Ladysmith news-budget. [volume] (Ladysmith, Rusk County, Wis.) 1907-1927, 1920-03-19
and I'll tell you whether its classic


or not"
Lady Larkspur. he corrected
with a shudder. you shall have 1t
by trusted messenger tomorrow.
wired Antoine that | would reach
Barton-on-the>S Sound the following
day. This was September. 1917.
AS the train rolled along the
familiar shore toward Barton shook
off the depression oceasioned by my
enforced retirement from the great
struggle overseas. had done under
the French flag all that ii was posi-
/ Bile for ire TO do and there was some
consolation IN the fact that by reason
of my two years on the battle-line |
was just so much ahead of the friends
] met in New York who were answer
ing the call to the colors and had
their experience of war before them.
The tranquil life that had been recon-
mended by the doctors was not only
possible at Barton. but 1t was the
only life that could be lived there
My leisure meant TO employ in begin
ming a novel that had been teasing me
ever since | sailed for home.
OF my uncle Bash had only the
happiest and most grateful memories.
Quite naturally it had occurred to ME
at times, and my friends had en-
couraged the idea. that my uncle
would die some day and leave me his
~ ~ n a r.
reason why he should do so. as he had
never manifested any unusual affec-
tion for me and had certainly never
done anything for him.
Antoine was at the Barton station
with the touring-car Uncle Bash had
bought to establish communication
with the village. Flynn. the big irish
man who had been the doOrman at the
birmingham for years and retired be-
cause of rheumatism acquired from
long exposure TO the elements at the
| hOstelry's portals, was at the wheel
Antoine greeted me with that air of
lofty condescension tempered with a
sincere kindness that had made him
prince among head-waiters. AS |
shook hands with him his lips quivered
and tears came to his eyes.
| babe Antoine join me in the back
seat that he might the more easily
bring me up to date as to affairs on
the estate.
at must be a little slow up here
after the years you lived in town.,
suggested. "but of course you're all
old friends
well. yes; all friends" he acqui-
esced, but with so little enthusiasm
that looked at him quickly. He pre-
tended to be absorbed i'm the flying
landscape at the moment. Flynn. |
noticed. was giving ear to our con-
versatiOn from the wheel.
1T was sad. very sad, Mr.. Bash
ford passing away so far from home.
sir 1t was great shock. And he
had looked forward for years to a
quiet life abroad"
Antoines speech was that of a
well-trained English upper servant,
and | imagined that in his youth he
had taken some English butler as his
model He used to pretend that he
knew French very imperfectly. and /
was surprised when he now addressed
me quite fiuently in that language.
"You have been with the armies of
dear France" he remarked. 1.-The
war is very dreadful. My parents
were of Verdun; it grieves me to
know of the suffering in the land Of
my people"
AS I replied sympathetically in
French | saw Flynn straighten him
self at the wheel with an impatient
fling Of his head. Antoine indicated
him with contemptuous nod: Mar
ried Elsie, the German woman who
worked in the linen-rOom at the
birmingham! This had caused some
trouble, and there is a pantry girl,
Gretchen, who was i'll for long time
before the master left, and he sent
her here for the country air. She is
little devil with her dear Father
land"
| laughed at the old fellows grav-
ity and earnestness. That the war
should be making itself felt on the
quiet acres at BartOn-On-the-Sound
was absurd.
! was bordering the recrudescence
of race hatreds due 10 the upheaval
In Europe when lie startled me by
statement uttered close TO my ear:
"There have been inquiries for the
widow; these have caused me much
anxiety. 1t seems that there are per-
sons anxious to see her. There have
been inquiries, one-two-three
times
"Probably some of her American
friends anxious to pay their respects.
or some of the neighbors making calls
of courtesy" | suggested.
"A foreign gentleman who acts very
queerly." Antoine persisted.
NV uncles widow was a vague, I'M
known being whom | had never ex-
pected 10 cross my horizons. If She
| meditated a descent upon Bart0n-on-
the SOunl The trust company would