The Yale expositor., 1920-08-19

Searles Jumped OUT q had forg often
that he might arrive that night. but
before ! could greet him he swung
round and assisted lady to alight-
short. stout lady in a travelling cap,
wrapped in a coat that fell TO her
heels. She began Immediately to de-
liver orders in an authoritative tone
as to the rescue of her belongings,
Searles dived into the taxi and began
dragging out vast amount of small
luggage. but my attention was divert
ed for moment by Alice, who jumped
down the steps and clasped her arms
about the neck of the stout lady.
"Aunt Alice I" | heard her saying.
"Why didn't you tell us to meet YOU"
"Why didn't tell your demanded
the stout lady. THE moment you
left me knew I'd made a mistake
in letting you come over here on one of
your absurd larksl And from the row
had getting into the premises I
judge thar you're at your old tricks
Fired uponl Treated as though I
were an outlawl You shall never go
OUT or my Slgnt again
"Oh, please don't scold me-" Alice
pleaded and turning to me: This
is Bob Singleton, your nephew"
Mrs. Bashford-and | made no
question that Searles' companion was
individually my uncles widow-gave
me her hand and smiled In a way
that showed that she was not so great
ly displeased with Alice as her words
implied.
"Pay that driver for me and don't
fail to tip him. Those Methuselahs
at the gate all but killed him. II was
only the vigorous determination OF
this gentleman, who very generously
permitted me TO share the only motor
at the station, that l got through the
gates alivel beg your pardon, but
what is your name?"
Mrs. Bashford," 1 interposed. my
friend. Mr.. Searles."
"Mr. Searles !" cried Alice, dropping
cage containing some weird Oriental
bird which had been among my aunts
impelimtnta. The bird squawked
hldeously.
Miss Violet DewIng, permit me TO
present the author of Lady Lark
spur! :"
1t was a week later that Alice and
I sat on the stone wall watching the
waves, at the point forever memorable
as the scene of our first talk.
Aunt Alice isn't playing fair" she
said. "She pretends now that IT was
all my idea-cOming over to play at
being our uncle's widow, but she real
ly encouraged me TO do II so ! could
give her an impartial Judgment OF
your character. I'm her only niece
and her namesake. and she relies on
me a good deal. You know she's very,
very rich. and she had never any idea
of keeping your uncle's money. She
meant all the while to give it to you
provided she found you were nice.
And she thinks you are very nice"
Your own opinion of me would be
interesting" l suggested.
She had gathered a handful Of peb
bies and was flinging them fitfully at
BIT of driftwoOd. | wished her lips
hadn't that little culver that preluded
laughter and that her eyes were not
the haven of all the dreams in the
world.
She landed pebble on the targel
before replying.
you are very nice, / think" she
said with disconcerting detachment.
"At first / was afraid you didn't like
nonsense, but you really got through
very well, considering the trouble
caused you. But I'm in trouble myself
now. Papa will land tomorrow. He's
the grandest, dearest man in all this
world, but when he finds that I'm GO
ing to act in Mr.. Searles' play he will
be terribly cut up. OF course II will
not be for long. Even If it's a big
success, I'm to be released in three
months. Constance and Sir Cecil
think owe 1t to myself to appear in
the piece; they're good enough to say
nobody else can do it so well-which
is a question. I'm going to give all
the money / earn to the blind sol
diers."
Ct wished the tears In her eyes
didn't make them more lovely still y
Being what you are and all you are,
It would be brutal for me TO add TO
the number of things you have to tell
your father. I'm a very obscure per-
son, and he is a gentleman of title and
otherwise distinguished. You are the
Honorable Miss"
Papa has said numbers of times"
she began softly, looking far out
across the blue SOund-'he has said,
oh. very often, that he'll never stop
troubling about me until-until I'm
happily married"
"When you came here you wore
a wedding ring" l remarked casually.
at was only a property ring, to
help deceive you. bought II in Chi
cago. When Aunt Alice came I threw
it away"
"The finger seems lonesome without
IT," l said. "If l get you another,
hone you'll take better care of IL"