Middletown transcript., 1920-06-26


SO. A spy of some sort, pursued by
secret agents.
~. Violet Dewing, an actress.
"5. The most interesting and the
loveliest and most charming girl in
the world"
The following day nothing of impor-
tance happened, though Alice and Mrs.
Farnsworth again spent the morning
iii the woodland, presumably studying
.Sear!es' play. My thoughts galloped
through my heal in definite formula
If she is not my aunt" IF she is
IN impostor-" IF she is spy playing
"A deep game in the seclusion OF Bar
ton" ''If she is the actress Searlcs
is seeking" At any rate, l would re-
spect her wish to play the game
through; the dangers Of carrying the
story-book idea to one of half dozen
possible conclusions were not incon-
siderable, but I was resolved that she
should finish the tale In her own
fashion.
If had expected Searles and his
play to be introduced into the table
talk. was doomed to disappointment.
A dozen times smothered an impulse
to tell Alice and Mrs. Farnsworth l
had watched them in the woodland
and of Searles' long search 1or the
ideal of his Lady Larkspur," but l
was afraid to risk their displeasure.
They enjoyed walking in the wood,
they said, and when I charged them
with seifishness in not taking me
aleng. Alice Immediately suggested a
tramp later in the afternoon.
"Tn send you away after luncheon
Il have loads of letters to write, but
by four o'clock I'll be keen for the
woods again"
Letters to all my good fairies
she laughed when went for her; land
YOU mustn't look at the addresses ]!
| She suggested tEat we walk to the
village, as she liked to post her letters
herself. We went through the woods
where l had seen her the day before
constance and l were here this
morning." she said when we reacEed
the big boulder. LET me see; thiali
I'll try a little trick to test the hand
Of fate. Give me those letters, please
If this falls with address up, I'll mai
it." and she chose one and handed me
the others; eff the flap side turns up
I'll destroy it,
She sent it spinning into the air. A
branch caught and held it an instant
then it fell, turning over and over
and lay straight on edge against
weed.
mo decision" cried. Its an ex
act perpendicular"
She knelt beside it, pondering. I"
think it leans just tritle to the ad
dress side" she announced. "There
fore you may return it to your poke
and it goes into the post Office"
"These letters would probably an
swer a lot of questions for me il
dared run away with them,' l sug
gested. ..
'The thought does you no credit, sill
/
to let things take their course, an
l must say that you are CONSTANT
improving. At times you grow susp
cious-yes, you know you do-bu
take it all in all, you do very we'll"
at the post Office she dropped a
The letters but one into the chute. 81
really did fall little to the addres
side?' she questioned.
gave my judgment that the lette
stood straight OH edge, inclining neitl
J er way.
IF my life hung in the balance,
should certainly not act where fat
had been so timid."
Suppose" said Alice musingly,
were to tell you that If l mail tn
letter the effect will be to detain II
in America for some time; if I don
send it, 1 shall haveFto write anoth'
that will mean that I shall go vel
soon. If I stay on at Barton instca
Of going home to take up my lit
} part again for England in the war,
will be an act Of seltishness-ju
some more of my foolishnesS, more
the makebelieve life that Constan
and l have been living here"
\ Il want you to stay" l said earnes
~. taking the letter. Let me be yo
fate in this-in everything that affec
your life forever"
She walked quickly to the door, al
dropped the letter into the chute al
hurried after her.
"You didn't turn round" I said
r we started down the street. "FOr {
you know, I've got the letter in Il
pocket"
"Oh, I'm not a bit frightened!
would be just as interesting one W
as another"
"But / want you to stay forever
I declared as we waited on the Gu
for truck to pass.
"The remark is almost impertinen
she answered, "when I've known '
= only seven days"
''They've been wonderful days.
n really makes no difference about |
= ters or your duties elsewhere. Whe
you go shall certainly follow; tina
something l should like to have
derstOod here and now"
Lettering along the beach on
way home, l was guiltily console
M that I was making love rather arde
" to a lady who had introduced h
self to me as my uncle's widow. I
ed sensation was, on the whole, "
agreeable.
"dr. Terrence and Mr.. Rayno
10 Antoine announced as we were le
fno tho dinnor.fahlp