The public ledger. [volume] (Maysville, Ky.) 1913-1968, 1916-02-01

Unfortunately, yes. My man Is wait
ing for me with both horses i'm the
scrub. But before | 20 | want to ask
great favor of you. 1t is-not TO tell
a soul have been here"
For a singer and a woman of TEN
permanent, Hida Bouverle had won.
derfully level head. She inquired his
reason In no promising tone.
you will see at Mrs. Clarkson's
concert"
Hilda started.
You are coming to thatT
without fail-to hear Mrs. Clark.
son sing five sOngs-your song among
them! VIII you promise to say moth.
ing about me? l have a reason which
you will be the first to appreciate in
due season"
Hilda hesltated and finally gave her
word Their hands were Joined an
instant. as he thanked her with gal
liant smile and bow. Then he was
gone.
Mr.. Clarkson and his young men sat
at dinner that evening with a Miss
Bouverle hard to recognize as the ap.
parently austere spinster who had
hitherto been something Of skeleton
at their board Coldly handsome at
her worst, a single day had brought
forth a radiant beauty wreathed in
human smiles. Mr. Clarkson wonder
ed whether his wife's departure had
aught to do with the striking change
in her companion; the two young men
rested mutually assured that it had
"The old girl keeps too close an eye
on her." said little Mr.. Hack, who
kept the books and hailed from Middle
sex. Get her to yourself, Ted. and
she's as larky as they're made"
Ted Radford, the station overseer,
was a parsonage not to be dismissed
in relative clause He was typical
back blocker. dry and wiry, nasaIly
cOcksure, insOlently cool, a fearless
hand with horse, man, or woman. He
was good friend to Hack when there
was no third person of his own kidney
to appreciate the Overseer's conception
of friendly chaff. They were by them
selves now, yet the last speech drew
from Radford a sufficiently sardonic
grin.
"You see If she Is, old man." said
he, "and I'll stand by to collect your
remains. Not but what she hasn't
come Off the ice and looks like thoring
If you take her the right way"
Ted RadfOrd was confirmed be.
lever in the rightness Of his own way
with all mankind. His admirable con
idence had not been shaken by long
succession Of snubs in the quarter I'M
der discussion. As for Miss Bouverle,
it was her practice to play off one
young man against the other by dis
cOuraging each IN his turn. BUT this
evening she was different being. She
had vague yet absolute conviction
that her fortune was made.
And the next night the male trio
were strangely absorbed I'm some sta
tiOn happening which did not arouse
Miss BOuverie's curiosity In the least.
They We're excited and yet constrained
at dinner and drew their chairs close
together on the veranda afterward.
The young lady caught at least one
word Of which she did not know the
meaning. She had the tact to keep out
OF earshot after that. Nor was she
very much more interested when she
met the two young men with revOlvers
in their hands the following day.
Going TO fight duelT" she inquired.
more or less" returned the overseer
without his usual pleasantly. We're
going TO have match at target be
hind the pines"
Mrs. GARRISON had returned with
gorgeous gown, only less full of her
experiences than of the browning tri.
umph yet TO come. She had bought
every song Of Sir Jullan's to he had
IN Melbourne. and his name was al
ways on her lips. In a reckless mo
ment Miss BOuverie had inquired his
age.
81 really don't know" said Mrs
Clarkson. what can II matter?"
II only wondered whether he was a
yOungish man or not"
REALLY, Miss BOuveriev' she said ana
nothing more In words. But the tone
was intOlerable. and its accompanying
sneer a refinement In yulgarity, which
only the really refined would have re
scented as IL deserved. Miss B0uverie
got up and left the room without n
word. But her flaming face left mis-
leading tale behind.
She was not introduced TO Sir Julian.
bur that was not her prime disappOint-
ment when the great night came All
desire for an introduction. all interest
In the concert, died a sudden death In
Hilda Bouverle at her first glimpse OF
the gentleman who was duly presented
70 Mrs. GARRISON az Sir Julian Crum
lie was more than middle aged He
wore gray beard, aud the air OF
somewhat superciliOus martyr. His
near sight was Obyiated by double
lenses In gold rims. Hllda could have
wept before the world. For nearly
three weeks she had been bowling I'm
imagination 10 very different Sir
Julian. In the patchy glare OF the
Kerosene lamps against the bunting
which lined the corrugated walls OF
uulland's new Iron store. among dover
fpd geed Of township aud Of station,