The Glasgow courier., 1916-07-21
| the villa.

lie OellVeTeO teleSTdm anu hluuAy
vouchsafed the information that it
was from New York.
Mr. Blithers experienced queer
sinking Of the heart as he gazed at
the envelope. Something warned him
that if he opened it in the presence
of the messenger he would say some
thing that a young boy ought not to
hear.
"It's from Maud" said the obliging
boy, beaming good nature. 1t cost
him a quarter. that bit Of gentility.
for Mr.. Blithers at once said some
thing that messenger boy ought to
hear and ordered Jackson to go
ahead. 1t was from Maud, and 1t said:
| shall stay in town few days longer.
1t Is delightfully."- cool here. Dear old
Miranda is at the Ritz with me, and we
are having fine spree Don't worry
about money. find l have a staggering
balance in the bank. The cashier showed
me where had made a mistake in SUBJ
traction Of an even ten thousand. l was
amazed to find what a big difference
little figure makes Have made no def
mite plans. but will write mother tonight.
Please give my love to the prince. Have
you seen today's Town Truth? Or, worse.
has he seen it? Your loving daughter.
t' MAUD.
little later on, after he had cooled
off to a quite considerable extent. Mr..
Blithers lighted a cigar and sat down
in the hall outside his wife's bedcham-
ber door. She was having her beauty
nap. Not even he possessed the te-
;tu in th,t Ja cot
and listened for the first sound that
would indicate the appeasement of
beauty. occasionally hitching his chair
trif1e nearer to the door in the agony
of impatience. BY the time Jackson
returned from the village with word
that copy of Town Truth was not to
be had until the next day he was so
close to the door that if any one had
happened to stick a hatpin through the
keyhole at precisely the right instant
it would have punctured his left ear
with appalling results.
What are we going to do about it ?"
he demanded three minutes after en-
tering the chamber His wife was
PROSTATE on the luxurious couch from
which she had failed to arise when he
burst in upon her with the telegram in
his hand
"Oh. the foolish child" she moaned
"lf she only knew how adorable he is
she wouldn't be acting in this perfect
ly absurd manner. Every girl who was
here last night is madly in love with
him. Why must Maud be so obsti-
nate?"
Mr.. Blithers was very careful not to
mention his roadside experience with
the prince. and you may be sure that
he said nothing about his proposition
to the young man. He merely de-
clared. with vast bitterness in his
soul. that the prince was coming to
dinner. But what the deuce was the
use?
"She ought to be soundly-spoken
to- said he. breaking the sentence
with hasty gulp. Now. Lou. there's
Just one thing to do. l must go to New
York on the midnight train and get
her. That woman was all right as a
tutor. but hanged if like to see a
daughter Of mine traipsing around
New York with schoolteacher.
She"-
You forget that she has retired on a
competence. She is not in active en-
ployment, viii. You forget that she is
one Of the Van Valkens."
There YOU 80, talking about good
old families again. Why is it that so
blamed many of your fine old blue
stockings are hunting jobs
"Now, don't be vulgar, WILL" she
cut in. "Maud is quite safe with Mi
randa, and you know it perfectly
Well so don't talk like that l think
It would be Il fearful mistake for you
to go to New York, She would never
forgive you and what is more to the
point, she wouldn't bulge a step if
you tried to bully her into coming
home with YOU. You know it quite
as we'll as do"
Maud's continued absence was ex-
planned to Prince Robin that evening,
D not by the volcanic Mr.. Blithers, but