The Fayette falcon. (Somerville, Tenn.) 190?-current, 1920-05-07

ADVENT cOnSututeu sOou JOKE OF
which l and not she was the victim.
When / reached my quarters in the
garage I sat down and laughed until
Flynn appeared, frightened by my
noisy mlrth that had penetrated to his
quarters.
wakened early, rang a bell con-
Meeting my rooms with the chauf-
feur's end of the garage as warn
ing to the Flynns to prepare break
fast, and was dressed when the Irish
man came IN with the tray. In the
absence Of a morning paper ! chung
to him for company.
81 trust you win not be leaving.
sorr," he remarked, cycling my half
packed trunk.
"Very soon. Flynn"
"Then Elsie and will be going
too, sOrr. It's most uncomfortable
they're making us-Dutch and the
rest. That Antoine and his army
keep pesterin' us and calm us Huns
ats most dIsagreeable we ind It.
the wife and me-"
Suffer and be strong-that's the
watchword! We will hope that Mrs.
Bashford is a woman of sound sense
and tact who will exert herself to
restore peace on her property. When
I call to pay my respects and make
my adleus l shall speak to her Of the
situation and vouch for your loyalty.
You haven't, suppose, seen the widow
yet-she's probably sleeping late"
"Qulte the contrary, sorr. She's
been up and around for an hour an
more. She's been all over the place
and stopped for sQuint at the garage.
her and the pup"
"She been here. inspecting the
garagei" asked. glancing at my
watch. II was not yet eight o'clock.
The banter died out OF me: clearly it
had been my duty to be on hand to
pilot her over the estate. or at least
to receive her at the garage. "Just
what was the lady's frame Of mind.
as to things generally. Peeved, was
she, over the row last nlght?"
"0h, no, sorr; quite cheerful an
friendly. She's ordered big car
from New York and told me 1t would
be coming up to-day and to make .
place for It"
Here was news indeed, destroying
all my hopes that she medltated only
brief sojourn. The purchase Of O
machine meant definitely that she
would remain for some time, perhaps
for the winter. poured second cup
Of coffee, swallowed II, grabbed my hat
and stick. and asked enlightenment
as to the course taken by Mrs BASIL
ford when she left the garage.
"She took the lower road, sorr.
toward the Sound and stepped OF
quite brisk-like."
It was the serenest Of September
mornings, and / hurried away, think
Ing the cloudless blue arch, the
twinkling sea, and the crisp air might
serve to soften my aunt's dlspleasure
at her hostile reception. From the
Conservatives / caught glimpse of
a woman on the beach-a slender,
agile woman, throwing ball for the
amusement OF q fox-terrier. The two
were having no end Of a good time.
She laughed joyfully when the ball
fell into her hands and the terrier
barked his discontinue and eager
ness for a chance to redeem himself.
Antoine's eQuivocal statement as to
Mrs. Bashford's age was ridiculous.
Instead Of the mlddleaged woman
whom I was prepared to meet, here
was beyond question a vigorous,
healthy being whose every movement
spoke for youth and the Joy Of life.
It might. after all. be the maid Of
whom Antoine had spoken. I reached
low stone wall that separated the
lawn from the beach Just as she
effected running pickup Of the ball
She turned swiftly and flung II straight
at my head. Involuntarily I put up
my hand and caught 1t just as she
saw me and cried out-a cry Of warn
Ing and contrition. tossed the ball
to the dog.
"What must you think of mel" she
exclaimed. II was blinded by the
sunlight and I didn't see you-really
I did not 70
II had no business being In the
way" I laughed. noting first her
glowing color, her violet eyes
amazingly fine eyes they were-her
fair hair with Its golden CLINT, her
plain black gown with lawn collar
and wristbands. II was her age, how.
ever, that reused me to instant spec
ulation. Twenty-Five. decided. was
maximum; more likely she was not
more than twenty-five. and II | had
been told that eighteen was the total
Of her years I shouldn't have had the
heart to dispute Il
Bob Singleton" said and stupidity
added, "and you are Mrs. Bashfordr
unable for the life Of me to avoid
turning the statement into an inquiry.
II am your aunt Alice" she said
with smile. putting out her hand.
"Down. Rexl" she commanded the
dancing terrier; ''lie down; schools
over now: whereupon Rex obedIently