Atlanta Georgian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1912-1939, 1914-03-21


~ fore l reached the Castle. the
gate to the park had not been
opened, the drive was deserted and
even the great door to the house it,
self was closed.
And when, in answer to my ring
ing, one of the maids came after a
certain delay, wearing neither apron
nor cap, I found the hall empty and
no sign Of life in the house, except a
shrill chorus of laughter which came
from the servants quarters.
What's the meaning of this?" l
asked, but before the girl could reply
Price, who had come down to take
my wraps, said:
'I'll tell your ladyship presently"
AS we were going upstairs she told
me that the entire house party had
that morning gone off on a cruise in
Mr. Eastcliff's yacht, that they would
be away several days, and that Ma
dame had left a letter for me which
was supposed to explain everything.
] found it on the mantelpiece in
my boudoir under an open telegram
which had been stuck into the edge
VI Ill6 ptNEItd SloioS. L llC lClCS all,
which was addressed to me, was
from Martin.
Expect to arrive tomorrow
evening. Staying until Wednes-
day afternoon. If not convenient
wire Principals House, King
Georges College"
To morrow"
That means to-day" said Price.
The telegram came yesterday. Ma
dame opened it and she told me to
say"
LET me read her letter first" I
said.
The letter ran as follows:
My Dearest Mary:
You will be astonished to find
the house empty and all your
rackety guests gone. Let me ex-
plain, and If you are angry about
what has happened you must lay
all the blame on me.
Well, you see, my dear, it was
arranged neraly a month ago
that before we left your delight
full house we should make a little
cruise around your charming is
land. But we had not expected
that this would come off so soon,
when suddenly and Unexpectedly
that silly Mr. Eastcliff, who has
no more brains than spring
chicken, remembered that he had
promised to visit a friend who
has taken a. shoot in, Skye. Re-
suit, we had to make the cruise
Immediately or not at ALL and yet,
behold! our hostess was away on
an urgent call of sickness, and
what in the world were we to do
without her?
Everybody was In a quandary
that wise Mr. Vivian saving it
would be Jolly bad form. by
Jove." to go without you, while
Mr. Eastcliff's ''deelightfully
wicked little Camilla declared il
would be 'vilaynous," and your
husband vowed that his Marga
ret Mary could not possibly be
left behind.
1t was then that certain friend
of yours took the liberty of re-
membering that you did not like
the sea, and that even If you had
been here and had consented to
go with us it would have been
only out of the sweetness Of your
heart, which I've always known
to be the tenderest and most UNI
selfish in the world.
This seemed to satisfy the
whole house, and everybody was
at ease. when 10. down on us
like d thunderbolt came the tele-
gram from Mr.. Conrad. Thinking
it might require to be repeated !
took the liberty of opening It, and
then we were in plight, | assure
you.
What on earth was he to think
Of our leaving the house when he
was on the point OF arriving?
And, above all, how were we to
support the disappointment OF
missing him-some of us, the
women especially, and myself in
particular being just crazy to
see him again?
This nearly broke down our
plans altogether. but once more |
came to the rescue by remember
ing that Mr.. Conrad was not com
ing to see us, but you, and that
the very ldndest thing we could
do for serious person Of his kind
would be to take our rackety
presence out of the way.
That Contented everybody eX-
cept my mother, who--would you
believe it?-had gotten some
prudish notions into her head
about the impropriety OF leaving
you alone and declared her inten-
tiOn Of staying behind to keep
You in countenance! We soon
laughed her out Of that. though,
and now, to relieve you OF her
company We are carrying her
away with which will he lots
Of fun, for she's as fond OF water