Okolona messenger. (Okolona, Miss.) 1900-current, 1920-05-13

coming and the circumstances OF her
advent constituted a good joke OF
which and not she was the victim.
When reached my quarters in the
garage l sat down and laughed until
Flynn appeared, frightened by my
noisy mlrth that had penetrated to his
quarters.
wakened early, rang bell con-
Meeting my rooms with the chauf-
feurs end of the garage as warn
ing to the Flynns to prepare break
fast, and was dressed when the Irish
man came IN with the tray. In the
absence Of morning paper ! chung
to him for company.
II trust you will not be leaving,
sorr," he remarked, cycling my half
packed trunk.
Every soon, Flynn"
"Then Elsie and / will be going
too, sorr It's most uncomfortable
they're making us-Dutch and the
rest. That Antoine and his army
keep pesterln' us and calm US Huns.
ITS most disagreeable we find II,
the wife and me-"
Suffer and be strong-thats the
watchwOrd We will hope that Mrs.
Bashford is a woman of sound sense
restore peace on her property. When
call to pay my respects and make
my adieus shall speak to her Of the
situation and vouch for your loyalty.
You haven't, suppose seen the widow
yet-she's probably sleeping late"
"Quite the contrary, sOrr. She's
been IN and around for ali hour an
more. She's been all over the place
and stopped for sQuint at the garage,
her and the pup"
"Sne been here, inspecting the
garage" I asked, glancing at my
watch. It was 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 it would
be coming up to-day and to make a
place for it,"
Here was news indeed, destroying
all my hopes that she meditated only
a brief sojourn. The purchase of
machine meant definitely that she
would remain for some time, perhaps
for the winter. poured second cup
Of coffee, swallowed 1t, grabbed my hat
and stick, and asked enlightenment
as to the course taken by Mrs. Bash
ford when she left the garage.
"She took the lower road, sorr,
toward the Sound and stepped off
quite brisk-like."
1t was the serenest of September
mornings, and l 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 / caught a glimpse of
a woman on the beach-a slender,
agile woman, throwing a 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 chance to reoeem himself.
Antoine'S equivOcal statement as to
Mrs. BaShfordS age was ridiculous.
Instead of the middle-aged woman
whom l was prepared to meet, here
was beyond question vigorous,
healthy being whose every movement
spoke for youth and the joy of life.
1t might, after all, be the maid OF
whom Antoine had spoken. reached
a low stone wall that separated the
lawn from the beach just as she
effected running pickup Of the ball
She turned swiftly and flung it straight
at my head. Involuntarily l put up
my hand and caught it just as she
saw me and cried out-a cry of warn
ing and cOntrition. l tossed the ball
to the dog.
what must you think of mel" she
exclaimed. 81 was blinded by the
sunlight and l didn't see you-really
l did not"
II had no business being in the
way" l laughed, noting first her
glowing color, her violet eyes
amazingly fine eyes they were-her
fair hair with its golden CLINT, her
plain black gown with lawn collar
and wristbands. 1t was her age, how
ever, that reused me to instant spec.
ulation. twenty-five, decided, was a
maximum; more likely she was not
more than twenty-five, and If l had
been told that eighteen was the total
of her years shouldn't have had the
heart to dispute 1t.
Bob Singleton" said and stupidity
added, land you are Mrs. BashfordT
unable for the life of me to avoid
turning the statement into an inquiry.
Il am your aunt Alice" she said
with a smile, putting out her hand.
"DOwn, Rex!" she commanded the
dancing terrier; "lie down; schools