The Crittenden press., 1920-04-30
CHAPTER il-continued.

1nls sIruck me us tne pleasanteSt
thing imaginable, though was still
dazed and my tongue seemed TO have
died in my mouth. This girl, this
wholly charming and delightful
young woman, was the monstrous be-
Ing had conjectured as the globe
trottlng widow who had kidnapped and
married my uncle! Not only had she
married my uncle Bash and In due
course buried him; she had been
widow when she married him. The
thing was staggering, bewildering
She was clearly anxious to be friendly,
but nothing that l had thought Of
saying to her fitted the situation.
"ln the first place." l finally began,
IL must apologize most humbly for
the earnest efforts Of the servants to
murder you last night. Mr.. Terrence
had promised to let me know when
you would reach here, but he must
have forgotten 1t. had motored to
q friends house to dine and didn't get
back until the mischief was done.
I'm very sorry"
"Not for the world would have
missed that" she exclaimed with n
merry laugh. 1T was perfectly
delicious And II was all my fault.
] meant to remain day at Hartford.
you know, and send message to Mr..
Terrence from there, but found that
by pushing on | could reach here
yesterday. And you know we English
always expect strange things to happen
In America. l don't understand yet
why those people at the gates were
30 jolly anxious to kill us; but 1t
doesn't matter; you would spoil the
Joke by explaining it."
However, did my best-lt was a
weak attempt-to explain the nervous
ness OF the veteran servants and their
display Of violence. Her arrival made
II likely that We should soon know
more about the parties" whose visits
and inquiries had 50 alarmed Antoine
and his comrades. l told her with
all the humor l could throw into the
recital Of the drilling Of the bell-hops
and OF the uncomfortable relations
between the Allied forces and the
Teutonic minority on the estate.
at was dear Of Mr.. Bashford to
provide II home for these people
wasn't he .eally the kindest soul that
ever llvedf" she said softly.
She gnzed wistfully seward, and !
snw the CLEAN OF tears on her long
lashes. My uncle had. then, meant
something to herl No one, In speech
or manner, could have suggested the
adventures less; uncle Bash was a
gentleman. a man OF esthetlc tastes,
and the girl was adorable. More re-
markable things had happened In the
history OF love and marriage than
that two such persons, meeting In a
fur corner Of the world, would honestly
care for each otier.
"You stopped at Hartford" began
breaking a long silence. "You hav,
friends there"
"Not onel I had made a plcus
pilgrimage to Mark Twaln's last hon {
nt Rcdding, and hearing that he had
lived at Hartford. came through
there TO render my fullest homas e
lie has always been one OF my heroes
you know"
"Our introduction Is complete"
snid reverently. Lets consider our
selves old friends"
II rather thought we understand
each other" she said In her even
mellow tones. "You know. we hat
your photograph out East-a yer,
good one, Il seems--so I had an ,det
Of what you looked like.
"IIe was very fond OF you. II,
was very proud that you had gon,
Into the war;"
II am glad to hear that; I though
he disapprovcd Of me for refusing I,
70 into business. He offered me I
substantial interest before he col,
out"
II know that; but I think he like,