Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-02-04

| can explain: he SAID humDly. but you
see l arrived home only at lunchtime, and
Miss Carroll had already gone off on days
excursion. I'd never met her, you KNOW
she spends all her time in London, and | am
nailed to my office in New York. So, when
word came by telephone that the car had
blown off a cylinder head out there by the
bridge, was bit doubtful about going
alone to find her. However, Mother gave
me the description: Carmen, she said, set
right down here in this island of Mount
Desert! By Jove!" he made gesture of
desperation. "How was it possible to mis-
take? For, if you'll excuse me- Miss-er-'
he hesitated on the name,-"if you'll excuse
me, famous beauties aren't SO very common,
especially those of the Spanish type, that
man might expect to find more than one
waiting to be rescued in this northern fog!"
He smiled at me, and | smiled miserably
back.
ayes, that will do for your explanation"
came the brisk voice of Mrs. Vanhuysen;
"but meanwhile there's poor Fanny still
waiting in the fog, and this young lady's
friends waiting for her!" She turned to me
suddenly with keen eyes of inquiry.
| "Please excuse me, | faltered IL m visit
ing Mrs. Cobb-NIrs. Ethebert V. Cobb.
| You see, I'm stranger; SO when she had
left me alone in the auto, and promised to
send back her son, | naturally thought
"Yes, very natural mistake all around
and very odd coincidence into the bargain.
So you took me for Mrs Ethe1bert V. Cobb
and my nephew here for her SOM" Though
her politeness was perfect, vet in her manner
of pronouncing Mrs. Cobb's name l could
see that this lady represented Society-the
| Society toward which my future mother in
law yearned, which had not yet admitted
her right to exist. And |, Lii, was to be the
opening wedge. How miserable-how mis-
cradle life was, after all!
SUDDENLY there was the horn of an
automobile outside; then a ring at the
door, with voices and laughter A moment
later girl dashed in at the other door and
up the long hall to Mrs. Vanhuysen.
ooh, she cried, "1'm late! Ism it ridicu-
lous? You see, the car broke down over there
by Seal Harbor and"
ayes, you telephoned," returned the rigid
little American lady, "and we Immediately
sent for you; but my nephew made little
mistake. Will you allow me to present him?
Miss Carroll, my nephew, Henry Stuart.
And Miss Carroll, Miss She turned to
me with her little cool air that with perfect
politeness put me in my place as Mrs. Cobb's
friend.
| held up my head. "Mademoisele de
Vauquieres de Clugny,' l said quite dis
tinctly.
Miss Carroll, still Juggling at her veil, held
out her hand with cordialitv that touched
me almost to tears. "Weve all heard of YOU
you re famous already" she cried. "You re
in America visiting Mrs. Cobb, and you're
going to marry her son in August"
There was an instant's silence. My new
| friends eyes touched me-touched me like
fire. | couldn't speak. But he spoke.
"You're the fiancee of Victor Cobb" he
said. "Allow me to wish you every happi-
ness, Mademoiselle!"
| couldn't speak, / couldn't even feel.
But heard Mrs. Vanhuysen's tight little
voice saying:
$50, when you took my nephew for Mr..
Victor Cobb, it was even more interesting
| than we thought"
"Ah," cried Miss Carroll "I've not only
read about you, Mademoiselle, but I've seen
you before!'
With final gesture she threw off her little
automobile bonnet with its enveloping veil,
and stood flushed and sparkling in the fire
light. In a flash | recognized her-yes, the
American beauty of the flower show at
Brent, the other Carmen whom even Aunt
Elizabeth had said that | resembled, and
who had first opened nv ewes TO possibilities