The Connecticut labor press. (New Haven, Conn.) 191?-1921, 1920-07-10

Mrs. BaSnrOrd-and e~@de 1a
question that Searles' companion was
| Individually my uncle's widow-gave
me her hand and smiled in a way
that showed that she was not so great
| ly 'displeased with Alice as her words
| implied.
"Pay that driver for me and don't
fail to tip him. Those Meihuselahs
at the gate all but killed him. 1t was
| only the vigorous determination Of
this gentleman, who very generously
| permitted me to share the only motor
at the station, that I got through the
gates alive! I beg your pardon, but
what is your name?
"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 aunt's
impedimt nta. The bird squawked
hideously.
Miss Violet Dewing, permit me to
present the author of Lady Lark
spur'!' ~
1t was week later that Alice and
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
l-ly encouraged me to do it so I could
give her an impartial judgment OF
your character. I'm her only niece
and her namesake, and she relies on
me a good deal. You know she's very,
very rich, and she had never any idea
| of keeping your uncle's money. She
provided she found you were nice
And she thinks you are very nice"
your own opinion of me would be
| interesting" I suggested.
She had gathered handful Of peb-
| bles and was fiinging them fitfully at
a bit of driftwood. I wished her lips
hadn't that little CULVER 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, think" she
"At first I was afraid you didn't like
nonsense, but you really got through
| very well, considering the trouble i
| caused you. But I'm in trouble myself
now. Papa will land tomorrow. He's
the grandest, dearest man in all this
world, but when he finds that I'm go
ing to act in Mr.. Searles' play he will
be terribly cut up. OF course 1t will
not be for long. Even If it's a big
success, I'm to be released in three
months. Constance and Sir Cecil
think owe it to myself to appear in
the piece; they're good enough to say
nobody else can do 1t so well-which
is question. I'm going to give all
the money I earn to the blind SOL
diers."
Il wished the tears In her eyes
didn't make them more lovely still y
Being what you are and all you are,
it would be brutal for me to add TO
the number of things you have to tell
your father. I'm very obscure per-
son, and he is a gentleman of title and
otherwise distinguished. You are the
Honorable. Miss" Eet
"Papa has said numbers of times"
she began softly, looking far out
across the blue Sound-"he has said,
oh, very often, that he'll never stop
troubling about me until-until I'm
happily married"
"When you came here you wore
wedding ring" remarked casually.
"It was only a property ring. to
help deceive you. I bought 1t in Chi
cago. When Aunt Alice came I threw
it away"
'The finger seems lonesome without
it." I said. eff I get you another, ]
hope you'll take better care Of it."
eff you should put it there" she
replied, looking fxedly at the hand,
"that would be very, very different
(THE ENID