The Washington herald., 1907-11-10
BY
FLORENCE WARDEN

whether he had rot been too hasty in
assuming that the ladies were not COM
ing For the two or three days stay
which WAS all that had been proposed.
surely no single person could need such
an enormous amount Of luggage,
And St Quintin stopped short. argued
the matter a little while with himself.
and then. becoming more and more curl
Gus as to what the Frenchman's real de-
signs and intentions were, decided 10 play
him trick for trick. and TO see the bust
ness through after all
Although they were I'm the wilds. they
were not altogether cut of from human
kind in the little village. and as he was
well on the alert against surprises. he
could take care Of himself
So he took his bag and portmanteau
down from the omnibus. and turning
back toward the village, met Monsieur
Leblanc with smile as that worthy
gentleman came rather hesitstingly to-
ward him from the cottage garden
St Quintin noticed that there was an
other man. a burly, portly, red-faced.
/ genial-looking man. tall and OF typical
John Bull aspect. standing in the little
| porch Of the cottage.
st. Quintin spoke first
We'll Monsieur Leblanc, Tn awfuUy
disappointed. and I thought Of going
back straight 70 town; by Jove, I did,
| But I've got over my III temper and II
you'll put up with me til the ladies' come
/ to-night-when I shall be all good humor
! again-IH stay
The face Of the Frenchman expressed
great relief al this change Of front II
| is evident that hS had experienced great
uneasinesS at St Quinun's resentment
All. we'll he said; you have your
reward. for there Is "a pleasant surprise
in store for you. II the ladies are not
| here yet. there is some one else who Is
waiting TO see you. some one whom L
think YOU viii welcome with eagerness."
And he turned toward the cottage and
waved his hand toward the stout man
IN the little porch.
Who is it?' asked St. Quintin. trying
not 70 speak too dryly.
1t is Mr. Williams. Come and 1 viii
/ introduce you
Monsieur Leblanc dragged him toward
| the lit,e slope that led 10 the cottage
/ garden. reckoning as he cid SO % the
/ pOTtly stranger. who advanced. with
I an open smile on his pleasant and genial
I face. and held out his hand in a frank
/ and engaging manner
Mr. St Quintin, I'm delighted 10 make
your acquaintance" cried ne. almost be-
( fore the Freedman could utter the name
/ I've heard a great deal about you. and
I'm sure We shall get "n together, shant
vxe2''
St Quintin. IN any other circum-
I stances. would have agreed with him.
There was something attractive. con-
genial and open about this red-facei
! red-haired. p0rtly person. in the loose
/ velveteeu coat, something almost Bohe-
I milan about his dress, about the length
/ OF his curly hair, the arrangement Of .his
/ flowing tie. which ConJrasted strongly.
and 81. Quinun was inclined 10 think. ia
vOrably with Monsieur Leblanc's stUdi-
Gus cold neatness OF appearance. The
| two men were as the poles. the one the
urbane. bland. courteous man Of easy
manners and quiet speech. the other the
Z burly. loud-voiced. laughing. huffman
nered man who despised society and
loved pipe and his ease in the chimney
! corner
St Quintin shook hands readily. He
was Modified against his viii, and began
I 20 wonder whether things were going
70 turn out so badly after all
: Mr Williams drew him al once into
/ conversation, asked about ms prospects.
I his position. with straightforward frank
ness. and twitting him upon his disap-
/ pointment over the delay IN the arrival
/ OF the ladies. said frankly that he was
rather glad Of II himself
I For, he added siyIy, IF Marie Dens-
I ley had been here. I should have had
+ but scanty opportunities Of speaking 10
/ YOU fancy and OF finding out any
thing about you
ST Quintin laughed
Wen, there isn't much about me 10
Ia. h.
/ gradually yielding 20 the mans genlaIity
I and charm I'm just an ordinary every
| day chap. with nothing particularly 70
/ distinguish me from anybody else. ex-
/ cept just this-that I know how 10 make
/ up my mind. And my mind is made up
about Miss Densley. and I want 20 marry
I her with as little delay as possible I
I hope you viii make no objection It's
4 been maddening 10 have 10 deal with
I the LeblancS. who were always encour-
( aging first one man and then another
/ about their niece. But 7 tell YOU She does
i really care for me. and not for the 9th
I erS. and 7 hope. when she has told you
( that with her own lips. that YOU viii be
satisfied. and let Us get married without
delay.
Mr. Williams looked at him with a
benevolent smile.
D
I fore l found another Young fellow whom
would as soon give her 20 as I would
I 20 YOU he said IT last And il there g
/ nothing but my consent 10 be got. YOU
won't have 10 wait long"
Z This was direct and eminently salts
J factory. and St Quintin looked round
/ him with an air OF triumph
They were standing in the little gar
den. and he expected 20 find Monsieur
/ Leblanc close by. But the Frenchman
] had disappeared, and as St Quintin. with
! an exclamation Of surprise. stared about
! IN search of him. they saw the omnibus
/ jogging slowly toward them with the lug
I cage. and with Monsieur Leblanc seated
/ beside the driver
All, Here he comes cried Mr. Vii
/ lians. as he went down. AT a great rate
for man Of his cumbersome proportions.
/ toward the vehicle and at once began
/ 10 help 20 bring in the luggage.
/ Recalled TO his former doubts. St Ouin-
/ tin noticed again how heavy some of the
! packages appeared 10 be. as the driver
/ Of the omnibus. assisted by Mr. VIII
/ Hams and the Frenchman brought the
/ luggage in and. directed BY Miss Grey.
I the owner Of the cottage. piled il up In
[ the little front sitting-room on the left
/ hand
I ~ "NA4L OpNu 20 olteE MS assistance.
and was given the po1@&Snteau marked
! a l. TO carry indoors, while the 9th
ers were busy with the rest Of the parcels.
/ When the omnibus was gone Mr. VIII
\ liamS thrust his hand through the young
mans arm, and told him he was dying
/ for a drink.
But Monsieur Leblanc hurried after
\ them and told them he had had tea pre-
pared. and that they must come into the
/ cottage and have il. So they all went
in together. and seated themselves round