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

~ 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.
Andf when, in answer to my ring
ing, one OF the maids came after
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?" 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
MIR. EastCliffs yacht, that they would
he 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
of the beveled glass The telegram,
which was addressed to me, was
from Martin.
Expect to arrive tomorrow
evening. Staying until Wednes-
day afternoon. II not convenient
wire Principals House. King
Georges College"
ITO 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 astonished TO find
the house empty and all your
rackcty 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. IL was
arranged neraly month ago
that before we left your delight
ful house we should make 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 a spring
chicken remembered that he had
promised TO visit q friend who
has taken a shoot in skye Re-
suit we had TO make the cruise
Immediately or not al all and yet,
behold our hostess was away on
an urgent ca1 Of sickness. and
what in the world were we to do
without her.
T,yayyhog,r ,,-as In a ,v,r4or,,
that wise Mr. Vivian saying il
would he Jolly bad form. by
Jove," 10 go without you. while
Mr. Eastclim's "deelightfully
wicked little Camilla declared II
would be "Vilaynous," and your
husband YeT~' that his Marga-
ret Mary could not possibly be
left behind.
II was then that n certain friend
Of yours took the liberty OF re-
memberng that you did not like
the sea. and that even II you had
been here and had consented to
go with us Il would have been
only out OF the sweetness or your
heart which I've always known
TO be the tendereSt and most I'M
selfish in the world
This seemed to satisfy the
whole house and everybody was
at ease, when To, down ON us
like "a thuuderbolt came the tele-
gram from MIR Conrad. Thinking
IL might require TO he repeated.
took the liberty OF opening It, and
then we were in a plight. assure
you
What on earth was he 10 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
sec 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 kiudest thing We could
do for a serious person of his kind
would be TO take our rackety
presence out OF the way.
That contented everybody eN-
Cept my mother Who-would Won
believe it9-had gotten some
Trudish notions into her head
about tine imprOprie,y of leaving
'uu alone and declared her inteu-
SION of staying behind To keep
'ua .n Courteuancet We soon
laughed her out uf that. though. |
ani now 90 relieve YOU OF her
company We are carrying her
away with us-WhiCh will be lots
OF fun, for she's as fond of water