The Washington times., 1913-10-11

| ping over the low sill into the room.
| Good morning. SIR" she replied. re-
| spectfully. with just the slightest trace
of a brogue in her soft utterance.
He smiled to himself at this-no ac-
cent had marred the enunciation of
purest French in her song.
| You are up early" he remarked un-
| comfortably. Now that he had started,
| he found it no easy matter to proceed.
| Yes, sir" Her tone, respectful still,
| had a new slightly defensive tone.
Mary, what was that you were sing
ing just when 1 came in?" he plunged
| In, resolutely.
She turned and faced him with bland,
| wide eyes.
Il don't know, sir. Twas jus, a bit
! of a song a lady used to sing where
| was maid. sir" She dropped her eyes
and flushed again beneath his curious,
incredulous gaze.
Then she added ingeniously: "'Tis
foreign, think. sir. The lady heard
| me humming II after one day and she
taught me the words"
She caught herself up, as II realizing
her undue loquacity, and, turning. gave
the last touches to the Towering sprays
in the bows.
on inexorably.
voice was growing uncertain.
Mary, what position did you hold be-
fore You came here?"
Why, sir. with-with General Kenne-
dy, strand before that with Mrs--Mrs.
Suydam. Suddenly she Strengthened up
Mrs. Van Rensselaer, has my refer
encues, sir" And without waiting for
further questioning she walked quickly
from the room.
Robin stood lost in perplexity. gazing
olankly at the door through which she
mad passed
Her subterfuges. her paIpable false
hoods. the contradiction between her
evident breeding and education, and the
menial position she herself had volun-
menage. and the impossibility or arriv-
ing at any clue as to her real identity
and purpose--all the questions pounding
in his brain left him dazed.
Well, upon my word remarked a
crisp voice behind him, and, wheeling
with Madge Ashley at the foot of the
stairs.
Philandering with the parlor maid
like the hero In the first act Of an old
fashioned farce. I'm surprised at you.
Robin Van Rensselaer,"
Robin grinned consciously and was
highly annoyed with himself. and with
her for ler inopportune appearance;
but he replied with studied indifference:
I've been directing the floral arrange
ments for the dining room-you've no
Idea what taste / have
''Yes?" Queried Mrs. Ashley, with
slightly uplifted eyebrows. Robin went
on hurriedly:
If l hadn't been such a wonderful
success In Wall Street I'm sure | would
have made most original interior dec
orator"
Il quite agree with you." Mrs. Ash
ley indorsed with unnecessary warmth.
Then she added: You look cool and
remarka bly, sleek-have you been for an
early swim?'
He nodded
Il wish l had the courage to follow |
your example. she went on. I'm sure !
l should love II. once i was in; but IL |
Is such nuisance. You might help me |
added suddenly
Paddle me about bit in the canoe.
It's ages yet before breakfast. and the
air is SO delicious in the early morning. |
isn't it?"
II shall be delighted" Robin said with
alacrity. glad of a change in the con- |
versation. The air is like spring now.
but IL S going TO be blistering hot later" |
They strolled out to the veranda, and |
stood for moment at the top OF the |
steps.
Whatever got you up SO early this
morning." asked Mrs. Ashley You
don't start out on one of those inter
minable fishing expeditions of yours
Not until late afternoon" He smiled, !
then added seriously: Il don't know |
what IL could have been, but something
walked me with a start Just at dawn
and | couldn't get to sleep afterward."
Conscience. maybe" suggested Mrs
Ashley helpfully.
What are you doing up at this un-
earthly hour?" he asked, turning to her
laughingly.
Her face contracted in sudden gravity.
Il had a perfectly horrid dream-I |
can't in the least remember what IL
was about but II seemed TO me that |
j heard Victoria scream once-a ter
rible eurglins sort of scream,
II woke up trembling, and sleep was
out Of the question after that. Do
you know. the dream was SO vivid that
] was or the point OF going TO Victor
las room to knock and ask her II she
WAS ali right-perfectly silly, wasn't
il? I shall have 10 diet fjr a time,
I'm afraid. Shall we go?'
'Dreams are unsatisfactory things. l.
anyway" observed Rohin as they :i.-
seconded to the boathsuse. their fee.
no sound on he veIvetlike mold
and thickly scattered pine-needles
Il remember when ] was i boy | al
ways dreamed that the loveliest thinps
were Just about TO happen to me when
presto! ! woke. to face school, and
Heaven knows what ether monotonouS
juvenile contingencies"
But Mrs. Ashley was not listening. !
She was looking past him. 10 the left /
with a curious intentness. Suddenly she
laid her hand upon mis- arm
'l<oOkip she said in lnW fona .(-ic-