The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1911-07-08
BY DOROTHY BLAcKMoRE.
Copyright, 1911 by the Associate
Literary Preas1

Copyright, 1911 by the Associated
Literary Press.)
Ned Cannaught sat over his coffee
In the luxurious lounge Of the Chateau
Del Monte. 1t was his habit to post
pone the smoking OF his cigar until his
coffee had been brought to him each
evening in this PALM decked rendez-
vous of the fashionable summer ho-
tel In which he was spending the sum-
mer.
Cannaught had a reason for choosing
this place to ioiter in--he needed to
see people. to hear the gay babble Of
merry groups OF people. He had been
too long in his gloomy studio in town
doing nothing but work. and there
discovered that II he did not get out
among human beings again he would
forget how they talked and acted and
lived His dialogue would become
stilted; his situations unnatural and
he would lose his footing In the liter
airy world.
What mattered 1t IL tho CAV per-
sifage that fioated about him was
merely the babble of dilletantes and
each evening he watched the ever
changing groups OF human beings who
freauented this inn.
Tonight the voice OF q woman had
reached his ears and he turned to see
her. He waved of the cloud OF smoke
he had blown before him. the better
to view her.
obviously foreign bearing and yet
she was an American. Cannaught
knew this from her accent. Her toll
cite was simple yet individual and tho
lorgnette she piled added not one whit
Of artifciality. She had exquisite
coloring and hair. and her eyes. though
they did not see well, were wonderfully
beautiful
She chatted with intimates. She had
motored down to the chateau and was
making her adieux-
A woman friend held her hand I'm
geringly in both her own. 1T Is so
good to have you back, Marguerite.
she said. France and Italy have done
much for YOU
Marguerite laughed IN soft little
way she had. You're so good. But
do come soon--Oyster Bay 719---and
see my grandchild. 1t was she who
brought me back to this country"
It'll come, indeed. to see her-and
you" said the woman, following the
tall Marguerite with her eyes until
she was out OF sight.
Cannaught thoughtfully slipped the
black coffee and bis eyes, sought the
door through which Marguerite had
passed.
"Her grandchiid." he said to him.
SELF. Then ne blew a set OF smoke
rings and watched them expand and
disappear into thin air. Her grand
child" he repeated.
Thereafter. as he sat watching men
and women come and go. Ned Can
naught had always in mind one
thing--another sight--of Marguerite.
OF all the women he had seen In this
place mono had attracted him a. had
this one.
Against his own desires and incli-
nations he began to cultivate the
guests who lived at the chateau and
occasionally he would join them IN
the lounge after dinner instead Of
sitting alone. Perhaps some one
might know her: perhaps she would
come again.
Cannaught was sure she had an
interesting story to tell; she must
have II at surely not more than thirty
four she had a grandchild. The lat
ter fact seemed incredible. but she
stated II with her own lips and her
friend had seemed not at all aston
ished.
Summer was waning and Cannaught
longed again for the quiet OF his stu
dio and the eompanionship of his per-
sonal surroundings. He had another
week to remain at the chateau ac-
cording to the promise made to him.
self early in the season. and he was
sitting fretfu1ly In the accustomed
place behind a bank OF palms. Be-
fore him was a tabourette with his
coffee and cigars.
Presently he heard q bell boy say.
THAT Is Mr.. Cannaught behind tho
palms"
Then voice answered, Thank
you, I'll find him myself now
The next moment the beautiful wo-
man who had so attracted him stood
before him, letter In her hand.
MFR. Cannaught? 7" she said. look
ing at him through her gold trimmed
lorgnette. There was q slight infiec-
ton in her voice, as II to imply In
terrogation.
Cannaught laid down his cigar and
stood quickly. 1T Is /. madame" he
said.
Marguerits smiled. have been
searching for you all summer with
this" she said.
Cannaught took the letter. BE
seated, pray" he said. indicating tho
great lounge on which ne himself had
been sitting. Marguerite sank down
into It.
"From dear old Bradley" Can
naught exclaimed an he scanned the
note. How good to hear OF him
again and he introduces you-Miss
Carver" extending his hand. I'm
happy to say" II he hesitated over
the prefix to her name. Marguerite
did not notice 1t.
His villa IL next to my own In Sor-
rento, and a. we two alone spoke
English We became the bot Of