The Miller press. [volume] (Miller, S.D.) 190?-current, 1909-07-22

Duchess OF London, and now-ahem,
Il think I will leave you. II is SO
important that the hoops should be
pulled up before the evening dew
really begins to fall, so that the area
In front of them can be carefully
rolled. Goodbye, my love: goodbye.
Captain Marriott. l am very pleased
to have seen you. And"
He suddenly seemed to wake up to
some slight realization of the impor-
lance of the moment.
and / am sure l hope you will
both be very happy. II you will send
me telegram at any time when you
propose coming down here l will see
that the banns are put up. 1t will
save the expense of a license, and,
Of course, / should marry you myself.
But you must let me know at least
three weeks before"
The old gentleman faded away into
the dusk.
This was what had happened, and
in all his varied experience Basil had
never spent queerer half-hour. He
spoke about 1t to Daisy as the train
rushed up to London, and into the
extraordinary future of their lives.
What does it matter, dear" she
said. Il told you before that father
is not like other men. He is absorbed
in one thing. He lives happily and
quietly in one pursuit; and, indeed,
is it not the better part? Would it
not be happier for all of us If we
could spend a tranquil life, far away
from the noise of cities and the stir
and turmoil of life, living as my faith
er does, in quiet happiness?"
NO." Basil answered, and as he did
so he caught her to him. mo; a
moment such as this is worth a thou
sand tranquil, dreamy hours, Daisy.
is it not?"
Her answer was not vocalized, but
it was complete.
They arrived at Liverpool Street
little after seven o'clock. AS the
train drew up at the dingy platform
and they got out Of their carriage two
men in the ducal liveries hurried up
to them.
Daisy's trunk was taken at once to
the motor-brougham which was in
waiting, and she was whirled away
towards Piccadilly. One of the men
had handed a note to Basil before the
brougham started. 1t was quite short
and simple, and to this affect:
Dear Mr.. Marriott-Daisy Hobson
Is coming straight on to me here, and
you, l understand, are going to see
Mr.. Grant. / shall expect you both
here at ten o'clock.
Beatrice London.
Basil got into a hanson and was
driven off.
Drive fast" he said to the man.
The cab bowled away through the
now deserted avenues of the City,
down Queen Victoria Street, along
the Embankment, and up to the Pal
ace of Westminster. Then they
turned into the purlieus of the Alb
hey and the Houses of Parliament,
and proceeded more slowly down Vic
toria Street, now crowded with the
cabs and carriages Of people going
out to dine, till-very shortly, it
seemed to Basil-they turned into the
great courtyard of st. Anselm's Man
sions.
The lift man recognized Captain
Marriott, touched his cap, and took
him quickly up to Michael Grants
fiat. Basil had hardly pressed the
bell when the door was opened by
Grants servant.
Across the hall the sailor saw that
the door Of Michael Grants bedroom
was open, and the great athlete him.
self came hurrying out to meet his
friend.
oh" he said, in a quick, anxious
voice, you have come, then? There
is much to be done before twelve
o'clock tonight"
What does it all mean?" Basil said.
my dear Grant, what does 1t all
mean? l quite understood that you
and / were to start tonight by the
midnight mail for Cologne, but while
| was down at the rectory in Essex
the telegram came from the Duchess,
asking Miss Hobson to accompany
her. What does it all mean?"
ITO ha