The Washington herald., 1907-09-22

II was about O'Clock in the after
noon, and the heat OF the sun in these
late August days was stiu great. The
great house looked delightfully."- cool. with
us striped sun-blinds and the awning
before the front door. which was open.
showing a wide teSselated hall with
Oriental rugs and palms in brass-bound
oaken tubs.
The tall footman in quiet livery. who
came 10 the door in answer @ his ring
said that Nine Leblanc and her niece
were both at home and led the visitor
without delay across the wide. handsome
ly-furnished inner han 10 a long room
at the back Of the house. the windows
OF which, opening down to the ground
showed a delightful garden, gay with
flowers and with a big fish nnud in the
center Of the lawn. IN the middle OF
the pond was a little fountain. the spray
from which sparklcd In the sunlight
From behind a thick hedge of yew which
shut of the lawn and flower garden
could be seen the trees Of the kitchen
garden beyond. and around the lawn it.
self were more trees. the shade Of which.
though refreshing 10 the eve. had caus-
ed bare patches 10 appear on the grass.
St Quintin had no time 10 see more
than this, and that the grounds were ex-
tensive and beautifully kept before the
door of the drawing-room opened again,
and a stout middle-aged lady. very well
dressed in soft gray silk and wearing
some magnificent diamond and ruby
rings. came in. smiling and holding out
her hand
"Ah, This. then. is the gentleman who
was so kind 70 my niece Marie when
she lost her little dog cried madame.
speaking with a marked French accent,
but fuently and well 4 am very glad
to see you. Monsieur st. Quintin. You
/ shall come into the garden with me and
/ see my husband and my niece also
She had turned toward the nearest Of
/ the long French windows. when the door
again opened behind her and the foot
/ man announced.
/ Monsieur Marbeau-'
/ Nine Leblanc glanced hastily, and,
| as il seemed 70 s.. Quintin, rather anx-
iously At him.
/ This newcomer was a tall. stout, POM
pous. forid Frenchman. of about forty
years Of age. tightly buttoned up in "A
frock coat. which seemed scarcely to be
! large enough for his portly form. so
evidently anxious had he been 10 squeeze
himself into the smallest possible dimen-
sions For alas, he had reached the
period al which the figure becomes either
! a god 10 whom sacrifices have 10 be
made. OF a memory 10 be held in esteem
and mourned over.
/ He greeted Nine. Leblanc with offusion.
/ looked askance at the other visitor. a. Z
asked tenderly after Monsieur Leblanc
and respectfully after Miss Densley.
/ Madame replied with charming good
/ humor. and presently. telling Monsieur
! Marbeau that she had something TO show
/ him. something that would interest him
very much. with his exquisite taste in
works of art" she directed St. Quintin
/ to go out into the garden. where he
would find her husband and her niece un-
/ der the cedar tree on the lawn.
Then she turned. smiling. to the
! French visitor while the English one
/ delighted to be able to meet Miss Dens-
i lev again. went out into the beautiful
grounds. and soon came upon the girl
/ looking more charming than ever.
She was dTessed in a frock of cream
muslin that just escaped the ground; and
/ the big hat she wore. covered with bill
lows Of cream lace. seemed TO give hei
an added charm of picturesqueness sucI
as she had not had at Cowes in hel
smart little sailor hats and trim. tailor
made clothes
She greeted him with a smile of de-
light that enraptured the young man
and the red blush that suffused hel
round. olive-tinted cheeks made his hear
beat wildly. Impulsively holding out hel
hand to him, she said:
"Oh. what a pleasant surprise!
thought you would have forgotten
There was something so straightfoT
ward and sincere in her welcome thai
St Quintin lost his head. murmureC
something unintelligible, and was only
recalled to himself by the voice of tn,
gentleman who had sauntered up Il
them. and who said in perfect English:
Introduce me, Marie"
ST. Quintin and Miss Densley boil
] turned at the same moment, and the girl
laughing apologetically. and still blush
ing q rosy red. said:
Uncle, this is Mr.. St. QUintin. tn,
gentleman who saved Flossie from beinl
run over when I was at Cowes with Mis-
Stanley"
Monsieur Leblanc was a little thin
arlstocratic looking man. extremely neat
from his well-cut. close-trimmed bear,
to the tips Of his pointed shoes. II
i vas dressed in an alpaca coat and wild