Middletown transcript., 1920-07-03

Z -
Mrs. Bashf6rd and ] made no,
question that Searies' companion wns
indubitably my uncle's widow-gave
me her hand and smiled in . way
that showed that she was not 50 great
ly displeased with Alice as her words
implied.
"Pay that driver for me and don't
fail to tip him. Those Methuselahs
at the gate all but killed him. It was
only the vigorous determination OF
this gentleman, who very generously
permitted me to share the only motor
ut the station, that I got through the
gates alive! beg your pardon, but
what is your rnmeT
"Mrs. Bashford," I interposed. my
friend, Mr.. Searles."
"Mr. Searles" cried Alice, dropping
a cage containing some weird Oriental
bird which had been among my aunts
impe'lmant;. The bird sq''awked
hideously.
"NIiss Violet Dewing. permit me to
present the author of Lady Lark
spur'!"
1t was a week later that Alice and
| I sat on the stone wall watching the
waves, at the point forever memorable
as the scene of our first talk.
"Aunt Alice isn't playing fair" she
said. "She pretends now that it was
all my idea-coming over to play at
being our uncle's widow, but she real
ly encouraged me to do it so l could
give her an impartial judgment OF
your character. I'm her only niece
and her namesake, and she relies on
me q good deal. You know she's very'
very rich, and she had never any idea
of keeping your uncle's money. She
meant all the while to give it to you
provided she found you were nice
And she thinks you are very nice"
"Your own opinion Of me would be
interesting" l suggested.
She had gathered handful Of peb'
bles and was flinging them fitfully al
a bit of driftwOod I wished her lips
hadn't that little quiver that preluded
laughter and that her eyes were not
the haven of all the dreams in the
world.
She landed a pebble on the target
before replying.
"You are very nice. I think" she
said with disconcerting detachment
"At first I was afraid you didn't likt
nonsense, but you really got through
very well, considering the trouble
caused you. But Til in trouble myself
now. Papa will land tomorrow. He:
the grandest, dearest man in all thi!
world. but when he finds that I'm go
ing to act in Mr.. Searles' play he vii
be terribly cut up. OF course it viii
not be for long. Even if it's a BIZ
success, I'm to be released in thre'
months. Constance and Sir Ceci
think l owe it to myself to appear II
the piece; they're good enough to sa.
nobody else can do it so well-whicl
is a question. I'm going to give al
the money l earn to the blind sol
diers."
Il wished the tears in her eye
didn't make them more lovely still
Being what you are and all you are
, It would be brutal for me to add t.
the number of things you have to tel
your father. I'm very obscure pei
!, son, and he is gentleman of title an
, otherwise distinguished. You are tn
Honorable Miss"
"Papa has said numbers of times,
she began softly, looking far on
across the blue Sound-''he has sait
oh. very often. that he'll never sto
= troubling about me until-until II
p happily married.
) "When you came here you wor
wedding ring" l remarked CASUAL!
1T was only a property ring, t
; help deceive you. 1 bought it in Oh
:, cago. When Aunt Alice came thre'
q it away"
! "The finger seems lonesome witho'
j. it." said. IF get you another.
d hope you'll take better care Of it."
v "If you should put it there" sf
e replied, looking fixedly at the han
chat would be very, very different
,r (THE END.)