The Washington herald., 1907-09-29

Monsieur Leblanc looked first 10 the
right and then TO the left and listened.
Il can hear nothing going on next
door. he said can you?"
No" said st. QJuntin, rather sharply.
Il heard nothing next door. and I am
sure that we should End nothing there
Monsieur Leblanc peered az his young
friends face
Then he suddenly thrust his hand under
St Quintins arm.
You shall come back into the house
with me-" he said, ~dnd YOU shall drink
a glass of wine. For I see that what
ever this may be that has alarmed you
il has disturbed your nerves very much.
Yes, yes, I do insist. Come this way
by the back of the house, where 1t Is
bright and gay and lively with lights.
And ne led the feluctant young man
along the walk until they reached the
garden at the back of the house, and
there as Monsieur Leblanc had said.
the bright lights from the drawing-room
Streamed on the lawn, and the voices Of
the ladies rang cut In the night air.
Monsieur Leblanc led him through by
one of the open French windows into
the drawing-room. where Nine. Leblanc
her niece, and Miss Stanley, the prim
governess, We're all standing, laughing
and talking by the piano. They all
turned as the gentlemen entered and
madame uttered little gentle scream
when she caught sight Of the young
mans face.
"Oh. what is it? Has something hap
pened 20 you? Have YOU hurt your
self2" she asked with much anxiety
st. Quintin shook his head, while his
companion volubly explained that he had
heard a cry from next door which alarm
ed him andanade him come back 10 make
inquiries
Make him sit down. Talk 10 him. play
to him. be gay. amusing. said monsieur
only half aside. 10 St QUintin's amusc-
ment. L go 10 fetch him some wine 10
what you call pull him round"
And Monsieur Leblanc left the room,
while the ladies gathered round the
young man and asked him. with much
interest, what it was exactly that had
startled him and made him look So white.
But he felt that he had better not say
too much 10 them, SO he affected 20
think me might have been mistaken in
his fancy that he had heard a cry.
Madame looked At HIM Eeenly and
said, with the calm complacency of the
plump, that cries were nothing to trOu-
ble ones head about: that the English
lower orders were noisy and liked 20
make a noise, and that it was some
&c AIRY he had heard uttering the war
cry of his class.
Miss Stanley gazed AZ him fiXedly the
while and Marie who kept somewhat in
81
tion. looked at him askance with SYM
pathetic glances. but said little
In a very few minutes Monsieur Je-
blanc returned with a glass of cham
pagne. which he commanded s.. Quintin
to drink, The young man was not slow
to obey, and in the meantime his host
turned 10 Marie and said:
You are not sympathetic, Marie Are
you so sUrOng-minded YOU have no sym
pathy with an attack Of neryes?'
The girl came a step forward. hesi-
tating and rather shy.
There had been some slight constraint
between her and St Quiutin. owing TO
the marked manner in which the portly
Monsieur Marbeau had contriyed to as
SeTt his claim 10 more consideration
from her than she gave to the younger
man.
Il hope 7 am not unsympathetic,' she
said but indeed. Mr.. ST. Quintin hasn't
made it very clear what our sympathy
is asked for"
The young man laughed.
Il don't think I did aSk for sympathy
at ALL he said. I was only anxious
not 10 alarm you all by my own fears
What fears2" asked Marie, quickly.
But her uncle intervened. preventing
the young man from Offering any an
swer 70 thisNquestion.
You feel better now. don't yOu?"
"Oh, yes, thanks; I'm all right. I'm
sorry TO have intruded-'
Not at all. not at all. We were only
too pleased to see Il little more Of you.
W St Quintin. BY the by, are you
musicale"
81. Quntin hesitated.
i like 10 hear musiC-some music
was his qualified reply.
You must hear my niece sing. She
adores music, and looks down upon us
because we are not sufficiently impreg-
mated with enthusiasm for Wagner It
IS one Of her great grievances that we
didn't take her to hear the Ring last
season.
"Oh, no. uncle; don't say that" cried
the girl, evidently rather surprised
He went on. smiling.
You shall go 10 the Sunday concerts
at the Albert Hall. They begin again
next Sunday, don't they?"
I don't know. There's one at Queens
Hall next Sunday afternoon. 1 should
like TO go 10 that"
well. Miss Stanley shall take you.
And when you see Mr. St Quintin next
Wednesday, as we hope TO do. you shall
sing to him. Sand I shall take that as a
test whether he is musical. or not"
Il often go 70 those Sunday concerts.
# 80 next Sunday I may perhaps have
the pleasure Of seeing you there" said
st. Quinun.
Il should be very glad to see YOU"
murmured Marie
These words We're uttered by both the
young people in lower tones. as Monsieur
Leblanc's turning to speak 10 Miss stan
ley gave them an opportunity Of speak
ing together.
And then ST, Quintin took his leave.
and was accompanied TO, the garden gate
by his host, who did not refer again to
the scare" they had had until be held
out his hands 10 say good-by.
You won't be afraid to come and see
us again? You won't think the house is
haunted?' he asked. with a genial smile
II shall be delighted to come. said
ST. Quintin, evasively, as he shook hands.
But all the way back to town in the