Middletown transcript., 1908-07-25

m mutl lOH 1uiDFOOk Is mere. OUG
is more charming and more no.
tional than ever. She insists
upon masquerading as my paid
companion, and will allow no one
TO be told who or what she is.
She says she wants TO get her
actual value defined. Did you
ever hear of anything more ab-
surb? But she is the dearest
girl in the world, aud I shall
humor her vagaries. BE careful
you say nothing to your Baglish-
man to intimate that she is other
than she seems. Of course |
shall be glad to see your friend,
even if he isn't much to look at.
l haven't much of a party as yet
only Bertie Maron and Harold
Hemingway for men and a few
women of the usual set.
Goring, after reading this, sat
for sometime considering, and
then remarked to himself. 1t
will be the blind leading the
blind,-a game at which some
body is sure to be badly beaten.
The next day Goring and Lang
ham appeared at Do Nothing
Lodge, the delightful rambling
old country house where Mrs.
Harding held court during the
early part of the summer before
she fitted to Newport.
Laugham was received with
refreshing cordiality by Goring's
sister, and presented to such of
the guests as happened to be
about.
You are to do jnst as you please
Mr.. LanSham, said she. We all
do. If you wish to ride or drive,
there are horses and traps. Jack
will tell you about the boating
and fishing. If you yearn for
companionship, some of US are
usually about and in fairly con-
versational mood. If you are on
the piazza at five O'Clock, l shall
give you cup of tea and present
you to my companion, who is a
very pretty girl.
| Later they met on the great
piazza where tea was served, and
Langham was presented to the
others of the house party.
At the tea table sat girl, tall,
dark, with great wide open, clear
seeing eyes. Her manner was
charmingly simple. Langham
was attracted at once. He sat
down by her, feeling a restful-
mess in her atmosphere after the
badtnage of the others.
Presently Mrs. Harding said,
Marion, take Mr.. Langham down
and show him the old garden.
They strolled away under some
great trees to where stone wall,
all covered with climbing vines,
shut in an old fashioned garden.
The gravel walks were edged
with little prim rows of box, and
within these limits blossomed
masses of poppies and marigolds,
of larkspur and mignonettee.
lSundowersand tiger lilies nodded
to each other. Across one walk
and beside another was a stately
procession of tall hollyhocks.
| Why, this looks like home! said
the Englishman delightedly.
| You are fond of your home?
said the girl.
Why, of course, answered
Langham, and then he added
simply, An Englishman couldn't
help being fond of his home. Miss
Holbrook, have you ever been in
England?
| Yes, was the answer, Mrs.
Harding once took me over with
her-you know am her COM
panion. Iloved English country
life. Then hastily, That is, what
l saw of it-of course compan.
ion does not see the social side;
but Mrs. Harding was very kind,
and | was taken with her to many
pleasant affairs and met some
charming people.
Then they strolled through the
old garden and chatted Of many
things, and under the inspiration
of the cordial interest of the
American girl the shy English
man found himself talking freely
and we'll.
Presently Goring joined them,
saying in rather a crisp tone,
while with the eye farthest from
Langham he sent Marion wick.
ed wink, Miss Holbrook, my sis
ter would like you to come to her
rooms.
Marion flushed a trifie, and
bowling slightly left them.
LaHgham watched her slender