The herald-advance. (Milbank, S.D.) 1890-1922, 1909-07-23
CHAPTER xI.

CHAPTER xI.
First Appearance of the Gentleman
With the Pointed Beard.
The lovers travelled up to London
together. 1t was an odd situation.
Three or four hours before this they
had been strangers. Now they were
vowed to each other-never had any
thing been so rapid before. Neverthe-
less. swift as everything had been on
that golden afternoon among the flow
ers OF the old rectOry garden, both
Captain Marriott and Daisy Hobson
lost sight of the fact. They talked as
II they had known each other for
many years. There was q sweet in
terchange of condolences. Already
they felt welded and one.
While Daisy was packing her trunk
another telegram had arrived from
London addressed to Basil. 1t was
from Michael Grant.
Immediately upon receipt of the
wire from the Duchess, Daisy had tel
egraphed her acceptance of the pro-
posal. This wire to Marriott was OBJ
viously forwarded after the receipt of
Daisy's message. The despatch had
been sent from the Office in St.
James's Street, which showed Basil
that Michael Grant was with the
Duchess ut 1O0a, Piccadilly. 1t read:
Come up with Miss Hobson. Send
her straight to Piccadilly. and you
come to my chambers. Grant.
The afternoon was over. and dusk
was falling now, ~ the lovers sat
alone In the first-class carriage Of the
train that was hurrying them through
the pleasant English countryside
towards the unknown future.
There 10 one thing, Daisy darling" !"
Basil said, which seems to me quite
extraordinary"
'WhAt II that?"
why, It IL your father" he an
swered, "the way he took the news Of
our engagement, and the fact that
yOu were going OF to Germany a. the
companion Of the Duchess at . mo-
nent's notice!"
Daisy laughed. "Oh." she said.
sfather was always like that. Moth
ing disturbs him very much"
II should think not" Basil thought
10 himself. remembering with an In.
ward smile Of amusement his inter
view with the rector 30 short q time
before.
When he and Daisy had come back
70 the house at length-the telegram
from the Duchess had brought them
hack very quickly from the Nuns
walk Basil had rung the bell and
asked 70 see Mr.. Hobson.
The old gentleman had trotted into
the drawing-room with ! croquet NAL
~ II one hand, his faint blue eyes
peeflng round the place 40 II he was
. little out Of his element and dis
tnrbed In the course Of events.
Basil had thought that hs had new.
u n his life seen anybody more like
~ White Rabbit In "Alice In Won.
1orland."
.1Gr. Hobson," he had said. not
without some difficulty and hesitation,
s11r. Hobson. have to ask you some.
thing of tremendous importance.
1ont suppose l could ask you any
tn1ne moro important than thisl"
s0oAr me! dear mel" replied the
focGor. Nothing has gone wrong with
- ooanty championship. I hopef
am Inc 10 play on that flne green at
lfllehootsr Castle on Thursday, and
~ AruAdeAcon himself II to be my
antaronist. hope
M. No rectorl" Basil replied. 'sIt
- nctAing q 40 with croQuet at ALL
-UAls sald tn old gentleman: and
n ~ interest and emotion died out
q ~ voice. He looked up At the
yol14 nAA with = weary and pushed
okpt nloo.
lAAt - I a. ~ you. Captain
uslek&a B. ~ sA1d.
oll took ~ bull " the horns.
- c1vo yosr oonsent kfr. Hob.
e ~ nv on9Agoment With your
VI 11nSAtof Da1sy. :
eestnin1y,s sn11 tAo Oh
M - mlnha hAyo ropiiod
i to0eoot ~ a1l
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