The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1907-02-24

tho male recipient--hc carried n pic.
ture of Posey. cut out OF an English
paper, found in wayside
inn In Roumann, among other Beau
ties of the Day and Hour 1t was a
charming characteristic pose In which
the photographer had caught her. and
the gown and coiffurc showed tie glrls
advance in worldly style and knowledge
of how TO make the most OF her adj
yantagcs. Here, indeed, would have
been Lady Clandonald, amply equip
ped to take her place in the picture
gallery OF the Bcaumanoir among tht
beauties Of their line! And in her
frank young face he could read no
trace OF the unwholcsomc tastes and
proclivities that had wrecked him
through Ruby Darien. 1t was q folly
a childish weakness. to treasure this
scrap Of paper in his breast pocket
close over his heart, and he had re-
solved that he would sOo.i, violently
3disposscss himself of the same by cast
Ing 1t In the fire. let him meet her
once again, have speech with her in
the ordinary way, reai.ze that she waa
entirely absorbed in preparations for
her union with another, and it would
be easier to be done for good and all
with this strange, obstinate, enduring
obsession.
1t was not the best atmosphere for
man In his state, of mind to find
himself In daily intercourse with his
impulsive old aunt whose life had
been for weeks and months saturated
with tho influence OF Posey's perso-
nality. Although Lady Campstown
honestly believed herself to be doing
everything that feminine tact and zeal
could inspire to eNtol to him the de-
SRA bility Of Helen Carstairs as a wife,
she rpI11v q
charm from morning until night. She
told ClandonMd how the girl had first
come to her, tall and nulnph-like&
through the avenue Of palms, with
violets, white and blue, clustered
around her footprints. How, imme-
diately, her first distaste of the dreaded
American neighbor had been swept
away in the girls sweet appeal to her.
friendship; how she hau then only
another woman do. in like case. for
her own Lucy, had she lived. And
how, little by little, she had grown
to wait upon Posey's daily coming. to
laug with her, to sympathze in her
needs and perpleSities, until she count
ed day lost when Miss Winstanley
4 did not appear to irradiate it.
AT the same time. my dear" the
dowager said, interrupting herself.
SOiHt5 " pleleIlu liiei .
are not other girls in the world as
engaging and lovable as She Miss
Carstairs, for example. is-er--most
distinguished in her appearance, and
has admirable manners. Posey tells
me that her friend Hclenis SO highly
educated she makes her feel as ignorant
as a street Arab. OF course. that's
only the child's American habit OF
cxaggeration. She really reads and
studies part of every day, and her lit
erature teacher, Miss Barton, says Mis-:
Winstanley's memory for facts and
grasp of ideas is something quite out
of the common. AS I was saying
Helen carstairs is Just the kind OF
person 1 should think would bear
tranlsplanting into English life. sht
is so simple and Unconditional and self
contained. When you go to RENE de:
Fees to call-when did you say yol
were going to call Clan, dear?"
81 don't think ] said. Aunt Lucy.
answered her nep hew, with twinkle
in his eye. s55' yIs3 zE
..All, well, dear, proba bly, t will b
o-day, as you have now had timt
to draw breath after telling me al
about your travels. You must have hat
a very pleasant journey from Maple
in company with Miss Carstairs.'
Yes, very pleasant, what Mario
would let me have of her. lie wa
very absorbent, it must be said Yo
know told you once, long ago, tina
/ believed good old Mariol had actu
ally Knocked under to q fair Yankee
and I have now every reacon to be
lieve that this lady is the object Q
his secret cult
II never heard Of such a thing!
exclaimed Lady Campstown, for hel
almost sharply. II can't imagine
more unsuitable ioca These marriage
with Frenchmen rarely turn out vel
At least, unless the man has titl
!, and a chateau. and the foreign VIII
would have some interests in Oh
country a mere brilliant, drifting
scomng creature like M. de Mariol---
Think Of that book OF his found Q
your table and tried to read. WI:
there were ideas in 1t that mad
my hair stand on end
moral: Aunt Lucys shouldn't carr
off the French books hey find on the
nephews tables" answered he teasing
~. ut is a fact, however, that MI