The Washington herald., 1914-01-04

will surprise or hurt me in the least. I'm
prepared to pay "A good lump sum to get
him clear of all his messes then I'm GO
ing to have one OF the finest weddings
ever seen in town; I've had n special sum
set apart for II for years. Won't he make
picture OF a bridegroom? l never
dreamed that / should marry a man like
him."
Her cigarette being nearly consumed
she lit another, while looked at her with
! have no doubt. amaZement in my eyes
and something like terror in my heart.
had never supposed that there were such
women as she existing in the world. who
looked at what to me. were sacred
things from such a point of view.
had nightmares because of Miss
Drawbridge that night-real nightmares
! had a broken and disturbed night alb
solutely on her account, and / got out
OF bed with the feeling strong upon me
that. IL 1 could possibly help il. that, to
my mind. impossible marriage should not
take place-I would do that unfortunate
woman good in spite of herself.
When 1 got down almost the first per-
son 1 saw was Mr.. Cecil Armitage, look
ing so glum, SO unhappy, SO desperate.
and, I could not but think. so ashamed OF
himself. that my resolution was strength
ened.
1t is quite the thing at Dieppe to 60
down to the quay to see the boat come in
from Newhaven. After dejeuner. as there
was pretty stormy sea, / thought j
would go and see what the passengers
looked like. As I was going fell In with
Mrs. Curtis, one Of the dearest old ladies
, l have ever met. She was an American,
and. SO far as could make out. had been
doing Europe very much on her own. al
though she had husband who everybody
said was a millionaire. 1t seemed that he
was coming to Dieppe by that very boat.
Il haven't seen him." she told me, ''for
more than six months. He's so occupied
with business that he hasn't time to
spare for such a trife as wife, except
between whiles. I understand that he's
been making another million dollars.
wish he wouldn't: every fresh million he
desire to make more; and as we've neith-
er kith nor kin. and are Just a lonely old
couple. what we're going to do with all
the money i can't think"
When the boat drew up at the quay she
began to wave her handkerchief with all
her might to an elderly gentleman who
stood on the deck, and he began to wave
his to her; SO I drew on in order that
they might meet without being worried
by a stranger. As was strolling of the
quay after most Of the people had gone,
a girl who had a small brown bag in her
hand looked at me as IL she wondered
II were very dreadful. and then, as II
thinking that perhaps 1 was not. sum-
moned up courage 10 speak to me.
Can you tell me-" she asked. "the
name of cheap and respectable hotel
where-where can go alone?"
told her of one which / thought an
swered that description offered to
show her where 1t was. She was quite
the prettiest girl had seen for ages,
with face. ! thought. which had char
acter and strength, as well as being good
to look at I fell in love with her at
sight. She did not accept my offer to
show her to the hotel but she thanked
me for giving her the name: and then,
after favoring me with a further inspec-
ton. she made a remark which took me
aback.
II believe that In these foreign places.
IL they have been there any time. English
people begin to know each other by name
as well as by sight. VIII you pardon my
asking how long you've been hereS I
told her. Then came a staggering dues-
ton: Can you tell me II there is now
staying in Dieppe q gentleman named
Cecil Armitage?"
I Informed her that to the best of my
knowledge and belief there certainly was.
do not know what there was in my tone
which she resented. but there seemed to
be something; because. barely thanking