Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-12-24
CHAPTER II.-Continued.

"The name is familiar? l recall that
Gen. Glendenning mentioned that you
were related to the Anes family Of Hart
ford, and your mother was Farquhar
Of Charlottesville. Va. II you bear your
fathers name l dare say it was he whom
l met ten years ago in Paris. There is no
reason, therefore, why We should not be
the best of friends"
| She continued to talk as she drew on
her gloves. and I saw. as her eyes rested
on mine from time to time during this
process. that they were the most kindly
and humorous eyes In the world. Her
| face was scarcely wrinkled, but the hair
that showed under the small plain hat
was evenly and beautifully gray. 1t was
| a kind fate, indeed. that had led me back
| to the Asolando, and introduced me to the
aunt of Virgins inamorata.
| 1t may well be believed that | was i'm
mediately interested, attentive. absorbed.
AS she snoothed her gloves Miss Hol-
lister continued to speak in low. mu-
quavers of age.
ION the day l reached my siXtieth
year, MIR. !Ames, l decided that my hum
drum life must cease. The strictest con-
ventions had guided me from earliest
childhood. My experience Of life had
been limited to those things which women
of education and means enjOy-Or suffer.
as you please TO take it. l resolved that
for the years that remained to me
should seek to enjoy myself after my own
fashion. TO sit in the inglenook and knit.
with no human companionship but sick
kittens. with dull monotony broken only
by visits from dutiful clergymen in pur-
suit of aims for foreign missions. was not
for me. Two years ago l chartered a
yacht and cruiSed among the Lesser An
titles, enjoying many adventures. Later
| crossed the Andes: and j have just re-
turned from Switzerland, where l accom-
Il
l have a clipping bureau engaged to in
form me Of all rumors of hidden treasure
and sunken ships and l hope that of this
something may come. as L retain marine
engineer and corps of divers and ca, can
leave at an hours notice for any likely
hunting ground. This may strike you as
the most whimsical self-indulgence. Tell
me candidly whether my remarks so at
fleet YOU
"If it were not that your benefactions
of all kinds have given YOU noble emf
lnence among American philanthropists ]
might be less biased in favor of the sort
of thing You describe: but your gifts to
lorphanages. colleges. hospitals"
! All" she interrupted ''enough Of that.
Philanthropy in these times is only Selfish
ex ploitatiOn. the recreation Of the con-
lscience-stricken. But you see no reason
why" she pursued. eagerly. IF 1 wished
to dig up the Caribbean sea in search of
Spanish doubloons. l should not do SO?
Answer me frankly. without the slightest
fear
| Il assure you. Miss HOLSTER. that such
projects appeal to ME strongly. l have
often lamented that my own lot fell in
these eventless times. AS an architect l
lproved something of a failure: as a CHM
ney doctor l lead a useful life. but the
very usefulness Of it bores me. And be-
sides, many people take me for q sweep.
| Il dare say they do, for unfortunately
many people are fools. But am bent
upon adventure. 1t has dawned upon me
that every day has its possibilities, that
1.-THE right turn at any corner may bring
me face to face with the most stirring
encounters. My age protects me where
youth must timidly turn back. My physi-
ician pronounces ME good for ten years
more of active life, and ! intend to keep
amused. If l were a young man like you
/ should crawl through chimneys no
more, but take to the open road. I re-
sent the harsh clang Of these meaningless
Years. AS walked among the hills that
| lie behind the manor this morning l
heard the bugles calling. Out there in
the avenue at this hour there are miles
LOT fat dowagers in padded broughams.
who think of nothing but clothes and
food. And speaking of food she con-
ltinued, with a droll turn, II am con-
WINGED that the caviare in that sandwich
was never nearer Russia than Casco
bay
She drew out her watch and. noting the
hour, concluded:
! Clearly We have much In common.