The Chesterfield advertiser. [volume] (Chesterfield C.H., S.C.) 1884-1978, 1920-04-22

house with the army hanging to the
footbOard. The lower rooms were
dark, but lights twinkled through the
secOnd-story shutters. My aunt was
established On the premises, and her
coming and the circumstances of her
advent constituted good joke Of
which I and not she was the victim.
When I reached my quarters In the
garage I sat down and laughed until
Flynn appeared. frightened by my
noisy mirth that had penetrated to his
quarters.
weakened early, rang a bell con-
meeting my rooms with the chauf-
feur's end of the garage as a warm
Ing to the Flynns to prepare break-
fast. and was dressed when the Irish
man came In with the tray. y the
absence Of morning paper + clung
to him for company.
II trust you will not he leaving,
sorr." he remarked. cycling my half
packed trunk.
"Very soon, Flynn"
"Then Elsie and will he going
too, sorr. It's most uncomfortable
they're making us-Dutch and the
rest. That Antoine and his army
keep pesterin' us and callin' us Huns
"Its most disagreeable we find 1t,
the wife and me-"
Suffer and be strOng-that's the
watchword! We will hope that Mrs.
Bashford Is woman Of sound sense
and tact who will exert herself to
restore peace on her property. When
call to pay my respects and make
my ndieus I 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"
"Quite the contrary, sorr. She's
been up and around for an hour an
more. She's been all over the place
and stopped for squlnt at the garage.
her and the pup"
"She been here. inspecting the
garage?" / asked. glancing at my
watch. 1t was not yet eight o'clock.
The banter died out of me; clearly 1t
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 night?"
"Oh. no, SOrr; quite cheerful an
friendly. She's ordered big car
from New York and told me it would
be coming up to-day and to make a
place for It,"
Here was news indeed, destroying
all my hopes that she meditated only
brief sOjourn. The purchase OF a
machine meant definitely that she
would remain for some time, perhaps
for the winter. I poured second cup
of coffee, swallowed II, grabbed my hat
end 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 Off
quite brisk-like."
II was the serenest Of SeDtember
mornings. and 7 hurried away. think
ing the clOudless blue arch, the
twInkling sea. and the crisp air might
serve to soften my aunt's displeasure
at her hostile reception. From the
conservatOries caught glimpse Of
woman on the bench-a slender,
agile woman. throwing a ball for the
amusement Of fOx-terrier. The two
were ha,I ing no end of good time.
She laughed jOyfully when the ball
fell into her hands and the terrier
barked his discontinue and eager.
ness for chance to redeem himself
AntOine's equivocaI statement as to
Mrs. BashfOrd's age was ridiculous.
Instead OF the middIe-aged woman
whom l was prepared to meet. here
was beyond question vigorous.
healthy being whose every movement
spoke for youth and the JOY of life.
1t might, after all, be the maid of
whom Antoine had spoken. 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. invoiunturily | put up
my hand and caught 1t just as she
saw me and cried out-a cry Of warn
Ing and cOntrltiOn. ] tossed the ball
to the dog.
What must you think Of mel" she
exclaimed. II was blinded by the
sunlight and / didn't see you-really
l did nOti'
II had no business being In the
way" | 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. 1t 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 IL had
been told that eighteen was the total
Of her years i shouldn't have had the
heart To dispute it.
Bob Singleton" said and stupidity
added, "and you are Mrs. Bashford?"
unable for the life of me to avoid
turning the statement Into an inquiry.
81 am your aunt Alice" she said
with smile. putting out her hand.
down. Rexl" she commanded the