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

n fore ! 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 q
certain delay. wearing neither apron
nor cap. 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?" I
asked, but before the girl could reply
Price. who had come down TO take
my wraps, said.
I'm 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. Eastclffs yacht, that they would
be away several days, and that Ma
dame had left 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
of the beveled glass The telegram.
which was addressed to mo, was
from Martin
Expect to arrive tomorrow
evening. Staying until Wednes-
day afternoon II not convenient
wire Principals House, King
Georges College"
no morrow ."
THAT means to-day" said Price
The telegram came yesterday. Ma
dame opened II and she told me to
say"
Let me read her letter first" /
said
The letter ran as follows:
My Dearest Mary:
You will be astonishcd TO find
the house empty and all your
rackety guests gone, Let me eX-
plain. and IL you are angry about
what has happened you must lay
all the blame ON me
Well YOU see, my dear. il was
arranged ncraly 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 of so soon, ]
when suddenly and unexpectedly \
that silly AIR. Eastcllff, who has
no more brains than a spring
chicken, remembered that he had
prom sed TO visit friend who
has taken shoot in skye. Re-
suit. we had to make the cruise
Immediately or not az ALL and vet,
behold! our hostess was away on
an urgent cali of sickness, and
what in the world were we to do
without herr
Everybody was in a quandary
that wise Mr.. Vivian saying 1t
would be Jolly bad form, by
Jove,' 20 SO without you, while
Mr. Eastclms "deeHghtfully
wicked little Camilla declared IL
would be ''vilaynous," and your
husband YsErS that his Marga-
ret Mary could not possibly be
left behind
1t was then that a certain friend
Of yours took the liberty OF re-
membering that you did not like
tho sea, and that even II you had
been here and had consented TO
go with us II would have been
only out OF the sweetness OF your
heart. which I've always known
10 he the tenderest and most un-
selfish in the world.
This seemed 10 satisfy the
whole house. and everybody was
at ease, when To-, down on us
Ike a thunderhon came the tele-
gram from Mr. Conrad Thinking
IL might require TO be repeated. |
took the liberty OF opening It. and
then we were in plight, l 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 MS, the
women especially and myself In
particular. being Just crazy 10
see him aEaip9
This nearly broke down our
plans altogether, but once more
came to the rescue by remember
ms that Mr., Conrad was not COM
ing 60 see MS. but YOU, and that
the very hndest thing we could
do for serious person OF his kind
would be TO take our rackety
presence out Of the way
That Conteuted everybody eN-
yept my mother. who--Would YOU
believe tt2-had gotten some
uru1ish notions into her head
bout the improperly Of leaving
sou alone. and declared her inten-
tou or staying behind 10 keep
you 100 countcnanue' We soon
laughed her cut of that. though.
and now 10 relieve you OF her
company we are carrying her
away WIKI us- which will be lots
OF fun. for she's as fond or water