The Montgomery advertiser., 1908-09-12

"I went. up to the goit-links to ask | for your parasol; they could not ma | 1t in the ciub-house--some one must have taken 1t by mistake" she starn- mered apologeticaIly. There is such
 wind. was nearly blown awayr
 'Oh. 1t wouldn't be so easy to blow away" retorted Mrs. Britten with a | sharpe derisive glance. "I discovered
 the parasol behind chair In my room
 just after you had gone. but the walk
 will do you good. Was there any one
 on the links?"
 The messenger merely shook her | head. sss
 well, think. you had better hurry off and make yourself presentable."
 continued Mrs. Britten: the first stng
 has sounded--and oh. by the way. as
 you're going up. you might just leave | these books and parcels in my soom"
 And Miss Forde. having collected the ] volumes and parcels, promptly depart l ed. with an air of meek obedience | -'Now. do tell me who she is?" de-
 manded Mrs Mac James. as she put down her glasses; "she always sits be- side you, know. and she never opens | her lips to a soui--that is all have
 discovered about her"
 There Is not much to discover" re-
 joined Mrs Britten with a laugh. "she
 is Just one of the commonplace herd | of Englishwomen who are born, | brought up, and die In a groove"
 "Yes?" calculated the other iady. l The yes" was interrogative. inquisi- | tive. imperious. She desired further | information, and Mrs Britten, who l had but recently been noticed by her companion, felt that 1t was an honor
 to be in position. to supply her with | intelligence,
 "of course. can tell you all about her. if you like.' she began with ar | fectIonate candour. Her father great invalid. died six or seven months
 ago. and left his only child almost alone in the world. He had few rela- | tions. and with those he had quar- reied. and the girl lived such miser-
 able monotonous life in an old house | in an old garden In an old village | that she made no acduaintances: tn
 fact, the poor thing has never been
 young--never seen the world And you. dear. kind little lady. have
 brought her out to Biarfitz for changer broke in the gallant knight,
 who had been listening attentively
 How more than good natured of you I Now, a lively girl. who could dance.
 and play bridge and golf. would have been your appropriate companion"
 "weli, Sir Peter" lowering her eyes
 in bashful acceptance of his compl- | ment. .'it was just like this!--and could not we'll get out of 1t. hap pened to be staying with my cousin. | who lives near this girls home. and was asking her If she knew Of any one who would so abroad with me, Tor 1 cannot endure an English winter; anu although I am-well. not in the spring time of my uth--still--etili----- she hesitated. "No. no. no, the summer, midTsur1- ynar--mid- summers eve" amended SIT Peter with unctuous empressement. And people talk so much, as you know, dearest Mrs. Mac James ana, unfortunately, a poor little widow is
 always . target for malicious tonsues. | and Charlotte Levin said that tnte young Iady was ordered abroad by her doctor. as she wanted sunshine. and | chan9A of scene, and variety. Shs as' | sured me that she was quiet and amia- | ble. steady as old Time, and would pc | just the person for me. At nrst l sald No but Charlotte--that's my cousin Mrs. Lewin--was most urgent. and. indeed rather insistent; she declared 1t would be a charity to take the peor creature under my wing, and that should fnd her unobtrusive and useful And she was right. as usual. We came together two months ago. and suit one another remarkably we'll"
 "on the principle that extremes
 
 contrast" said Sir Peter. You see, you are so bright--and she is so dull" aPerhaps she feels dull" remarked Mrs ~ Mac James, who was secretly Jealous of the other ladq's good tor- tune iu securing an invaluable com panion, and foil. on such ridiculousiy easy terms. T have never seen her at tbA Casino" she continued, 'nor on the golf links, nor at any of the teas or dances. My mai1, Mitchell, has
 far better time"
 "oh. but dear Mrs Mac James, your
 maid likes to be gay and to talk to people" protested Mrs. Britten, with
 an unbecomingly heightened color
 Now, Hester Forde is painfully shy to her. She has not been accustomed
 to mix in any society. She don't play golf, or bridge. or dance-hers father brought her up so strictly. She has
 the most narrow ideas imaginable even to look on at gambling she would consider a mortal sin"
 Poor thing!" calculated Mrs. Mac James-
 And she is too nervous to drive or motor" continued Mrs. Britten, as If anxious to thoroughly exculpate her self in the eyes of her listeners. Nat uraIly, I always urge her to make | friends with other girls but she is un- | accustomed to young people, ana dis | likes them. So l let her go her way. go mine--and we are both happy | Miss Forde devours novels by the dozen, she takes long walks she gases at the waves, or into shop windows; | she buys bread for starving dogs. | flowers for herself, and is acquiring ( | fine supply of ozone, and health. and new ideas. She would loathe my daily round, and should abhor hers. One | mans meat Is another mans poison" "Yes, yes" briskly agreed Sir Peter:
 and taking of meat, there goes the
 second gong for the dejeuner. well come break in this miserable day" "I am afraid there will be no going
 out with such a wind" said Mrs. Brit
 ten. "Will you play bridge at three.