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

NICNOLSON

" sS'NSioh w tIS dktHI Ut I0uTIOI
for transmission to Senrles at the Ohio
address he had given me.
The next day passed without Incl
dent. and on the second. hearing
nothing from Terrence. hegan to
doubt Mrs. Bashford's proximity.
On the third. still hearing nothing. !
hardened to m invitation from friends
at New London and drove in the
runabOut for dinner. 1t was midnight
when got hack. and when reached
the gates several men dashed out Of
the lodge and halted me.
"She's come. sir" announced
Antoine. emerging from the darkness,
and speaking under stress Of deep
emotion; madame the widow has
arrived. sir"
"Why not Cleopatra or the Queen
Of Sheba" exclaimed testify to
cover my annoyance that my aunt had
effected her descent in my absence.
swell, she was expected; the house Is
hers; what do you want me to do about
It'll" I ended with, affected jocularity
1--WE received her the best we could |;
but 1t was most unfortunate. your not
being here, sir"
rs that your idea. Antoine or do
you reflect the lady's sentiments2 I'm
properly humiliated either way. Tell
me just what she said"
"Well. sir. she just laughed when
took the liberty Of apologIzing."
'The sneering laughter Of outra geI
dignity! Go ahead and give me the
rest of It,"
1T was at ten she came, sir, and the
guard held her up. not recognizing
her, here at the gate, and when the
car wouldn't stop the boys chased her
and fired at the tises Of her machine.
1t was very dreadful. sir. And nt the
hOuse-at the door, sir-the guard
was very harsh with her. sir, most
rcgrettnble."
"You certainly made mess Of 1t 1"
! calculated. "But you did let her
in-into her own house, we must
remcmber-yOu did grant her the
courtesy Of a lodging for the iight?"
! inquired ironically.
"Shes retired, sir. There was lad.
with her; maybe a maid; csn't
exactly say: and we did everything.
sir. to make her comfortable. She
was not what you might say fussy.
pardon MS. sir, which wns due to not
being warned"
"Oh. It's nll right with me, but In
the morning she'll probably bounce the
whole. lot Of us. An old lady fatigued
from journey cross country and
shot at on her own premises Its a
very pretty story"
Antoine was swallowing hard In his
effort to continue the recital.
"YOu say an old lady. sir: the mis-
tress Is not really what you would
call so old--not exactly. SIR
"Renlly n youngish party. I should
say" volunteered Graves. the gardener.
Just at these veterans would cn,I
old ~ a matter Of conjecture.
young or old. she would har l.y
relish hcr reception. There YES
nafd. and they came In a machiisef
DID you put up the chauffeur or did
you shoot him on the spot2"
1T was a hired machine, sir; and
madame sent 1t away. The driver
was good deal upset over the shoot.
Ing. One Of the rear tires was quito
blown away"
You're In luck II he doesn't have
you all arrested tomorrow" remark
ed consolingly.
Mrs. BashfOrd seemed quite amused
by the occurrence" Antoine continued.
Wonderful America! she kept say
Ing after we'd got her inside. We
gave her tea. which was all she asked
for. We did our best to make her
comfortable. And there was dog,
sir. ] recall that the master was not
fond Of dogs"
Antoine spoke truly; II there was
anything my uncle Bash detested 1t
was dog, but I reflected that
world-skipping widow who could
corral so difficult subject as my
uncle would be quite capable Of inspir-
Ing him with delight In the canine
species. My respect for the woman's
powers OF persuasion was intensified
by this disclosure.