The San Juan islander. [volume] (Friday Harbor, Wash.) 1898-1914, 1905-12-23
CHAPTER XIV.

The 18th of September had come, ano
to Babette's great discontinue Messrs.
DAVIS & Raven had not yet discovered
Sir Geoffrey's address. Only hve days
remained to the date of the wedding sne
had sworn to Illustrate.
She had been to town 70 get some
lace for her mistress, and incidentally 70
interview the lawyers, and was now re.
turning dispiritedly to Mallingford. Al
the station, as she was about entering
a conveyance, she heard some one be-
hind her asking for fly to go to Mall
ingford Park. She turned to look at the
inquirer, and for moment stood staring
at a tall, well-bred looking man. evil
IDENTIFY on the wrong side Of fifty, with
a sweet-faced girl Of eighteen on his arm
She recognized the girl as the young lazy
she had followed from the Museum to
her home, and whose name she had dls-
covered from the neighboring trades peo-
pie by her mistress orders about two
months before. Then she remembered
posting a letter to this young lady Tor
her mistress, and next she recalled hav-
ing seen Dornton's letter to the same
person few days later, and in blind
fashion without knowing why, she con-
nected their appearance at Mallingtord
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 Mallings mar
rage.
Babette was soon deposited at Mailing
ford House. She made herself presenta-
BILE, and went down to Miss Mailing 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
witness-if possible, overhear-the inter
view between Miss Mailing and these
Malletts.
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 it come up the long avenue
and stop at the main entrance. Then she
went to the hall and busied~ 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. 81
think you have made a mistake. If you
will follow me, monsieur, I will see II
Miss Mailing has returned from her
drive"
She took them to the boudoir, stood
for moment in thought, and then few
off to the picture gallery. As she ex-
pected, she found Jack and Miss Mailing
in the deep recess of a window at the
far end. She announced:
"Mr. and Miss Mallett in your bou-
doir, mademoisellew
Pauline sprang from her chair and
stood glazing at Babette as if she were
messenger from another world. The
words ''Sir Godfrey" 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.
II am not at home" she told her
maid Il left word to that effect"
Eyes, so they said, mademoiselle; but
happened to be in the hall, and I
thought 1 heard the gentleman ask for
Monsieur Dornton; so I offered to see
if he was in"
Go be continued,