The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1916-11-07
CONTINUED From Our Last Issuc)
CHAPTER iii.
In tn Car
= OMETHING has happened.


Tonight Helen Garde was
- to have sung Carmen for the
first time in England. Lady Mel
don had a box lent by a friend.
She had promised to dine with us
before receiving the box. When 1t
came. she telephoned, asking us
all three to go to hear Carmen
with her.
The arrangement stood like
this until yesterday, when word
came she was down with . bad
cold. The box remained ours.
Aunt Dora asked the two Jewett
boys, Americans, to help fill 1t,
and told them to bring an Eng
lish friend of theirs, Lord Burne.
From the anecdotes I'd heard
them tell Of him, l thought he
must be a person not at all Lady
Meldon's sort, SO 1t hardly SEEM
ed fair to plant him In box lent
by her. said this to Aunt Dora,
and she was angry.
II ended in my deciding-ol
Aunt Dora deciding-that
shouldn't go to the opera with
them.
This morning I called to ask
how Lady Meldon was. She was
Z we'll enough to see me, tho not
20 leave the house. 1t came out
IN conversation that I was not to
be of the party at Covent Garden,
and Lady Meldon asked me to
dine quietly with her. OF course.
/ said yes. II had gone to the
opera I should not have known
what l know now-what / would
give great deal not to know.
Just as we we're finishing din
ner a message came up that Sir
Miles Culver had called. Would
see him q moment?
"How very odd" she exclaimed
to me.
saw by Sir Miles face, when
he came in, that he was disap-
pointed not to find Lady Meldon
alone.
Helene has been suddenly
taken ILL.," he explained, "and her
undesstudy is singing. Her maid
telephoned and I went at once TO
the house, tho the message said
the Illness was not serious-only
. slight chill, affecting the throat,
but Helene couldn't receive me"
It was not 10 O'Clock when Sir
Miles left, and Lady Meldon kept
me till nearly II. knowing that
Aunt Dora and Marguerite would
not be back till late.
When I staretd away, it was
Just at the quiet time before peo-
pie leave their dinner parties and
before theaters close. There were
very few automobiles or car
riages, but the moonlight was so
lovely ] told the chauffeur to
drive slowly.
A car passed close to mine.
going the other way. 1t was a
limousine, but both windows were
open, and at that instant a light
from some street lamp shone full
Into II. I saw Laurie Culver with
Helene Garde. She was in his
arms, her head on his shoulder,
and he was kissing her.
The more I think OF 1t, the
more certain I am that couldn't
have been mistaken. The car was
20 near.
Could there be any possible ex-
PLANTATION. I wonder. which would
make 1t right for them to kiss
each other like that, without
treachery to Sir Miles?
June 5th.
Every morning I have been half
oxpecting and dreading to see an
announcement In the Post saying
that the marriage arranged be-
tween Sir Miles Culver and Com
tosse Helene Garde viii not take
place. But there has been no
such announcement; and yester-
day / heard from Lady Meldon
that Sir Miles had persuaded
Helene to be married July 9Th
3 month from tomorrow.
Il seems that the 9Th of July Is
HI birthday. She win have fin
1ohed her engagement at covent
Garden by July LIST. She is sing
Ing again now. The papers say
che - the most perfect Carmen of
~ Knndraklon.
have met o1r Miles twice Mt
u ~ Moldon's since I last wrote.
IA came without Helene. who n
supposed to be Saving herself
~" for hcr work.
How thankful ] am that Lady
Wcf1en = the sweet. loyal woman
- ~ ! know she would never
tV1u hint 10 SIR Miles abort my
111 - feel tk - las