The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1907-02-17

I
noir for tea. They drank 1t. thanks to
perfectly warm and wel-aired ae-
tcrnoon. undcr the beech tree extolled
by Miss Carstairs. Clandonald's dogs.
tho only friends OF man who do not
dsappotnt or change, clustered around
pcrkc gluing her faithful head upon
her masters boot. The day. the hour.
tho pleasant rite. tho dear old woman
whose thin, pearl-white fingers
twlnkled among the teacups ns she
looked over at him from tme to time
in sort of speechless longing, Eouched
and pleased the returned Traveller. but ),
could not cheer his-melancholy.
Finally Lady Campstown took heart
OF grace to go to the point direct. IS
I'm sorry to see you 30 down. Clan,
my dear boy" slc said. In handing him
his second cup. day. OF all days.
when you have had such charming
visitor. ] can't tell you how well I
am pleased with Miss Carstairs. You
must know" b
Delighted. I'm sure, Aunt Lucy" he
answered. with retrtgerating vague
ness "But to talk OF less agreeable
subject. I'm sorry to say Ruby has
broken loose again, and Is annoying
me horribly. Having failed recently
to nuke scene for me-and another
person-aftcr her own heart. she has
taken TO writing me internal hypo-
critical letters, saying ahe's back In
England. stone-broke. Ill, pcnitcnt.
Lord knows what. and must have
money"
'.The old cry" exclaimed Lady
campstown holly. Don't answer her.
Clan, treat her as II you were locked
in behind walls. and she In the street.
Her capacity for inventlng malice
and mischief Is too great. She will
find some way to circumvent me. Her
price OF peace Is hard cash, and 80
for the present, ! can breathe FREQ
again."
you have been weak enough be-
gan his aunt, despairlngly.
II am not the only one involved"
he said shortly. Now, Aunt Lucy. say
no more to me about It only wish
cd to put you on your guard against
any assault she might make upon your
compassion.
~ am safe from that' said the
little lady grimly. and indeed. for the
moment. she looked 20. IN her splendid
wrath and scorn. Clandonald did not
pursue the subject, and something
warned her that neither was this tho
time for pursuance OF the light VISION
OF the American girl whom she had
fondly pictured taking Ruby'B place
In the desolate old house. They talked
OF family matters, Of Clans travels.
OF things present and to colno until
Lady Campstown and her maid were.
Obliged to leave. When her nephew
had put her into the brougham to go
to the station. Lady Campstown rallied
her courage for q final appeal.
you'll drop In for luncheon, tea or
dinner whenever you've nothing bets
ter, won't you, dear boy?" she asked.
surveying him wistfully. You know.
go out so little I'm apt to be always
there. I'm to have luncheon on Tues
day, and go to some pictures with
these pleasant friends OF yours who'v :,
just left US; and. Clan, dear, isn't It
nice that they're coming to Cannes
this winter? Miss Carstairss father is
to be there In the yacht. He must
be very interesting man. Such q
power, one can't fail to--oh! thank
you. Jenkins" (this to. the gardener.
arriving with huge nosegay of late
ket Of rudy peaches>, they are most
lovely, l am sure. You will certainly
not fail to make me that promised
visitin January? 1t seemed SO lonely,
last year. nobody inhabiting your room.
Come. promise, Clan, and know you
will never break your world"
IT am afraid, Aunt Lucy" he said
giving her final loving kiss. that I
had better not promise anything just
now, II I'm to keep up my good rcpu-
tation in your eyes. Think what you
like as to my being spooney about a
pretty American. But it is arranged
between Mariol and myself-thoughw we
can't agree about our dcstination-that
we are to set out FOR somewhere early
next week. Mariol leans toward Tibet
to the Balkans. To decide 1t, We
shall probably toss UP sovereign.
But this much is certnln-on wo 60"
1t was not until December, when
Lady Campstown was fairly established
at Villa Julia, on the slope of the
California, under house-walls obscured
by bourgainvilia and arbution an6
Gloire de Dion roses. that she felt ii
the least assuaged Of her dlsappont
ment. She hat left London swathet
in q yellow fog Of appalling density
had run down % Dover in an atmos
phere of pea-soup had found Paris un
der weeping skies; had trnverset
France in murky mist; and only OF
waking up in Cannes n ext morning ha(