The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1914-02-08


I was once almost prevented
from doing man very signal servic'
by the singular delusion he was undel
that was In love with him.
I was staying at the Cliftonville Hote
at Ma-gate with Mr.. and Mrs Hastingl
and their daughter. Meta who was q
pupil of mine. She and were having tes
one afternoon in the gardens on the cliff
She could speak quite well when she
chose-although she had never heard q
sound in her life: but there were occa-
sions on which. II only for convenience
sake. she used the sign language. She
used IL then. She said to me:
Watch those two women who are hav-
ing tea at the table under the tent"
had noticed the pair. They were I'M
der the shade of big umbrella. which
rose from the center OF the table at
which they were sitting. As I glanced
round i saw one say to the other:
what about John Finlayson?''
The other was smoking a cigarette as
she stirred her tea. She withdrew the
!, cigarette. expelled the smoke. and / saw
her say:
II don't know whether or not TO marry
him"
sff you are ever likely to get a chance
of marrying him take my advice and do"
The smoker considered: then she
smiled-rather as IL she sneered.
I'm not so sure You can pay too dear
even for a husband with money. Finlay-
son would bore me stiff inside week.
What want is little ready cash"
"You bet, could do with more than a
a q, ,,$
The smoker slipped her tea; then asked.
as II she were putting 2 very serious
question: Meg. what do you say to a
with them?"
Gould do with a Thousand golden
sovereigns? Just couldn't I,''
You wouldn't stick at trihe to get
Them
MY love, I'd stick at nothing-rd rob
q banki"
ct wouldn't for anything suggest your
doing that Besides, think We could get
them easier out OF Finlayson than out OF
bank" Then she added something
which rather startled me. See how those
two creatures at the next table are
watching us; they can't possibly hear
what we are saying, but suppose we talk
of something else
Meta laughed outright-she can read
lips almost as well as can; i taught her
how to do 1t. I could have shaken her.
] did not look again in their direction A
few minutes after I got UP with Meta
and walked away.
Did you see what they were sayingT
she asked me as We went. 'Tt was OF
Uncle Jack that they were talking"
That was precisely the point-it was
because Of that that had watched. Mr..
John FinIayson was Mrs. Hastings BROTH
er, Metals uncle, a bachelor of about
forty years standing, with a good opin-
ion both of himself and OF his money.
Some persons might think that the one
who had been Smoking was beautiful;
and she certainly was what believe Is
called "a very fine young woman" She
was probably nearly six foot high; she
held herself very straight, her figure was
perfect. her features were regular, her
hair wonderful, her clothes expensive.
Mr.. F1nlayson had taken her and her
companion oIf with him in his motor
car: he had dined at their table; and.
very much to his sisters disgust, had
associated himself with them in more
ways than one. All the same, 1 had been
startled to see the young women hint
that il she chose she could marry him;
/ had no idea that matters had gone so
far as that Keen-witted Meta seemed
TO read my thoughts.
81 shouldn't wonder If Uncle Jack did
marry Miss Parsons. I believe I nearly
caught him kissing her last night"
Before 1 could reply her mother came
toward US down the steps. with Mr.. Fin
Iayson himself at her heels.
Mrs. Hastings bore Meta OF into the
town; Mr.. Finlayson returned to the bal
cony of the hotel, and went with him.
He was a scanty-haired little man. in
rlined to stoutness. He had inherited a
large fortune from a relative, and had
never done anything useful: so far as I
could see, his chief occupation was
changing his clothes. Yet, since his sis
ter and her husband had shown them
selves very good, and thoughtful, and
generous to me, and I owed them many
kindnesses. / felt that I could not allow
his simplicity TO make him the victim of
that intriguing young woman who called
herself Parsons without at least attempt
Ing to put him on his guard.
The veranda of the Cliftonville Hotel
runs along the road. being raised few
feet above the pavement As I stood
there with him. Miss Parsons and her
friend. coming out Of the garden across
the way. passed close by US. Mr.. Finlay-
son acknowledged their presence with a
sweeping bow, and Miss Parsons smiled
"a smile which evidently pleased him.
Most attractive young lady, that
don't you think so? Very odd how
strange some ladies are. My sister, now,
has taken up a most extraordinary posi-
lion as regards Miss Parsons; she simply
Hoesn't like her"
81 fancy Mrs. Hastings instinct In such
matters is generally to be relied on In
spIte of your wider knowledge Of the
world, Mr.. Finlayson. I hope you won't
mind my suggesting that It might be the
part of wisdom TO be on your guard
against Miss Parsons"
His rejoinder was so preposterous that
could have shaken him.
what ] said TO my sister, I say to you
jealousy in r lady's breast takes many |
forms. Eleanor is jealous of Miss Par
IONS. and SO are you |
"on what conceivable grounds do you
say that 1 am jealous of-that woman?" !
He gave sort of little hop.
"There you are-that woman'-the very
phrase betrays you. Now, Miss Lee. per-
nit me for one moment I've had-shaII L