The Crittenden press., 1920-04-16

.'suffer and he sirons--thats the
watchword! We viii hope that Mrs.
Bashford is woman OF sound sense
and tact who will exert herself 10
restore peace on her property. When
call 10 pay my respects and make
my adleus shall spenk to he OF tho
situation ana 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
garageT ! asked. glancing at my
watch. II wGs not yet eight o'clock.
The banter died out Of me; clearly 1t
had been my duty to he 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"
ooh. no. sorr; quite cheerful an
friendly. Shes 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 medltated only
brief sojourn. The purchase Of a
machine meant definitely that she
would remain for some time, perhaps
for the winter. poured a second cup
Of coffee, swallowed II, grabbed my hat
and stick, and asked enlightenment
as to the course taken by Mrs. Basll-
ford when she left the garage.
"She took the lower road, sorr,
toward the Sound and stepped off
quite brlsk-like."
II was the serenest of September
mornings, and | hurried away, think
| Ing the clOudleSs blue arch the
twInkllng sea. and the crisp air might
serve to soften my auntJ displcasurc
nj her hostile reception. From the
conscrvatories caught glimpse OF
n woman on the beach-a slender
agile woman, throwing ball for the
amusement Of fox.terrier. The tive
were having no end Of n good time
She laughed joyfully when the bal
fell into her hands and the terrier
barked his discontinue and eager
ness for a chance to redeem himself
Antoine's equiyocal statement as Il
,irs. Bashford's age was ridiculous
Instead Of the mihlle-agcd woman
whom | was prepared TO meet, her'
was beyond question a vigorous
healthy being whose every movemen
spoke for youth and the JOY OF life
II might, after all. be the maid o
whom Antoine had spoken. | reached
a low stone wall that separated tn
lawn from the beach just as sh
effected running pickup Of the bal
She turned swiftly and flung II straigh
at my head. lnvoluntarlly ! put u
my hand and caught II just as sh
saw me and cried out-a cry OF warn
Ing and contritiOn. l tossed the ba
to the dog.
"Whut must yon think Of me-" sh
exclaimed. Il was blinded by tn
sunlight and l didn't see you-reall
did notw
IL had no business being In I'll
way" | laughed. noting first hi
glowing color, her violet eyes
. amazingly fine eyes they were-ht
: fair hair with Its golden CLINT. hi
plain black gown with lawn cola
and wristbands. II was her age, hoy
ever, that reused me to instant spe
ulatloi. Twenty-Five, decided, was
maximum; more likely she was NJ
more thnn twenty-five, and II ha
been told that eighteen was the tot
Of her years shouldn't have had Il
heart 10 dispute II.
bob Singleton" ! said and stupid
odde!. 'anj you are Mrs. Bashford
unable for the life Of me TO avo
turning the statement into an lnquir
Il am your aunt Alice" she sa
with n smile, putting out her han
Down. Rex" she commanded Il
dancing terrier; 'lie down; school
over now; whereupon Rex obedicnt
, sprawled In the sand and began tr
Ing to swallow the ball.
!. Wasn't that silly OF me TO try
kill you the first time we metz Ill
eyes danced with merriment. II didi
know Of course that any one was abOr
But you made II very nice catch
II, | had expected TO receive "
most formally In the drawing'rool
but this really serves very well. Tn
tree down yonder is inviting; suppo
We stay out here and talk n bit"