Ladysmith news-budget. [volume] (Ladysmith, Rusk County, Wis.) 1907-1927, 1920-03-26
sprawled In the sand and began try

sprawled In the sand and began try
Ing to swallow the ball.
Wasn't that silly of me to try to
kill you the first time we metz" Her
eyes danced with merriment. II didn't
know Of course that any one was about.
But you made very nice catch of
1t! had expected to receive you
most formally in the drawing-room,
but this really serves very well. That
| tree down yonder is inviting; suppose
We stay out here and talk bit"
This struck me as the pleasantest
thing imaginable, though / was still
dazed and my tongue seemed to have
| died in my mouth. This girl, this
wholly charming and delightful
young woman, was the monstrous be-
ing I had conjectured as the globe
trotting widow who had kidnapped and
married my uncle! Not only had she
married my uncle Bash and in due
course buried him; she had been
widow when she married him. The
thing was staggering, bewildering.
She was clearly anxious to be friendly.
but nothing that | had thought of
saying TO her fitted the situation.
"In the first place." finally began,
81 must apologize most humbly for
the earnest efforts of the servants to
murder you last night. Mr.. Terrence
had promised to let me know when
you would reach here, but he must
have forgotten it. | had motOred to
a friends house to dine and didn't get
back until the mischief was done.
Pm very sorry"
mot for the world would l have
missed that" she exclaimed with
merry laugh. ut was perfectly
delicious! And it was all my fault.
I meant to remain a day at Hartford.
you know, and send message TO Mr.
Terrence from there, but | found that
by pushing on could reach here
yesterday. And you know we English
always expect strange things to happen
In America. l don't understand yet
why those people at the gates were
so jolly anxious to kill us; but it
doesn't matter; you would spoil the
joke by explaining it,"
However, did my best-it was
weak attempt-tO explain the nervous
ness of the veteran servants and their
display of violence. Her arrival made
it likely that we should soon know
more about the parties" whose visits
and inquiries had SO alarmed Antoine
and his comrades. | told her with
all the humor | could throw into the
recital of the drilling of the bell-hOps
and of the uncomfortable relations
between the Allied forces and the
Teut0nic minority on the estate.
1T was dear of Mr.. Bashford to
provide a home for these people;
wasn't he really the kindest soul that
ever lved?" she said softly.
She gazed wistfully seward, and
saw the CLEAN of tears on her long
lashes. My uncle had, then. meant
something to her! No one in speech
or manner could have suggested the
adventures less; uncle Bash was a
gentleman, a man of eSthetic tastes,
markable things had happened in the
history of love and marriage than
that two such persons. meeting In a
far corner of the world. would honestly
care for each other.
"You stopped at Hartford" began,
breaking a long silence. You have
friends there-!"
mot one! had made pious
pilgrimage to Mark Twain's last home
at Redding, and hearing that he had
lived at Hartford. came through
there to render my fullest homage.
He has always been one of my heroes,
you know
"Our Introduction is complete" !
said reverently Lets consider our
selves old friends
81 rather thought we understand
each other she said in her even,
mellow tones. you know. we had
your photograph out East-a very
good one, it seenis--so | had an idea
of what you looked like.
"He was very fond of you. He
was very proud that you had gone
ltO the war"
Il am glad to hear that; | thought
he disapproved of me for refusing to
go into business. He offered me
substantial interest before he sold
out"
II know that; but l think he liked
you rather better for refusing it.
Business with him was merely a
means TO an end. And it was doubly
sad that he should die just when ne
was free TO enjoy the beautiful |
things he loved"
Continued next week.