The Montgomery advertiser., 1908-09-26
tcontinueal CHAPTER XIV. Exif Mrs. Hritten.

I, ia a considerable time since we have heard anything of Miss Fordes attractive chaperon. Mrs. Brittent re- mained at Pau for a whole fortnisnt' whence she dispatched letters or ex- eu.es to her companion--excuses chlei- slv based on ill-health; in fact. they might be called bulletins. But tne n tie widow was really in exceheH. crsy sS and the true reason TOT ner ,,, ,n the wora apeter Sir Peter liked fau; ba had as much bridge as he couls ~narare had found several conRenlai friends.' and was disinclined to puose, SO. what was poor Mrs. Britten sv Fer She was afraid to trust him out rtth- sight now that she saw s,ons .nS chiefly in reach. On several occasions. aasn. aftsr dinner. he had become conns ss tiaI. and even affectionate: hae ,nvst- aS ,s s,sters. and nieces, ni invel ments and his will--aii these were eat couraging topics; and once-h ha,S and moment!-he had presseo sa ne ,na vol, said: You always unaer sn he had given ter fawsrs and some views oi Lourog,s. L,s Ths and was now so near. that |. "1et p''. =, sasnsss to relax the pursuit put it was weary and expehslse h.r for she had not only 10 tts.. of own hotel expenses. but aiso '. wss her friend Mrs; COX. .n. hoM Admiral was weaIthy: he was beginning to ,ee' sav sav sssd cy Tine. Before long the oas rn,,st dawn when he would reouife sun @ me to take care of him LheIs ne reason why Mrs. Britten snoniu no. .pa. that person, and she was conhoens .ts she could manage him admirably. sne r,as intimately acquainted with all ms little foibies. Well. they were not par ficularIv lfttle---he was mean. quarrei- some and selfish. However. ne was member of a good old family, his Tn come was sufflcientlv large Tor t"o' and one cannot expect every,nns and deep designs. Mrs. Britten still re- mained at Pau for her heaiths sake. and anxiously awaited deveiopmeh's
 ewhen is Mrs Britten returning g asked Mrs. Tudor. Tor has she depart ed for goodT'
 .T really do not know" responded Hester "She is still keeping on her room here: she talks of coming over next wee"
 And meanwhile you are paying for ty francs a day for her apartments, and the anticipation of her company-is that not fact?"
 q wonder how YOU guessed?"
 Easily. Why, all the world-I mean, the people who come here like myself are aware that little Mrs. Britten Is not we'll of: in fact she was always bewailing her poverty, and inducing friends to give her drives and tickets, and so on. on that plea. Formerly. she had cheap room In cheap hotel; so, how could she afford to keeDl on two sets nowhere and at Paug No. no. my dear, simple Hester. you need not expect me to believe that you are not paving"
 Well. after all. it Is only for a short time :"
 Tt is sheer waste of good money said Mrs. Tudor. with movement of irritation. "T wonder your thrifty Yorkshire nature does not revolt. Now. look here: you must write to her to- day and ask if she is returning. other wise you wfiiAgive up tho. room The hotel Is crammed. and it Is really not fair to the proprietor"
 ( ''Very well, then. will see about it." agreed Hester: "but now I must 20 and get ready for this big tea-picnic with the Loftus girls and the Herberts What is to be the end of all these gaieties. wonder?" and she stretched out her arms with little yawn.
 "I can easily tell you that in one word"
 Hester let fall her arms and glanced at the speaker. who uttered the word Marriage"
 .'No. no, no!' protested the girl with a iaugh-"for others. not for me-. and she shook her head and ran out of the room. As Hester was putting the finishing touches to her toilette there was an imperative knock at the door, and to her surprise Mrs. Tudor ent- cred
 q came" she said. "to ask you to write that little note before you go out and so catch the evening post: why waste another forty francs? If 1t comes to that. give 1t to the poor"
 But I really don't know what to