Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-12-30
CHAPTER VI.-Continued.

Breakfast was served on a delightful
sun porch that 1 had not before seen.
Cecilia appeared promptly. having In fact
been gathering fall flowers for some time,
judged. from the considerable armful OF
chrysanthemums, asters, dahlias and
marigolds which we found her arrang-
ing for the table. She seemed in excellent
spirits. and greeted us most amiably.
II heard the artillery booming and
thought an army had descended. It's a
great regret to me, Mr.. Ames, that l
have never been able to make any head
way at the traps. ] suffer from chronic
and incurable gun-shyness. I'm sorry
archery has gone out. ] think l might
nave done better with the long bow
'Pinkle" exclaimed Miss HOLSTER, dis
dainfully. II cured myself of gun-shy
ness easily enough by having the garden
er follow me about whenever 1 took my
daily walks. firing a gun at irregular in
tervals just behind me. l was threatened
with deafness when I began. but the
agitation of my tympanums by the eX-
plosions of my gun has corrected the
difficulty. l have mentioned my dis
covery of this remedy to distinguished
aurst. and lie is preparing a paper on
the subject-not. however, without my
Professionalism he expects to read
shortly before one Of the most learned
societies in Europe. Cecilia, the chops
are OverdOne again; please remind me to
speak to the cook about 1t. II 1t were
not that he is so expert in detecting
spurious steam-mill cornmeal. which is
constantly sold as substitute for. the
BOydville underground article, l should
discharge him for this. An ill-brOiled
chop can do much to shake ones faith in
human nature. II l wanted to eat grilled
patent leather should order it,
In spite of her sharp observations 1t
was quite clear to me that Miss Hol-
listers was the gentlest and sweetest OF
natures. l fully be--eved that her whims
We're the honest expression OF revolt
against the tedious and conventional, and
nothing in my later acquaintance dis
turbed this opinion. 1t was her privt-'
lege to do as she liked. and il she pre-
ferred cracking clay saucers with a shot
gun to knitting or darning stockings or
gossiping, ii was no ones business.
The mail arrived and was placed by
her plate before We left the table. She
opened first a bulky envelope. containing
cuttings from a clipping bureau. and
she unused aloud upon these as she read.
This persistent story of a sunken gal
leon off the Bolivian coast sounds plaus-
ible. but l fear it is the work Of some
bright young journalist. Our minister in
stock in it. l had a cable from him
yesterday. If he had given the story
credence I should have gone down at once
with a steamer and crew Of divers The
imaginative young newspaper men con-
tinue rOmancing, however; and 1t costs
ME five cents a clipping"
She next opened letter that reused
her to vigorous defamation. -.
Cecilia" she began. here is q letter
from that Mrs. Stanford we met in Berne.
She incloses a card that indicates her
wish to be called Mrs. Appleby now. hav-
| ing, i believe. spent a few months since
our meeting in one of our American
states where the marital tie readily evap-
crates and shaken Stanford. whom 1
have heard spoken of in the highest
terms by persons of character. We live
In an era of horseIess carriages, wire
less -telegraphy, husbandless. wives and
wifeless husbands. l have hit upon q
formula which ! am tempted to utilize
hereafter when meet husbandless Wom-