The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1910-06-24
CHAPTER XIV.

CHAPTER XIV.
The distance from Mon Repos to
Goucy was about three miles by the
| road, but Monsieur Leduc conducted
Arthur by series of paths through
the forest which were bewiIdering
! enough. The paths were very rough;
/ the forest was dense enough to make
it difficult to see the rude track.
They walked fast and reached
Goucy before the landlady of ia
| Pie Blanche" had shut up her shut
ters. They were too late for the
table d'hote. but dined together in
the general dining-room very COM
fortably.
Monsieur Leduc introduced Arthur
to his landlady as a lodger for the
night, and probably a. tenant for the
| apartment he was about TO vacare
on the morrow. The rooms were COM
Portable and clean. their price mod
crate. and matters were speedily ar
| ranged.
AS soon as that was settled Arthur
/ went out and asked his way to the
Poste Restante, whence he expected
to find home-letter. He was not
disappointed, for he found one in
Tola's characteristic handwriting,
much to his pleasure; for his mind
had been so absorbed in the affairs
OF the strange family with whom he
had become so rapidly intimate, that
1t seemed to him as If it must be
years since he had left home and all
the familiar faces and influences Of
his former life.
Dearest Arthur wrote Tola,
you have been gone for such a short
time that you cannot expect any very
great news. We are much as usual,
only more 30, for Janet and her
attendant swain have gone to the
Marsdens'. Papa is lot at all we'll,
and talks of seeing the doctor. i
wish he would. But must tell you
something that will amuse YOU. i
fancy that Reggie has met his fate!
At all events, it looks like it. The
lady is a widow, and she has come
to stay at Grimwood for week. She
| is what would be called fine wo.
man; broad. large. redolent of patch
ouli. She is very handsome, and, /
think, very stupid; but good-natured,
and kind, and soft. Don't you know
the sort of individual I mean? And
she has two thousand a year. She
rejoices in the name of Grimes
Maria Grimes-and she is about five
years older than Reggie. N'importe!
He thinks her the most perfect OF
beings, genuinely, do believe. He
met her at dinner, and took her in
| the first day she came. The second
day they met at church, and he
walked home with her. The third
day he prowled miserably about the
house-that is to-day. Tomorrow
hear something about ruins, and a
| party to see them.
| "She has asked me to call her
Maria already, which is decidedly
premature; but she is good crea-
ture, and said would. Aunt Betsy
has sent some charming additions to
5anet's trousseau. and she writes that
Colonel Curtis has given her some
diamonds. which enchant her, as you
may imagine. I must not write any
more, for hear my everlasting name
resounding through the house, and
must go on to see which of the in
numerables are in want of me.
Your loving
"TOLA."
Arthur was Still sitting, smiling
! over Tola's letter, when there came
q knock at the door, and without
waiting for an answer, Paul Leduc
came in.
1t is nearly eleven he said, "and
I am going to bed; butt thought 1
would give you friendly word of
advice first. Follow my example and
| lock your door. There are a great
; many other gentlemen in the house,
and one of them, / am sorry to say,
sometimes comes in the worse for
drink. See, that is his door," point
ing to the one next to Arthur's on
the farther side. 1T has happened
to me more than once that he has
mistaken my door for his and walked
in most unceremoniously; so locked
mine afterward. knowing this, you
will not be disturbed by the sound
OF moving about In the night. But
stay, perhaps you are very sound
sleeper?"
7 certainly shall be 50 tonight. /"