Aberdeen herald. [volume] (Aberdeen, Chehalis County, W.T.) 1886-1917, 1906-08-06

|
again.
Miss Winter. standing in the drawing
room. heard the tones of a mans voice,
and in few moments the maid knocked
and came into the drawing room.
"A gentleman, please, miss a Mr.. Eas.
ton." she said.
Mr.. Easton." repeated Agnes Winter.
For moment she forgot who this might
be. "Show him up at once"
Matthew Mark Easton had evidently
devoted some care to the question Of dress
on this occasion. Some extra care. per-
hapS. for he was peculiarly neat man.
lie always wore a narrow silk tie in thu
form Of a bow Of which the ends were
allowed to stick straight out sideways over
the waistcoat. His coat was embellished
by an orchid.
Il am afraid" he began at once, with
perfect equanimity. that | have made a
mlstake-a social blunder. ! came to in
form you that ! have secured box-the
stage hox-for Wednesday night, at the
Epic Iheater. 1t will be doing me a
pleasure il you will form one of my
party. do not know exactly how these
things are managed in England. but I
want Miss Grace and her brother to come
as my guests. too. Miss Grace was kin,l
enough to ask me to be one of theater
party, and mentioned the Epic, 80 l went
right away and got box"
"Oswin has just gone to procure seats
for the same night" said Miss Winter,
quickly.
No." replied the American, II stopped
him. | met in the street"
Miss Winter knew that they must have
met actually on her doorstep. and she
wondered why he should have deliberately
made aaisstatement. She felt indefinitely
guilty. AS il Oswin's visit had been sur
rpptitious. Suddenly she became aware
of the quick. fitting glance OF her CON-
panion's eyes. noting everything-each
tiny flicker of the eyclds, each indrawu
breath, each slightest movement.
| How am l to do It'll" he asked inno-
Gently. "A note to Miss Grace or a YER.
bal invitation to her brother?"
"A note" replied Miss Winter. with
gravity equal to his own, ito Helen,
saying that you have secured the stage
box for Wednesday evening. and hope
that she and her brother will accept seats
in it,
He nodded his head. signifying compre.
hension. and rose to 20.
THAT" said Miss Winters, skipping
away from the subject under discussion
with all the incOnseQuence of her sex and
kind, reminds me of something heard
said OF you the other evening. 1t was, in
fact, said to me-"
'Then." replied the American, with
CHEEKY gallantry. II should like to hear it..
Had it been said to any one else allow
that l should have been Indifferent"
He stood with his hands clasped behind
his back. looking down at her with a smile
upon his wistfu little face.
"Do you know Mr.. Santow?"
The smile vanished and the dancing
eyes at once assumed an expression Of
alert keenness. which was almost ludi-
crous in its contrast.
1.-The Russian attache-unaccredited? 2"
he replied, giving back question for ques-
ton. "N-o-o," he said. slowly. II do not ::
| think l know him by sight"
II have met him on several occasions
I rather like him. although l cannot un-
derstand him. There is an inward Mr..
Santow whom | have not met yet only
know a creature who smiles and behaves
generally like Il lamb"
"Santow." said Easton. deliberately, "is
altogether too guieess."
Miss Winter cOuntered sharply.
II thought you did not know h+m?"
II do not" answered Easton, imper-
turably.
Except by reputation"
Precisely"
He is reputed." said Miss Winter, ito
| he a great dinomatist"
$50 | belieyehence tho lamblike man.
ners."
Easton's face was a study in the art OF
suppressing curiosity.
do you think that he is wolf ia
lambs clothing?" asked tho lady with a
laugh. II will tell you what he "a i'd about
you"
THANK you"
I'VE were talking about Russis-it Is
his favorite topic-and he said that ut
times he felt like the envoy from some
heather country, 10 little il Russia
known by us. by way Of illustration. he
asked me to look around the room and
tell him if it did not contain all that was
most intellectual and learned in England
admitted that he was right. lie said
And vet there are but two men in the
room who speak Russian Then he point.
ed you out. There is one. he said; he
knows my country better than any man
in England. If he were a dplomatist
should fear him. What is heY asked
and he merely shrugged his shoulders IN
that guileless way to which you object"
Matthew Mark Easton did not appea
to be much impressed. lie moved from
one foot to the other. and took consider
able interest in the pattern of the carpet
"And" he inquired, did he mention
the name of the second accomplished per
SON."
NO"
IL wonder what It was?" said Easton
"Mr. Tyars." suggested the lady, calmly
Possibly. BY the way. | thought Of
asking him to join us on Wednesday a,
the Epic"
IL hope" said Miss Winter. with =
gracious little bow, that he will be abl'
10 come"
Dear Miss Grace began Easton
solemnly. as IL repeating a lesson. 4 hav'
secured the stage box at the Epic To-
Wednesday exenins next, and hope tina
you and your brother will do me tn,
pleasure Of accepting seats in it, vii
that do!'
Very nicely"
And may | count on you?"