The Prince George's enquirer and southern Maryland advertiser. (Upper Marlborough, Md.) 1882-1925, 1908-11-13
CHAPTER ".


sort of the fashionable world between
the hours of seven and eight in the
morning. In fact, that sweetest, fresh
est most enhancing hour Is rather apt,
in London, to be dull and somewhat
dismal; therefore best spent In bed.
The early porters were busy sweeping
up with long brushes the dust shaken
from the feet Of many a weary trav-
eler. and sprinkling water in strange
circular patterns upon the pavement
of the station, when the first hanson
cab of the day made its appearance
with much clatter of hoofs.
From it there alighted brisk little
lady who instantly glanced up at the
clock. Her movements were very
quick without being in the least fussy.
Many a man In passing that girltsh
form in the street had turned his head,
to be met by pair of calm gray eyes,
with a shock Of surprise that the
pretty. energetic face was surmounted
by a mass Of silvery hair. Mrs. Mist
ley's white hair was an inherited pc
cullarity. Long, thick and silky, 1t
was gray at the temples when she
married Major Mistley. 1t did not
change much for two years after that;
but at the end of the third year, when
she returned from India, a widow OF
twenty-five, 1t was white. She wore
it piled up high upon her graceful
head, after a fashion which vaguely
suggested Madame de Lambelle, Or
some other gracious lady Of the old
French court.
Mrs. NIistley walked as far as the
platform, and finding no one there, re-
turned to the entrance Of the station.
Presently a small victoria arrived, and
from 1t Mrs. Wright alighted. The two
ladies kissed each other warmly, and
both remembered later that that form
Of salutation had not passed between
them since the caressingly affectionate
days Of their girlhood. Mrs. Wright
was somewhat pale, but she returned
her friends smile bravely, and they
turned toward the platform indicated
by the porter.
Presently they sat down upon high
ly polished seat, and, hidden in the folds
of their dresses, their hands met and
clasped each other.
"Do you remember" said Mrs. Mist
ley, with q pathetic little smile, "all
the nonsense we talked in the old
Melun days? How we were never go
ing to cease corresponding; how, If we
married, we were to be constant COM
panions; how our children were to
grow up together as brothers and SIS
ters; how-our husbands were to be
friends?"
81 am afraid" replied Mrs. Wright,
"that we were very foolish and ro-
mantle In those days.!
The brisk little lady stopped short
She was at loss for something to say
"a very rare occurrence. Mrs. Mlstley
had touched upon a page Of her life
which was close to her friend. Those
three years of married life were as a
sacred memory, and Mrs. Wright
thought that the pages were better
left unread.
"Who would have thought" said
Mrs Mistley, presently. that we
should have one day to be waiting here
for your husband and my son-waiting
together for them to arrive together?
1t almost seems as If Providence had
heard our girlish vows; for we have
come together again after all these
wears, and our children will be
friends"
"Yes," said Mrs. Wright, absently.
"Yes. our children will be friends"
Then they relapsed into silence.
1t was only natural that Mrs. Mistley
should be thinking Of her son at that
moment, and the thoughts were appar-
emily pleasant, for occasionally she
smiled with passing CLEAN Of pride In
her eyes. Her two sons appeared to
her maternal vision such as any
mother might reasonably be proud Of.
/ (To be continued)