The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1909-09-14
LADY EDINA'S GUEST

What's the matter noWr asked
willoughby.
"Matterp cried the editor. tramping
up and down the room. Miss Ber-
trans III. Unable to work-doctors
orders. No woman's page Press day
tomorrow. confound It all That's
what's the matter"
"Can't you fnd a woman who can
do a page at a moments noticew
'No use. No time to go hunting
round. Have an idea. You try your
hand. Pen Of ready writer Ali All
women's papers In Miss Bertrams
room Easily knock something to-
gether"
WlIIoughby went up TO Miss Ber-
trans room and sat down at her table
The FIRST thing be did was to glance
through few back numbers to see
what was required Of him
mot so difficult after all" he mutt
tered. Three columns OF stun and a
couple of columns Of answers to cor
respondents"
lie got bis facts from the women's
papers lying on the table and IN
couple OF hours had produced quite
tolerable article In the approved irst
person style Miss Bertram called her.
self Lady Edna and moved IN very
select circles indeed. Willoughby kept
up the fiction admirably.
Now for the correspondence. This
viii be more ticklish. am afraid"
There was a trayful Of letters. and
he settled down 70 90 steadily through
them. but without the slightest inten.
ton Of treating them with the serious.
ness they met with at the hands 81
Lady Edna The hrst was from
gushing damsel and contained half a
dozen pages OF rigmaroe about a gar
den party.
At length he came to dainty pink
envelope inscribed IN a dainty hand
and exhaling a dainty perfume. He
twirled it la bis fingers for some mo-
ments before opening II. His imagina-
ton wandered 10 the realms Of fancy.
conjuring up pictures Of the fair cor
respondent He experienced quite
strong desire to know what she bad
to say, but was half afraid 70 tear
open the envelope lest the charm be
broken.
This won't do. Here goes!' he
opened the letter and ran bis eye over
its contents:
Dearest Lady Edina-I really cannot
stand It any longer. 20. IL spite Of your
advice. ] am going 70 run away from
home tomorrow. / must so on the stage.
although aunt viii nearly Ole when she
knows Il. But she ought TO be more
sympathetic. You know, you promised
to meet me II came w 70 town shah
be at Euston az e.l5 tomorrow. ana II
you cannot be there I shall come on 70
the Office As We do not know each other
by sight, please wear cornlowers and
carnations, and 4 viii DO tho same Yours
sincerely, MAY BARLEY.
Tomorrow unused Paul Willough-
BY. why. that Is today He whis-
tied and locked at bis watch. "Oh,
plenty OF timel AS am Lady Edna,
suppose l must 60 and meet her.
This IS growing interesting"
He set to work and dashed on anoth-
er column OF answers to correspond
ents and then took bis copy" to the
editor. who glanced through It approx
ingly.
'Ha, thig'Il dol Knew you were the
man. Leave 1t there. FearfuIly busy"
Willoughby went out and bought a
hRs#sass hnfa sea sN,.y i s,.se,.t, art4 sar,,n
lions, and after a general brush up
he felt quite satisfied with himself
he toek hanson aud arrived at Eus-
ton with a quarter Of an hour to
spare. After what seemed ages Of
waiting the heavy express from the
north steamed in. and Willoug hby felt
positively nervous as be watched the
passengers allght Fills quick eve
caught sight Of a beautiful girl with
4 brave show Of red and blue flowers
in her dress. She looked round eager
III, as though expecting some one. His
heart beat quicker than usual as he
stepped up to her and raised bis hat
She stared blankly at him, but he
quietly pointed 70 the flowers in the
buttonhole Of bis frock coat
You are Miss May barley, ] pre-
sume.9
eyes. but,
q am Lady Edna, he replied, with
a smile.
lyon Lady Edna" she cried. blush
ing And you have read all my let
ters?n
"No-oHly your last one. Let me ex-
plain. The real Lady Edna is III, and
| had to do her work at a moments
notice. / didn't see your letter until a
couple Of hours ago, and then it was
too late to wire to you, But where Is
q porter9 You had better leave your
luggage here until we see what IL to
be done. You VIII pardon me, but |
should suggest a BIT Of lunch some
where. and then we can talk matters
ever"
with a gentleman whom do not
knowg7
with Lady EDNA grayely replied
Willoughby.
The girl laughed and hnally con-
scented
They drove to d quiet restaurant In
the Strand, and over their outlets and
green peas they became quite confden-
tial
He talked to such good purpose that
she returned home BY the 7 p, m train
resolved never to attempt such an es-
capade again, but quite as firm ia her
resolve to become an actress, 10 which
end he offered bis services and influ-
ence.