Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1908-12-24

and Quteted their fears. Lady Edith tod
aotei Fearing for the safety of her own
gems, she left them in a safe at the cot
.age. Mr.. Gordon Bennett was properly
introduced, explained his queer actions,
returned the lost bag.
CHAPTER vi.--continued.
II am glad 1t amuses you," remarked,
In my most frigid manner, which l
have been told is extremely chilling.
"Oh, l say" he said quickly. don't
look at It that way. Why, 1t was moth
ing after all. had made two trips on
that old boat this summer, and one OF
those dilapidated chairs broke down
with me and nearly pitched me over
board. complained, but the company
would not get new ones, which put
my back up bit, so ! got into the
habit of examining them, and when
I found one weak in the back or legs
just pitched it overheard. Thnt
wasn't so bad, was it? OF course !
never thought how it looked, and
did 'mutter,' but I'm heartily glad you
did not hear what | said"
1t was very simple explanation
so simple, In fact, that l felt provoked
It had not occurred to me, and hated
to think how he would relate the in
cident to his friend Mr. Blake, and
how they would laugh over 1t. So
merely looked out at the ocean and
made a frosty, impersonal remark
about the view.
But instead of the familiar land.
scape / found myself looking straight
into two very blue eyes with trace
Of anxiety in them, and a sunburned
hand was extended toward me appeal.
ingly.
Lets shake and be friends" he
said heartily. 'I'm sorry alarmed
you, but I'm glad / found out my of.
tense. I was determined would know
what 1t was. When the general wrote
me his daughter was here, and dis.
covered who it was, / was delighted,
for of course / saw you all on the boat,
and / wanted awfully to know you.
You don't mind my saying so? Then
when I got snubbed so numerically
I could not understand it. Shall we
start all over again, and will you ex-
plain to your friends that I am In
possession of all my senses and hope
to keep them while longer?"
Well, 1t was impossible not to smile
chance to descend gracefully from my
high horse, so we shook hands grave
iy and started all over again, as he
had suggested.
inquired where he spent the night,
and he mentioned the hotel we had
deserted, SO told him about the rob-
berry. He had heard nothing, having
left very early. in the morning, mean
ing to sail home In time for breakfast.
I asked him IL his boat suffered any
LII effects from the storm, and his man
ner grew all at once constrained and
III at ease, SO changed the subject,
fearing that 1t might have been IT.
reyocably damaged against our slip,
and feeling somewhat responsible. /
spoke of the cottage. and how we en-
joyed life here. and the contrast 1t
was to the hotel.
little place. But, tell me, how did you
hear of it, and how did you manage to
get 1t? / understood it was not for
rent"
told him he was mistaken; that
we had no trouble at all In securing
1t, and that the rent was ridiculously
low, all things considered.
Il would like to know to whom 1t
belongs" I remarked. Il understand
Il was some woman's within, and she
has tired of It. Perhaps we might get
some of our relatives to buy it and
come here every summer"
Don't you know anything about It p
The was looking at me curiously now.
mot thing" said lightly; do
your"
A dull red flush was distinctly visi.
BILE beneath his coat of tan as he re-
piled to my question.
I'm not a native, you know. I was
here for bit last year, and liked It;
so when had chance to buy an is
land, house and all, jumped at It.
But I'm not wise about my neighbors,
do know that this cottage was oc'
cupied last summer, and heard the
people were very unsocial and never
received guest or entered the village
while they were here; and. of course
there were stories. Gossip fiourishes
on mystery, you know"
'Well," returned, Il don't care how
mysterious the former tenants were
but I'm glad they did not come back
Perhaps they were In mourning, or In
vnlids. or something Of that sort"
mo doubt" he agreed hastily; nc
doubt"
And then we changed the subject
and talked of other things till the
sound OF voices and laughter told me
Elizabeth and Gabrielle were return
ing from the village. They brought
Lady Edith and Lord Wilfrid both
home with them to dinner. and II was
not difficult to persuade Mr.. Bennett
to STAY also, so We had the first OF
some very merry repasts. where