 8 hands
the good man was wax; now a mere
echo, now veritable claque in him
self, he pandered indefatigably to the
multitudinous 'vanities Of ludicrously
vain woman But it was soon Miss
Bouverie 3 experience that he could,
when he dared, be attentively con-
siderate of lesser ladies. And in many
ways these were much the happiest days
that she had spent on the station.
They were, however, days Of con-
Stunning excitement, for the Gagged and
gagged nightingale that Hilda Bouverie
now conceived herself to be. She sang
not another note aloud. Mr.. Clarkson
lived in slippers on the veranda, which
Hilda now associated chiefly with a
strangers spurs; for Of the booted and
spurred stranger she was thinking in
cessantly, tho still without the emo
lions Of an ordinarily romantic temper
ament. Would he be at the concert, or
would he not7 Would he turn out to
be what she firmly imagined him., or
was she to find out her mistake
Might he not in any case have said or
written some pregnant word for herY
Was 1t beyond the bounds Of possibility
that she should be asked to sing after
all9 e., --...4
The last question was the only one
to be answered before the time, unless
a point blank inquiry Of Mrs. Clarkson
be included in the category. The lady
had returned with a gorgeous gown.
only less full Of her experiences than
Of the browning. triumph yet to come
She had bought every song of Si1
Julian g to be had in Melbourne, and
his name was always on her lips. In
reckless moment Miss Bouverie had
inquired his age.
''I really don't know" said Mrs
Clarkson. ''What can it matter7'
IT only wondered whether he was 6
youngish man or not. = =
Mrs. Clarkson had already raised hel
eyebrows; at this answer they disap
: peared behind toupet dating from
, her late descent upon the Victorian
| capital. .
5stReally, Miss Bouverie!'' she said
and nothing more in words. But tn,
tone was intolerable, and its accompany
} ing sheer a refinement in vulgarity
which only the really refined would
: have resented as it deserved. Mis-
Bouverie got up and left the room with
, out a word. But her flaming face LET
, a misleading tale behind.
She was not introduced to Sir Julian
but that was not her prime disappoint
ment when the great night came. Al
3 desire for an introduction, all interes
3 in the concert, died sudden death i
Hildaa Bouverie at her first glimpse 0
the gentleman who was duly presente
to Mrs. Clarkson as Sir Julian Crun
0 He was more than middle-aged; he wor
n a gray beard. and the air Of a some
$ what superlicious martyr; his near sigh
= was obviated by double lenses in gol
: rims. Hilda could have wept befor
+ the world. For nearly three weeks sh
g had been bowling in imagination to
b very different Sir Julian, bowling q
9 tho she had never beheld him in her lif
t before; and yet in three minutes 81
h saw how little real reason she had eve
o had for the illogical conclusion to whic