The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1914-06-29

door the night before.
These were English people ?
No, American, of course. She
could ask those extraordinary
Poulains.
She took a step forward. and
the strangers stopped.
May | speak to you a mo-
mentY" she said lshyly.
Why certainly"
The American took off his hat,
and stood looking down at her
kindly. My name Is Barton.
senator Barton. at your servicel
What can l do for you2"
I'm Mrs. Dampier. and 1
can't make the hotel people un-
derstand what l say" she ex-
planned. Il mean Monsieur and
Madame Poulain-and the neph-
ew7I think his name Is Jules
though he is supposed 10 speak
English, is SO very stupid"
Yes, indeed he isl" chimed
in the girl whom her brother had
called Daisy" I've long ago
given up trying to make that boy
understand anything, even in
French"
what is It that you can't
make them understand" asked
Senator Barton.
~ only wish to know at what
time my husband went out, and
whether he left any message for
me, answered Nancy rather
shamefacedly. you see, the
hotel is SO full that they put us
on different floors. and l haven't
/ n
| I'll find that out for you at
once. l expect Madame Poulain
is in her kitchen just now"
The Senator turned and went
back into the courtyard, leaving
his daughter and the young Eng
| lish woman alone together.
THE Poulains seem such odd.
queer people" said Nancy hest
tatingly.
"D'you think SO? We've al
ways found them all right" said
the girl, smiling. "Of course
they're dreadfully busy just now
| because of the Exhibition"
Senator Barton was away for
what seemed, not only to Mrs.
Dampier, but also to his daugh-
ter, a considerable time. But at
last they saw him coming slowly
toward them.
Nancy Dampier took step
forward. "Well?" she said eager
ly, did my husband leave any
message?"
mo, he doesn't SEINE to have
done that" And then the Sena-
tor looked down searchingly into
the young Englishwoman's face.
Her daughter broke In: why,
Mrs. Dampier, do come upstairs
and wait in our sitting room" she
said cordially.
Nancy Dampier hesitated. She
did not notice that the American
Senator omitted to endorse his
daughters invitation; she hest
tated for a very different reason:
You're very kind; but IL l do
that I shall have to tell Madame
Poulain, for IL would give my hus-
band a dreadful fright IL he came
in and found 1 had left my room
and disappeared blushed
and smiled. very prettily.
And again Senator Barton
looked searchingly down into the
lovely, flushed little face. He said
slowly, Very well, l will go and
tell Madame Poplain that you will
be waiting up in our sitting room,
Mrs.-ah-Dampier."
He went out across the court
yard again, and Miss Barton took
Nancy Dampier across the sunlit
courtyard to the wide old oak
staircase.
When they were half way up
the Senator Joined them, and q
few moments later when they had
reached the second landing, he put
a key in the lock of a finely
carved door.
Nancy uttered an exclamation
of delight as she passed through
into the salon, whose windows
overlooked the garden.
While Mrs. Dampier and his
daughter were exchanging few
words the Senator remained ST.
lent. Then-"Is your brother
gone out?" he said abruptly.
Yes, father. He went out
about half an hour ago. But he
said he'd be back in ample time
to take us out to luncheon"
Daisy, my dear He
stopped short, then continued.
"Pm afraid I must ask you to
leave me with this young lady for
a few moments. I have something
to say to her which l think IL
would he "a we'll that 1 should