Camas Prairie chronicle. [volume] (Cottonwood, Idaho) 1901-1917, 1906-02-09
CHAPTER XIV.

The 18th of September had come, ana
to Babette's great discontinue Messrs.
DAVIS & Raven had not yet discovered
Sir 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 dispiritedly to Mallingford. At
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 a 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 lady
she had followed from the Museum to
her home, and whose name she had dis
covered from the neighboFing trades peo-
pie by her mistress orders about two
months before. Then she remembered
posting a 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 a wild hope
spranx 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 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
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 busted herself look.
ing for an imaginary missing shaw
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 allow voice. 81
think you have made a mistake. If yoI
will follow me, monsieur, l will see il
Miss Mailing has returned from he
drive"
She took them to the boudoir, stooC
for moment in thought, and then flew
off to the picture gallery. As she ex
pected, she found Jack and Miss Mailing
, in the deep recess of window at tn
, far end. She announced:
''NIr. and Miss Mallett in your bou
, doir, mademoisellep
Pauline sprang from her chair an,
L stood glaring at Babette as if she wer
! a messenger from another world. Tn
! words a"Sir Godfrey rose to her lips
l hut she remembered in time that his in
I dividuality was not known to any on
but herself, and she checked the nam
j with an effort.
! 81 am not at home" she told he
! maid. "I left word to that effect"
I eyes, so they said, mademoiselle; bu
:. I happened to be in the hall, and
!. thought l heard the gentleman ask fo
), Monsieur Dornton; so l offered to Sc
4 if he was in"
] Go be continued.l