Abbeville progress. (Abbeville, Vermilion Parish, La.) 1913-1944, 1920-08-07
CHAPTER ~.
The Amazing Widow.


As soon rs Terrence left | returned
10 the garage, feeling that with Mrs.
BaShfOrd on American soil my use of
the residence even as n lOafinC-plaCe
was unbccOming Mrs BashfOrd was
not only in America. but with motor
at her command she might reach
Barton at any hour And the vigOr-
Gus, dominating woman who had cap
tured nv uncle Bash, buried him in
far country, and then effected hop,
skip. and jump from Bangkok 10
Seattle, was likely to he prodfgai
sDender Of gasoline. Her propensity
for travelling encouraged the hope
that she would quickly weary Of Barton
and pine for lands where the elephant
and jinrickishn flourish.
l had brought with me the manu-
script Of Searles' play, and l fell upon
# irritabty and began reading the first
act. The dialogue moved briskly, and
/ read on as though embodied in the
air of crisp spring morning. My
crouch over the upsetting OF my plans
yielded under the spell of his humor.
Lady LarkSpur' was the name
assumed by the daughter of a 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
Iecting plants and butterflies. He
had educated the girl In such a 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 NJ literature
except the classics; all history, even
the history of the stored 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 II.
The solution OF the mystery Of the
fathers exile and an amusing COM
plication of lovers afforded sus-
penslve interest well sustained 10 the
end. In the last act the girl appears
at q ball at a country house in SOphiS-
ticated raiment. and the story ends in
the key of mirth In which II began.
II was delightful blending and
nodernization of Diana. ATLANTA,
Cinderella, and Rosalin1: but even in
the typewriter page II was amaz-
tngiy alive and well calculated to
evoke tears and laughter That
play so enthrallinG should be buried
In a safety-vault was not 10 he
thought Of, and | sat down and wrote
Sparles n long letter demanding that
he at once forget the lost star for
HON 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 10
doubt Mrs. Bashford's proximity.
On the third, still hearing nothing.
horkened to an invitation from friends
a New London and drove in the
rrnabout for dinner. II was midnight
When 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 10
cover my annoyance that my aunt had
effected her descent in my absence.
"WeII, she was expected; the house is
hers: what do yOD want me 70 do about
tn" I ended with affected POPULARITY.
I'VE received her the lest we could;
nut II was most unfortunate. your not
being here. sir.
"Is that your Idea, Antoine, or do