New-York tribune., 1906-11-18

believe in it, there are times when it seems to
me triiie airy Now, you are a level headed
person, and, living over there, your point of
view would be interesting"
Il should be glad to hear anything you
might have to tell me, Mrs. Van Reinberg." |
said slowly; but you must please remember
that am an Englishman."
Oh, we don't want to hurt your old coun-
tryl" she declared. Il consider that for all
the talk about kinship and all that sort of
thing, she treats us-I mean women like N.Y.
elf-disgracefully. But that is neither here
nor there. have finished with England for the
present. We are going to play greater game
Mrs. Van Reinberg had dropped her voice a
little. There was a somewhat uncomfortable
pause. | could see that, even at the last mo-
ment, she realized that IN telling me these
things she guilty of what might well turn
out to be a colossal indiscretion. | myself
was almost in a worse dilemma. If | accepted
her confidence, | was almost, if not quite,
bound in honor to respect 1T. If, as suspected,
it fitted in with the great scheme, if it indeed
formed never so small part of these impending
happenings in which Guest so firmly believed,
what measure of respect were we likely to pay
to 1T? None at all. If | stopped her, should
be guilty, from Guests point of view, of in
credible folly; If | let her go on, it must be
with the consciousness that | was accepting
her condolences under wholly false pretenses.
1t was a big problem for a man like myself,
new to the complexities of life. | could only
think of Guests words: "Consciencei For
Heavens sake, man, lock It up until We have
done our dutyi"
l leaned against the wooden rail of the
piazza, looking across the grounds. Within
dozen yards or so of us, several of Mrs. Van
Reinberg's guests, with a collection of golf
clubs, were Clambering into huge automO-
bile. Beyond the pleasure gardens was
range of forest covered hills, yellow and gold
now with the glory of the changing foliage. In
the valley was a small steeplechase course,
toward which several people were riding. The
horse which had been saddled for me was still
being led about a little way down the avenue.
With the exception that there was no shooting
party, 1t was much like the usual sort of gath
ering at English country house. And vet
it all seemed wholly unreal to me. | felt
strong inclination, perhaps little hysteriCal,
to burst out laughing. This was surely
gigantic joke, planned against the proverbial
lack of humOr of my Countrymenl / was not
expected to take it seriouslyi And yet in
moment j remembered certain established
facts, of which these things were only the nat
ural sequence. | remembered, too, a certain
air of seriousness and disposition toward
confidential talk manifested among the older
members of the party.
Mrs. Van Reinberg's suppressed but earnest
voice again broke the silence. She called me
back to her side. Mr.. Courage" she said,
You are going to marry Adele2"
Il hope so, | answered confidently, glanC-
ing away to where she stood talking to de
Nalentin on the piazza steps.
Il shall treat YOU then she declared, q" as
one of the family. Tonight, after dinner, we
are going to hold the meeting for which this
hOuseful of people was really brought together
| invite You to come to it. Afterward YOU will
understand everything. Now | must hurry
off, and so must you Your horse is getting
the tidgets." She swept off down the piazza
De Nalentin came forward eagerly to meet
her. | saw his face darken as She whispered
in his ear.
To h -1r+;y.,sJ DSYf