Middletown transcript. [volume] (Middletown, Del.) 1868-current, 1920-04-24

II
: We will hope that Mrs.
Bashford is a woman Of sound sense
and tact who will exert herself to
restore peace on her property. Wnen
I call to pay my respects and make
my adieus shall speak to her OF the
situation and vouch for your loyalty
You haven't, I suppose, seen the widow
yet-she's probably sleeping late"
: "Quite the contrary. sort. She's
been up and around for an hour an
more. She's been all over the place
and stopped for a squint at the garage,
her and the pup"
"She been here. inspecting the
garage?" asked, glancing at my
watch. It YVES not yet eight o'clock.
The banter died out Of me; clearly It
had been my duty to be on hand to
pilot her over the estate. or at least
to receive her at the garage. "Just
what was the lady's frame Of mind
as to things generally. Peeved. was
she, over the row last night?'
"Oh, no. sorr; quite cheerful an
friendly. She's ordered a big car
from New York and told me 1t would
be coming up to-day and to make
place for it."
Here was news indeed, destroying
all my hopes that she meditated only
brief sojourn. The purchase OF a
machine meant definitely that she
would remain for some time, perhaps
for the winter. I poured a second cup
of coffee, swallowed it. grabbed my hat
and stick, and asked enlightenment
as to the course taken by Mrs. Basil
ford when she left the garage.
"She' took the lower road, SORT,
toward the Sound and stepped on
quite bris!s-like."
It was the serenest Of September
mornings, and I hurried away, think
| ing the cloudless blue arch, the
twinkling sea, and the crisp air might
serve to soften my aunt's displeasure
at her hostile reception. From the
Conservatives I caught q glimpse OF
q woman on the beach-a slender,
agile woman, throwing ball for the
amusement Of a fOx-terrier. The two
were having no end of a good time.
She laughed joyfully when the ball
fell into her hands and the terrier
barked his discontinue and eager
ness for a chance to redeem himself.
Antoine's equivocal statement as to
Mrs. Bashford's age was ridiculous.
Instead of the middle-aged woman
whom l was prepared to meet. here
was beyond question a vigorous,
healthy being whose every movement
spoke for youth and the Joy OF LIE.
It might, after all, be the maid OF
whom Antoine had spoken. l reached
q low stone wall that separated the
lawn from the beach just as she
effected running pickup Of the ball.
She turned swiftly and flung 1t straight
at my head. Involuntarily I put up
my hand and caught it just as she
saw me and cried out-a cry Of warn
ing and contriti0n. I tossed the ball
to the dog.
"What must yor think Of mel" she
exclaimed. Il was blinded by the
sunlight and I didn't see you-really
I did not!"
II had no business being In the
way" I laughed, noting first hel
glowing color, her violet eyes
amazingly fine eyes they were-hel
fair hair with its golden CLINT, hei
plain black gown with lawn collar
and wristbands. It was her age, how
ever, that reused me to instant spec
ulation. Twenty-Five, I decided. was
maximum; more likely she was no
more than twenty-five, and If I hat
been told that eighteen was the tota
Of her years I shouldn't have had tn
heart to dispute 1t.
Bob Singleton" said and stupid.
added, land you are Mrs. Bashford?
unable for the life of me to avo1'
turning the statement into an inquiry
Il am your aunt Alice" she sal
with a smile, putting out her hanc
'.Down. Rexw she commanded tn
: dancing terrier; ''lie down; school
over now; whereupon Rex Obedientl
I sprawled in the sand and began try
ing to swallow the ball.
! "Wasn't that silly Of me to try t
Z kin you the first time we metz" He
ewes danced with merriment. Il didn
; know Of course that any one was abou
But you made a very nice catch
it! I had expected to receive 70
most formally in the drawing-roon
but this really serves very well. This
tree down yonder is inviting; suppos
we stay out here and talk bit"