The Yale expositor., 1920-07-01

But please don't get the idea that
the man annoys u.s." interposed Mrs.
Farnsworth.
Far from it," cried Alice.
you've seen enough of us perhaps
TO understand that we enjoy little adj
ventures" said Mrs. Farnsworth. "The
man pretehds TO be interested in Mr..
Bashford's art treasures. AntOines
story about the disguise is rather
against that; but we will give him The
benefit of the doubt. What we are
hoping is that something really anus
ing may come of his persistent pur-
suit. With YOU and the army OF serv-
ants here We feel perfectly safe; so
we're for giving him every CHANGE TO
show his hand
lie is the Count Giuseppe Montgui"
said my aunt. "who represents himself
as Il connoisSeur--a lover of the beau
tiful."
THE mystery is solved! II is easy
10 understand why he has haunted The
place"
Yes; quite easy. Count Montani Is
very anxious 70 sec the porcelains."
IL wasn't referring to the pottery
but ! shan't press the matter"
81 advise you not TO; your remark
was highly improper from a nephew 10
IN aunt! have told you about all
know Of this Italian gentleman | am
going TO ask II favor He telephoned
from Stamford this afternoon to know
whether We had arrived. and | babe
him call tonight. should be glad II
YOU would remain until be leaves.
should like to know what you make f
him."
Certainly" / assented, pleased that
she had taken me into her confidence
and deeply curious us TO the Italian
cOnnoiSseur. What she had told me SO
frankly and plausibIy did DOT, how
ever, touch upon the matter W the i'm
terest shown by the American state de-
partment in my aunts arrival Mt Bar
ton, which troubled me much more
than the antics of the Italian who had
followed The women across the Pacific.
Count Montani arrived shortly and
was received In the drawing room. The
ladies greeted him with the greatest
cordiality. AS he crossed the room
verified the limp and other points Of
AntOne's description. His bearing
was that of Il gentleman; and in his
very correct evening dress he hardly
looked like man who would disguise
himself and attempt 10 rob a house.
He spoke English all but perfectly and
proceeded at once 10 talk great deal.
81 was sad when l found l had 50
narrowly missed you at Seattle, and
again at Chicago. You travel far too
rapidly for one of my agew
His age might have been thirty. He
was suave, polished, sophisticated
person. Nothing was more natural
than that he should pause in his trav-
els 10 call upon two agreeable women
he had met on Pacific steamer. Pos
Sibly he was in love with Alice Bash
ford; this was not Il difficult state of
heart and mind for a man to argue
himself into. She was even more
strikingly beautiful tonight than / had
thought her before. She was again IN
white-it was only in daytime that she
wore black-and white was exceeding
ly becoming TO her. AS we talked she
piled listlessly fan-a handsome
trinket of ostrich plumes. A pretty
woman and a fan are the happiest
possible combination.
There is no severer test Of grace
than a womans manner of using a fan.
clumsy woman makes an implement
Of this plaything, flourishing it to en-
phasize her talk, or, what is worse,
pointing with il like an instructor be-
fore blackboard. But in graceful
hands it is unobtrusive. mere bit OF
decoration that leases and fascinates
the beholder's eye.
With all his polse and equanimity l
was distinctly conscious that Monta-
mis- dark eyes were intent upon the idly
swaying fan. / thought mt first IL was
her hands that interested him as they
unfailingly interested me, but when,
from time to time. she put down the
fan his gaze still followed 1t. And yet
there was nothing novel in ahe delicate
combination of ivory and feathers.
had seen many fans that to all appear
ances were just like it. Once, as she
picked it up and lazily opened il, saw
hhn bend forward eagerly, then, find
ing that had noted his eagerness, ne
rose, pretending that brass screen
before the fireplace had caught his eye,
and asked whether IL was not n Flor.
entine production, which shook my
faith in his connolsseurship, as | had
bought the thing myself from New
York brasswOrker who had made it TO
my order.
iii 1