St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1910-09-14

~. strangely mysterious. You will
let me think SOP This young lady
had whimsical manner Of emphasiz-
ing words Unexpectedly. with breath
less Intensity that approached violence,
a habit dangerously contagious among
nervous persons. so that answered
slowly out OF a fear that might echo
It.
Hes young American. very at
tractive. very simple"
.sBut he's madm she interrupted.
''Oh. no-' said hastily.
"But he Is! A person told me so in
garden this very afternoon" she
went on eagerly-'a person with q
rake and ever so many moles on his
chin. This person told me all about
him. His name is Oliver Saffren, and
he's In the charge of a very large doc
tor and quite. quite madv'
Jean Ferret. the gardener l said
deliberately and with venom. lis fast
acquiring notoriety in these parts as
an idiot of purest ray, and he had his
information from another whose con-
tinuance unhanged Is every hour more
miraculous"
How ruthless of you," cried Miss
Elliott. with exaggerated reproach.
when l have had such a thrilling
happiness all day in believing that
riotously beautiful creature mad! If
he isn't. why does he have an enor-
nous doctor with him?"
''This is romancer l retorted. 1.-The
doctor is Professor Keredec, Hlustri-
ously known in this country, but not
as physician. and they are following
some form of scientific research to-
gether."
The windows had been thrown open,
allowing passage to a veranda. Miss
Eliza beth led the way outdoors with
the prince. ! caught final glimpse of
Mrs. Hartman, which revealed that she
was looking at me with tensity, but
with the movement of intervening
groups lost her. Miss Elliott point
eddy waited for me until came round
the table. then attached me definitely
by taking my arm. accompanying her
action with a dazzling smile.
Tables and coffee were waiting on
the broad terrace below, with a big
moon rising In the sky descended
Tic SICpS LII NAdA sc "a SAAS PlCt1y N0S0
alter, allowed her to seat me at the
most remote of the tables and accepted
without unwillingness other gailantries
of hers in the matter of coffee and Gig
arettes. And now" she said-'now
that I've done so much for your dear
est hopes and comfort. look up at the
milky moon and tell me ALL"
She leaned an elbow on the marble
railing that protected the terrace and,
shielding her eyes from the moonlight
with her hand. affected to gaze at me
dramatically. who and what Is the
glorious stranger?" she asked.
Resisting an impulse to chime In
with her humor. gave her so dry
and commonplace an account of my
young friend at the inn that present
" found myself abandoned to solitude
again.
st don't know where to 60" she
complained as she rose. 'These other
people are most painful to a girl OF
my intelligence, but l cannot linger by
your side. Untruth long ago lost its
interest for me. and prefer to believe
Mr.. Jean Ferret. If that is the gentle
mans name. I'd join Miss Ward and
Cressie Ingle yonder. but Cressie
would be indignant l shall soothe my
hurt with sweetest airs. Adieu."
With that she made me a solemn
courtesy and departed. pretty little
figure. not little In attractiveness, the
strong moonlight. tinged with blue,
shimmering over her blond hair and
splashing brightly among the ripples
OF her silks and laces. A moment later
some chords were sounded upon a
piano, which ran on into La Vie de
Boheme'' and out Of that into some
thing else. was floated off into
reverie that was like prelude for the
person who broke 1t. She came so
quietly that / did not hear her until
she was almost beside me and spoke
to me. 1t was the second time that