The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1908-07-26
IA Comedy Of the Unexpected
BY g. W.=APPLET0N,
by G. w. APP Il TOM.

BY G. w. All
/ station" and she began to gather VI
her small inipediments
Bob Boulter, Eric's friend, waved llis
hand from the platform as he caught
sight of him through the carriage win.
dow. Eric returned the greeting, and
/ then, removing his hat, said to the girl
with all the atdacity In the world:
u should like SO much to meet you
|again,
At first she looked surprised. "Oh-h!'
said she; then her face suddenly broke
| into dimples, WITH all her lovely teeth
showing, and added: Veil, i shouldn't
mind In the least Good-day, and many
thanks."t{ "
you seem to know that girl" said
Bob Boulter. as they crossed the plat
form. WHO Is she?
Il was going to ask you the same
question. We Just exchanged a few
civilities In. the train. Never saw her
before In my life.
oh" said he, IT don't know who
she Is; she is stopping at farmhouse
about a mile from here. and-ah!" he
added, as they came out into the open,
there she goes With the farmer In his
trap"
Eric looked. and was rewarded by a
bow and smile. He'instantly lifted
his hat again, and stood thus until the
trap turned sharp corner and was lost
to sight.
During the glorious summer days
that Immediately followed, Eric Feath-
erstone, in company with his genial
host, took many long tramp over the
hills and through the valleys OF de-
lightful old Buckinghamshire. and
though thoughts OF the girl in the
straw hat were ever uppermost In his
mind, but casual mention of her was
made between them. once-it was on
the second day, as they were passing
through lane--Bob Boulter suddenly
stopped and said:
"If the fact Is of any special interest
to you, old chap. this is where the girl
you met in the train is stopping.
Eric was alive with interest atsonce.
by Jove!" said he, as ne advanced to
the gate and saw fine old farmhouse,
half smothered in roses, with spa
cious lawn in front and extensive out
buildings in the rear, an air of&well-
being and prosperity over the whole.
"by .Jove! what jolly nice place to
live I'M" And mentally added: II I;
could only catch glimpse OF her!"
But he glanced Mt every window in
vain She gave no token, and With an
affectation of Indifference he resumed
his Journey down the lane.
Another day he was more fortunate.
They were walking through the main
street OF Chalfont st. Giles
eve will stop, II you like" said Bod
Boulter, "and pay n visit to Milton's
cottage He wrote Paradise Regained'
there. It will interest you. It's just
a hundred yards or so up here, and
What? Bless my soul! Look, some
body has just come out OF the cottage,
and is getting into trap. Isn't that
the same girl you met coming down
in the train?''
Eric looked with eagerness in the
direction indicated. The trap was now
rapidly approaching. and 10! before he
could hardly realize the fact there
she was. sitting aloft, all wreathed
smiles, bowling to him as she passed.
..Deuced good-looking girl said
B6ulter, sadmiringly.
Ripping! BY Jove! yes. returned
Eric, standing stock still and looking
/ back until the trap disappeared at a
bend in the road: and then he turned
and added: do you know. Bob, that
! I'm bit gone on that girl =
IT suspected as much And that was
a very encouraging smile she gave
you as she passed. didn't half like
"why?" and Eric looked little
Bob was bachelor too, and lived
with his widowed mother at Gresham
Bots.
"Why?' he repeated. Because ! am
bit gone in that direction myself.
Suppose try to cut you out, Eric?'
TT will be good sport my lad. Have
try"
Boulter merely laughed. and, after
walking another moment or two in
silence, he said: Here's the cottage;
let's go in"
They entered the historic room-the
only one shown to visitors-where it
is supposed the blind poet indited much
of his immortal verse, and, curlously
enough. sErics whole attention be-
came at once centred on the visitors
He bent over and read-it was the
the Ink was barely dry
"Winifred Dare,
sydney, New South Wales"
He at once seized the pen and wrote
beneath:
Eric Featherstone. London"
Rather pretty conjunction of
names" said he to himself, 81 wonder
Iif anything will ever come OF it,"
All! came VOICE from over his
shoulder. An Australian girl, is she ?
What the deuce can have brought her
into these ATTITUDES ?"
Don't know, Bob. and don't care. ]
/ know her name, anyhow
So do l. Honors easy so far my
lad. And thus the incident closed.
4 few days later an urgent summons
recalled Boulter to London. and dur
ing the day at .least, Eric was left, for
NEARLY week, to his own devices, BY
] this time he knew the surrounding
4 country fairly we'll, and had even mas