Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-02-24

The perennial Miss Blocker although
smarting still under the contemptuotis dis
missal given her by Mr.. Carstairs at Taor-
nina. was next seen that spring al Cade-
nabbia. hanging on. rather miserably. to
the skirts OF Mrs. vereker. The two ladies'.
waiting there for Mr.. Vereker (who had
grass). were heard to bicker continually.
to the discomfort of all within earshot. In
due time they were Joined by and accom-
panied MT Vereker to new cure he had
heard Of at q place In Switzerland where
electricity.
The hotel which sheltered the party prov
ed to be situated upon a sylvan hill top.
surrounded by a park stocked with tame
deer. with "Verboten" placarded over every
spot where one most desired to 60 A
agement to jodel In an adjacent grove. but
there were no visible cows. One beheld
instead mock of theatrical sheep, per-
petuaiiy conducted up and down verdant
slopes oy a shepherd and a dog. Also "A
band OF native singers, the men in tweeds
and derby hats, the women in custom made
blouses and gored skirts. who came often
| to MARBLE disconsolately upon the terrace.
| There was even cuckoo seQuestered In
1 the woods, of which Miss Blocker snap
pishly complained. a horrid clock strik-
Ing all out OF order to wake people up at
| am. until some one told her II was the
genuine bird of Shakespeare, when she cali
| ed 1t darling little thing.
For long, long time 1t rained at this
| Ecsort, anu tHe guests sat on damp Iron
chairs in the veranda and looked at where
the view had been some weeks before. Az
ter that 1t was grilling hot, and Mrs.
Vereker and Miss Blocker were obliged
to stay on for the completion OF Mr.. Vere-
ker's treatment, the temper OF the party
became something too awful for words.
The chief solace Of the two ladies' was
to read French novels and English weekly
newspapers. When the Queen published
among Americans in London" picture
| of the beautiful Miss Winstanley in her
presentation gown describing the glores
of its white and silver. with lilies-of-the-
valley punched around the train" together
with details of the young lady's success in
| the fashionable world under the sponsor
ship Of Lady Campstown. Miss Blocker
may have been said to have received her
punishment for many follies I'm the past
A perfect day of early July saw the visit
OF Miss Wtnstanley and her father to Beau
manoir- so long projected and so rudeiy in
terrupted. at last ian accomplished fact.
Lady Campstown, who had taken up her
residence with her nephew under the sup
position that he still needed her care, sat
ley. between whom and herself an excellent
comradship had sprung up. She saw moth
ing odd In the old fellows quaint manners,
his homeiy exterior. his shyness and rever-
ence toward women. She had always
liked his having come out of the southern
rather than the northern portion of the
states. feeling. somehow, more in touch
with people from below the tabled line of
Mason and Dixon than with their agrees
sively prosperous neighbors. She liked his
showing nothing of his wealth and poten-
TALLY. and enjoyed his shrewd talk Above
| all, 1t must be said she liked him for be-
| ing the progenitor OF Posey. who had final
| ly wound herself and tangled herself in
the dowager's heart-strings. not to be dis
| lodged.
| They had been talking of the girl. and
| the fact that despite her brilliant little
| sortie into London society, she did not look
! quite happy-Quite herself.
/ he as vyal1 for hnr xxy1,a 10 Ia,
| all over. said Lady Campstown. plying
her knitting-pins. But / don't think it's
done her real harm TO have seen things
( the way we do them. And another year
perhaps-who knows? There always
| changes" She ended with q sigh.
| III you are alluding to my daughters
| ley. speaking with authority and swat
| lowing a lump of final disappointment, II
WAS wanting q chance to tell you that she's
| about concluded that John Glynn and she
| been suspecting something of the kind
when she told NEON the Fourth II was.
and l had to laugh when she said she chose
that tina day on account Of George Washing
couldn't tell lie. That's Posey, Lady
Campstown. Always a laugh on her lip
when a tear is in her eye. 1 saw how hard
| It went with her to have to rob me of a
dear hope. But I reckoned IL her mother'd
| been living I'd not have been let go 80 FAR.
It's hard thing for man of my age to
pay Oh u utIIe OellCate MUSICAL lnStru-
ment like a girls heart. It's over. any
how. and she's written giving Glynn his
freedom. l think Posey would like you to-
know these circumstances. ma am. seeing
you're the best substitute for a mother the
little girl has had. She doesn't want you
to think her light or trifin' in such
things; she tried hard to be loyal to him
and me. . But even If shed loved
John well enough to be his wife. there was
an obstacle. He had kept company with
another young lady first, and they'd been
separated by his being poor. pre-
sumo you'll agree that a young fellow
who'd once been I'm love with Miss Helen
Carstairs couldn't find giving her up as
easy it seemed.
80 that's the meaning of It all?" cried
her ladyship. dropping her knitting, which
the Schipperke proceeded. to guard as IL 1t
were a Dutch baby asleep in a canal boat.
81 often wondered. but could not be sure.
/ almost thought it was M. de Mariol.
well. I shouldn't think that would suit.
exactly" said the old man. cautiously nod
| ding his Anglo-Sa head Not but what
he's a nice man, the Monseer. But, as things
look now, my boy is better match for Mr.
Carstairs' daughter and Johnll feel more
sure OF himself to ask her again. She's had
her many years of happiness to forget 1t In
You see ma am, my Posey thinks John Will
ask her again..
Lady Campstown. who had long since
signed herself to See the vision OF Helen at
Beaumanoir fade from her Imagination.
here felt a great new jet of hope spring up
in her heart and water everything around 1t.
Her withered cheek glowed rosy red her
eyes had a girlish luster. She hardly pre-
| sumed to put her thoughts into words and
yet the mild biue orbs of old Mr.. Winstan-
ley had fixed themselves upon hers with a
singular significance.
Mr.. Winstanley! You have another
ideaY she exclaimed nervousy trembling.
Several. ma am" said Herbert Winstan-
ley. You know by this time, 1 reckon. that
your nephew got that bad hurt on the cheek
and just missed losing his eyesight to save
POsey from a mad woman. Girls set store
by such experiences. l suppose But long
ago. on the steamer, / saw she fancied him
nightly. I won't conceal from you,
ma am. 1t isn't what I'd have picked out
for Posey. Don't seem suitable for such q
Hail Columbia sort Of GIRL now. does It?
But Clandonald's a white man. I'll say that
for him. And m wife set q great
store by English people and their homes.
They're staying away a good long
time those young folks The doctors
threaten I'll have to spend my winters I'm
Cannes. the years that are left to me. but
reckon Villa Rain des Fays is big enough
for us all"
When Clandonald and Posey came back
at last from seeing the white peacocks they
were walking hand in hand, and a great
peace had settled upon their faces
THE END.