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

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 q
shrill chorus of laughter which came
from the servants quarters
Whats the meaning OF thls?"
askedl 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 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
I found II on the mantelpiece In
my boudoir under an open telegram
which had been stuck into the edge
OF tho beveled glass The telegram
which was addressed to me, was
from Martin.
Expect to arrive tomorrow
evening, Staying untll Wednes-
day afternoon II not convenient
wire Principals House, King
Georges College"
To morrow?
THAT means to-day" said Price
THE telegram came yesterday. Ma
dame opened II and she told me to
81 V-"
let me read her letter first" !
said
The letter ran as follows
My Dearest Mary:
You viii be astonished to ind
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, 1t was
arranged ueraly month ago
that before we left Your delight
fu house We should make little
cruise around your charming is
land. But we had not expected
that this would como or so soon,
when suddenly and Unexpectedly
that silly Mr. Eastclin who has
no more brains than spring
chicken remembered that he had
promised TO visit friend who
has taken shoot In skye, Re
suit. we had TO make tho 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 herr
Everybody was IN a quandary
that wise Mr. vivian saying It
would be "iully bad form by
Jove,' To go without you, while
Air Edstclins DELIGHTFULLY."-
wicked" little Camilla declared ii
would be 'vilaynous," and your
husband vowed that his Marga
ret Mary could not possibly be
left behind
Il was then that a certain friend
of yours took the liberty of re
memberlng that YOU did not like
the sea, and that even IL you had
been here and had consented to
go with MS II would have been
only out of the sweetness Of your
heart, which rye always known
To be the tenderest and most UNI
selfish iu the world
This seemed to satisfy the
whole house, and everybody was
al ease when To! down ON us
Ike a thuuderbolt came the tele-
gram from Air Conrad Thinking
b. might require 10 be- repeated, |
took The liberty of opening it, and
then We were In a 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-rsome Of us, the
women especially, and myself in
particular. being Just crazy 20
see him again
This nearly broke down our
plans altogether but once more I
came TO the rescue 10y remember
ing that Mr. Conrad was not COM
ing 60 see us, but you, and that
the very kirdest thing we could
90 for serious person Of his kind
would be TO take our rackety
presence ont Of the way.
That contented everybody eN-
cept my mother, who-Would YOU
believe it2-had gotten some
prudish notions into her head
about the impropriety OF leaving
Nou alone, and declared her iuteu-
tion o. staying behind To keep
Auu Boa Cnuutenanle, We soon
laughed her out OF that. though.
Bud now, 10 relieve you Of her
company We are carrying her
away with us-which will be lots
OF fun, fer she's as fond of water