Heppner gazette. [volume] (Heppner, Morrow County, Or.) 1892-1912, 1905-12-14
CHAPTER Nv.

The 18th of September had come. and
to Babette's great discontinue Messrs
DAVIS & Raven had not yet discovered
Sr Geoffrey's address. Only five days
remained to the date Of the wedding she
had sworn to Illustrate.
She had been to town to get some
lace for her mistress, and incidentally to
interview the lawyers, and was now re-
turning dspiritedy to Mallingford. Al
the station, as she was about entering
a conveyance, she heard some one De-
hind her asking for a fly to go to Mall
ingford Park. She turned to look at the
inquirer, and for a moment stood staring
at tall, wel-bred looking man, evil
dently on the wrong side OF fifty, with
a sweet-faced girl of eighteen on his arm.
She recognized the girl as the young lady
she had followed from the Museum to
her home, and whose name she had dis
covered from the neighboring trades peo-
pie by her mistress orders about two
months before. Then she remembered
posting letter to this young lady for
her mistress. and next she recalled hav-
ing seen Dornton's letter to the same
person a few days later. and in blind
fashion without knowing why. she con-
nected their appearance at Mallingford
with those letters, and wild hope
sprang up in her heart that this elderly
aristocrat and his pretty daughter had
come to Mallingford to help on her pur-
pose of preventing Miss Malling's mar
riage.
Babette was soon deposited at Mailing
ford House. She made herself presenta-
BILE and went down to Miss Malling's
boudoir on the ground floor on the pre-
tense of discussing her mornings pur-
chases with her mistress. but really with
the determination to hang about the
neighborhood of the reception rooms, and
wtness-if possible. overhear-the inter-
view between Miss Mailing and these
Maletts.
The windows of the boudoir overlooked
a long stretch of the principal drive.
When Babette reached the room it was
empty She placed herself to watch for
the arrival Of the fly from the village.
She saw 1t come up the long avenue
and stop at the main entrance. Then she
went to the hall and busted herself look
ing for an imaginary missing shawl
among the numberless wraps lying about.
The hall porter, for some unknown rea-
son, was not at his post and an inexpe-
rienced footman informed Mr.. Mallett
that Miss Mailing was not at home. Ba-
bette, thinking she saw the chance OF
help from these people gradually slipping
away, came forward boldly.
Are you sure you are right in de-
nying Miss Mailing to this gentleman,
Philip" she asked. in a low voice. II
think you have made mistake. II you
will follow me, monsieur, l will see il
Miss Mailing has returned from her
drive"
She took them to the boudoir, stood
for moment in thought, and then flew
off to the picture gallery. AS she ex-
pected, she found Jack and Miss Mailing
in tho deep recess Of a window at the
far end. She announced:
"Mr and Miss Mallett In your bou-
doir, mademoiselle"
Pauline sprang from her chair and
stood glarng at Babette as If she were
a messenger from another world. Tho
words "Sir Geoffrey" rose to her lips,
but she remembered in time that his in
dividuality was not known to any one
but herself, and she checked the name
with an effort.
81 am not at home" she told her
maid 81 left word to that effect
yes, so they said, mademosele; but
l happened to be in the hall, and I
thought l heard the gentleman ask for
Monsieur Dornton; so l offered to see
II he was in."
ITO be continued.)