Emmons County record. [volume] (Williamsport, D.T. [i.e. N.D.]) 1884-current, 1920-04-22

='W .'p.~
~ Might Even Boast Of I'll" My Aunt
Replied.
compressed, and with an exaggeration
of his stately tread, was the more
startling from the fact that my aunt's
companion was woman of years, u
handsome woman with high-bred air
who did not look at all like person
who would discuss witches as though
they had been made the topic of the
day by the afternoon newspapers.
And when the shape of witch's chin
became the immediate point of dis
cussion l knew it was in Antoine's
mind that such conversation was I'M
becoming, an offense to the memory Of
Raymond Bashford. Mrs. Farms
worth's brown eyes sparkled, and the
color deepened in my aunt's cheeks as
we discoursed upon witches and the
chins thereof. had friend In COL
lege who used to indulge In the same
sort Of pifling, but that my uncles
widow and her elderly companion
should delight in such absurdities be-
wildered me. I had been addressing
my aunt as Mrs. Bashford-it
seemed ridiculous to call her Aunt
Alice-and In the heat of our argu-
ment as to whether witches are neces.
sarily naughty and malign beings
had just uttered the "Mrs." when she
bent toward me and said gravely and
with no hint of archness: Cant we
make it Alice and Bob? think that
would be lot friendlier."
l experienced curious flutter of
the heart the first time tried it, but
after that it came very easily. She
was simply the .jolliest, prettiest girl
that had ever crossed my horizon, and
to be talking to her across the table
gave me thrills compared with which
sliding out of clouds in an airplane is
only rocking-chair pastime for old
men.
We had coffee on the veranda (Alice
thought it would be nicer there), and
as Antoine gave me my cup he edged
close to my chair to whisper:
THAT party, sir. II he should
come
"Tell the troops not to attack any
visitors" l said, loud enough for the
others to hear. mfr. Terrence will be
here shortly. and it would be annoy
ing to have him ushered in on shut
ter"
II know why this Is the land Of the
free and the home of the brave"
laughed Alice. zone has to be brave
to live here"
Antoine departed with resentful
twist Of the shoulders, and l decided
to meet squarely the matter Of the
visitors who had so troubled him.
"Please don't be frightened" said
as lightly as possible. "but. these old
follows haven't enough to do, and they
are full Of apprehensions. They have
been alarmed by an agent of some
sort who wants to welcome you to
America by selling you piano on
easy payments"
Antoine had been lowering inside,
and my remark brought him to the
door.
beg pardon, Mr.. Singleton, but
that party is not an agent, but quite
different, sir. He came to the house,
quite like gentleman. several times,
and asked If Mrs. Bashford had ar
rived.s He came in big car, and
seemed disappointed, madame, that
you were not here and not expected.
A very well-spoken gentleman, and
we'd have. thought nothing of 1t except
that few days later caught man
was sure was the same party, but
dressed in rough clothes, sneaking
across the veranda right there where
you're sitting. When called to him
he ran as hard as he could, and
Graves-he's the vegetable gardener
saw him leaving the property by the
back way"
tits hardly possible that a man
who impressed you as a gentleman
when you saw him at the door should
have returned in disguise and tried to
break into the house."
"Oh," exclaimed Mrs. Farnsworth,
s'it would be so much more delightful
If that were true! Any one In dis
guise is bound to be interesting. A
disguise suggests most beautiful pos.
sibilities."
I could not be sure in the dim light
Of the veranda, but I thought detect
ed q white slipper cautiously reach
ont end touch black one. At any
rate. Mrs. Tarnsworth lapsed into q.
lence. IS.
THANK you very much, Antoine"
said Alice. Ut IL very proper for you
to tell me anything Of any stranger
On the property. but see nothing
here to be alarmed about. Il the
same gentleman calls again. let me
know Instantly II &
"vesy good. madame And then,