Emmons County record. [volume] (Williamsport, D.T. [i.e. N.D.]) 1884-current, 1920-04-15

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
all summer. aiding her father in COL
lecting plants and butterflies. He
had educated the girl in such 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 storied valley in
which she lived, was a 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
ishness. Searles had taken an old
theme and given novel twist to it.
The solution of the mystery Of the
fathers exile and an amusing COM
plication Of lovers afforded sus-
pensive interest well sustained to the
end. In the last act the girl appears
at ball at a country house in sophis-
ticated raiment, and the story ends in
the key Of mirth in which it began.
1t was a delightful blending and
modernization of Diana, ATLANTA,
Cinderella, and Rosalind; but even in
the typewriter page it was amaz-
ingly alive and well calculated to
evoke tears and laughter. That a
play so enthralling should be buried
in a safety-vault was not to be
thought Of, and I sat down and wrote
Searles long letter demanding that
he at once forget the lost star for
whom he had written the piece. sug-
costing the names of several we'll
known actresses thought worth con-
sidering for the difficult leading role.
Not satisfied with this. telephoned
telegram to the agent at Barton
for transmission to Searles at the Ohio
address he had given me.
The next day passed without Incl
dent. and on the second, hearing
nothing from Terrence. began to
doubt Mrs. Bashford's proximity.
On the third, still hearing nothing,
hardened to an invitation from friends
at New London and drove in the
runabout for dinner. It was midnight
when I got back, 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.
"Well,i she was expected; the house is
hers; what do you want me to do about
it?" ended with affected POPULARITY.
1--WE received her the best we could {;
but it was most unfortunate. your not
being here, sir"
"Is that your idea, Antoine, or do
you reflect the lady's sentiments? I'm
properly Inundated either way. Tell
me just what she said."
"Well, sir. she just laughed when I
took the liberty Of apologizing.".
'"The sneering laughter Of outraged
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 tires Of her machine.
| 1t was very dreadful, sir. And at the
house-at the door, sir-the guard
was very harsh with her, sir, most
regrettable."
'You certainly made mess of it,"
calculated. But you did let her
in-into her own house, we must
remember-you did grant her the
courtesy of lodging for the night?'
inquired ironically.
"She's retired. sir. There was lady
with her; maybe maid; can't
exactly say; and we did everything,
sir, to make her comfortable. She
was not what you might say fussy.
but quite human-like.: hope you'll
pardon us, sir, which was due to not
being warned"
"Oh, it's all 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"
REALLY youngish party. should
say" volunteered Graves. the gardener.
Just what these veterans would call
old was a matter Of conjecture.
young or old. she would hardly
relish her reception. There was a
maid. and they came in machinsS
Did you nut I'M the chauffeur or did