Middletown transcript. [volume] (Middletown, Del.) 1868-current, 1920-04-24
CHAPTER II.
The AMAZING Widow,

As soon as Terrence left returned
to the garage. feeling that with Mrs.
Bashford on American soil my use OF
the residence even as q loafing-place |
was unbecoming. Mrs Bashf0rd was
not only in America, but with motor
at her command she might reach
Barton at any hour. And the vigor>
GUS, dominating woman who had cap
tured my uncle Bash. buried him IN
q far country, and then effected q mop,
skip, and jump from Bangkok to
Seattle, was likely to be a prodigal
spender Of gasoline. Her propensity
for travelling encouraged the hope
that she would quickly weary OF Barton
and pine for lands where the elephant
and jinrickisha flourish.
: 1 had brought with Inc the manu-
script of Searles' play, and I fell upon
It irritably ard began reading the nrst
act. The dialogue moved briskly, ana
1 read on as though EMBODIED In the
air of crisp spring morning. My
crouch over the upsetting Of my plans
yielded under the spell Of his humor.
LADY Larkspur" was the name
assumed by the daughter OF recluse
naturalist in the valley Of Virginia.
She had known no life but that OF
the open country, where she ran Wild
NIL summer, aiding her father In col
lecting plants and butterflies. he
had educated the girl in such a man.
ner that only the cheer and Joy OF
life were known to her. Hating man.
kind, he had encouraged her IN ma
ture-worship. She knew No literature
except the classics; all history, even
the history Of the stored valley IN
which she lived, was sealed book
to her.
The girls curiosity is reused by the
sudden appearance Of strangers from
the unknown world beyond. whom
she mystifies by her quaint old-world-
dshness. Searles had taken an old
theme and given a novel twist to 1t.
The solution of the mystery OF the
fathers exile and an amusing COM
Indication Of lovers afforded a sus-
nensive interest we'll sustained to the
end. In the last act the girl appears
at q ball at country house In sophis
iticated raiment. and the story ends n
thu KEY Of mirth in which it began.
It was a delightful blending and
mcdernization Of Diana. ATLANTA
cinderella, and Rosalin1; but even ir
the typewriter page 1t was amaz
inely alive and well calculated tt
evoke tears ind laughter. That
NAV so enthralling should be buried
in safety-vault was not to b.
thought of, and I sgt down and wrote
Searles a long letter demanding tina
he at once forget the lost star TO
y-hom he had written the piece, sug
costing the names Of several well
known actresses l thought worth con
sidering for the difficult leading role
Not satisfied with this. telephone
a telegram to the agent at Barto'
for Transmission to Searles at the Obi
address he had given me.
The next day passed without inc
dent. and ON the second. hearin
nothing from Terrence. I began
douht Mrs. Bashford's proximit!
On the third, still hearing nothing,
hardened to an invitation from friend
a. New London and drove In tn
rrnabout for dinner. 1t was midnigl
when l got back, and when l reache
the gates several men dashed out
the lodge and halted me.
ashes come. SIR" announce
Antoine. emerging from the darkness
and speaking under stress of de-
emotion: madame the widow III
arrived, sir"
"Why not Cleopatra or the Que'
If Sheba?" exclaimed testify
cover my annoyance that my aunt HI
erected her descent in my absent
swell. she was expected; the house
hers: what do you want me to do abo
it?" / ended with affected joculari1
1--WE received her the :est we coul
but It was most unfortunate. your
being here, sir"
us that your idea. Antoine. Or