The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-04-05

I I
 world, was responsible for running your | career"
 And do you think was going to all the ! bother of hunting up someone else to
 marry, just to save you from little un-
 welcome responsibility "Oh, Edward! But if I were only | clever"
 Edward knew the tone. He drew the | little shepherdess very close to the monks gown.
 'I don't want you to be clever-I mean | cleverer. And aren't you unreasonable to | expect Uncle Griffin, who is nothing but ar unfortunate old bachelor, to know any
 thing about the effects of marrying the | sweetest girl in the world? How could | he? It's out of his jurisdiction Now you | just wait twenty years and ask me what I think on the subject. Meantime, | if l might suggest that you are making me act absurdly out of character, and | that our guests"
 "Oh, you darling!" Her rapturous hug
 made the monks gown crinke with | astonishment.
 But when she had gone Edward Calvert l stood silent a minute, absent-mindedly | tugging at his belt. Of course he did not l for a moment regret that he had thrown down the gauntlet of fate and Uncle Grif- ' fin by marrying on nothing year but | hope, and still Of course there might l be something in Uncle Griffins theory | that young lawyer should make the law
 hiJ mistress and still-If something didn happen pretty soon in the way or ousi- 1 ness
 But these unfinished thoughts were in- | terrupted by the noiseless entrance of 1 Richards, the old factotum of his bachelor | days, who appeared with an air Of mys- 1 tery and suit case.
 Might this here be the suit case you
 was inquiring for, sir?' he asked with 1 external deference.
 "It might, 1t may 1t can, it. must, | cried Calvert, throwing the monks gown l off toyously. and extracting from the pag
 a cavaliers long cloak of crimson velvet, | with a plumed hat to match lhls is
 more to the point man can't afrord to
 waste one of his few opportuni1r,lses 1,s ,,o', to
 make himself beautiful Where did you 1 find it?"
 "Atop the ice box on the back porch,
 sir" said Richards sedately Calvert laughed queerly. Love in 1 cottage" he said under his breath. we are trif1e crowded"
 .I hear that Mrs. Calvert Is quite the heautv." remarked Richards conversa- | tionally.
 "Oh. YOU haven't seen her yet, have you? Hang that gown-beh1nd the door,
 I mean. I'm going in. Richards held the door open ana Cal
 vert slipped in and joined what looked
 
 times with no plot. In his interest, the l man fingered longer than was necessary, l and so attracted the attention of a court 1 ladv with high-puffed powdered hair, ana 1 brocaded gown of much splendor' She
 came out quickly, closing the door De- l hind her.
 "Did you want anything?" she asked.
 Her manner was quick and 1mperlous' | and Richards wondered uneasily whether
 a mere bow would be sufficiently cere-
 monious for so great a lady.
 I'm Richards, maam. MT calvert
 brought me out to help out TOT q lew days. He said some one would tell me I when anything was wanted, so l was l just waiting" | the impatient voice. "Can you make claret lemonade? You'll find the things
 all here in the buttery. Fill this large
 howl. and set it, with the glasses and that 1 nlate cf little cakes, on the table at this | end of the side porch. I'm thankful
 vou,re here. goodness knows. l was just | going to see to it myself. She hesl-
 tated A moment Gan unusual weakness
 for Betty Bellamy), and then turned
 back, with her hand on the door "If Mr. Van Voorhis should come-oh,
 you don't know MT. Van oorhis, do 1 your"
 NO, ma'am.' ,,
 .ewell.I if a gentleman should come-hell l walk over from the station after the 5 1 o'clock comes in--tell him he was expected l no. don't tell him that Tell him he 1 wasn't expected, but that Mrs. Calvert | Jeff fancy dress here for him to wear,
 if he should happen to come. It's | monks gown hanging just inside the but | tery door there. You understandY
 'Yes, ma'sm."
 l "Re sure to say Mrs. Calvert left it." | the court lady insisted. | 'rYes, Mrs. Calvert" said Richards, glad 1 to have his guess as to her ldentity so l unquestionably established. | .oThe g o'clock just went by. He's tall l and-er-rather sood looking. Oh, you l can't raistake him. There's no one else 1 like him." There was curious quaver in 1 Betty's voice. She heard it herself. and was so surprised that she stopped a mo- l ment to consider it and then fled without 1 further speech.
 1 Richard. left to himself, began to 1 snneeze lemons and to take amused note l of the campers makeshifts in the kitchen. 1 The cottage was completely surrounded 1 by screened porches which gave hc- l titious air of spaciousness to the place. | He was meditatng on the curious mental l bias which could lead people who might | have lived in a snug little fiat all sum- | Yner to choose such a draughty habita- I tion instead. when there was step out 1 side and a man (tall and unquestionably | good looking) tapped at the door and then 1 cast surprised look about as he stepped l in.
 "J must have approached the wrong end l of the house in the dark,' he said, with some formality. This is MT. Calvert's s l cottage is it not?"
 "Yes, sir ..wiil you take my card-er-what's l that?"
 A sudden burst of laughter clashed | within. and gay voices rose above it like 1 sparkling rockets above splashing foun- | tain of Chinese fire
 l ."There's a party here" said the new l conner. fixing Richards with a sternly &C., 1 cusing eye.
 | ..Yes, sir" said Richards, suddenly re-
 membering his commission. You're ex- l nected. sir Mrs Calvert left this for | you to wear" He took down the monk 8 l gown. ,
 "Extremely thoughtful of Mrs. Calvert" !" l said the stranger dryly, but making no | motion to accept the extended robe. I'd l like to know if this sort of thing is going l on much of the time l The screen door was flung suddenly open. and a fairy in fluttering red 1 gauge. shrieking with laughter, darted | across the room and out at the oppo- | site side. to be followed by baggy but agile clown.
 l "What in Sam Hill" calculated the | stranger, with sudden lapse from his formality. "Who are those people?" 1 "I couldn't say sir, I've only Juss l come out for the party" | vo i,,orv Most extra OrdfOar