The Coolidge examiner., 1936-01-10

mention her, and he had wondered
why. But it seemed of little impor-
tance, since they were going to see
her and, as Lowell supposed, Perilla
would be welcomed with open arms.
And doubtless she would have
been, had the bridal pair gone to
Maiden house as they expected. But,
granting the suddenness of the trag-
edy and the erratic mind of the old
lady, was it so surprising that she
took an antagonistic attitude to-
ward Perilla? A different tempera-
ment would have welcomed the
stricken young bride, and they
would have mingled their tears; but
this half-crazy invalid, who idoliZed
her son, felt immediate rancor at
the girl who had taken him from
her, and now, as If she caught at
the chance, accused her, in a frenzy
of emotion, of killing him.
A light tap at the door aroused
him, and at his bidding. BoyntOn
came in. John Lowell looked at him,
suddenly realizing that he knew
little about this man.
"How long have you been with
Mr.. Maiden, BOyntOn?" he asked,
pleasantly enough, but watching him
closely.
upward of four years, SIR" Boyn-
ton replied, with a straightforward
look at his questioner.
$50 long? Well, Boynton, you
mustn't take it i'll if l ask few
questions. This is all a grave mat
ter-very grave. You were also
valet to Mr.. Malden?"
"When he wished it, sir. He was
a man practically without a home.
OF course, he lived here, but he was
away more than at home. He kept
a suite Of rooms at his hotel in
Philadelphia all the time, and that
was his real home. All this you
know, sir"
"Yes, of course. Now, Boynton,
answer this carefully and truthful
ly. You were with Mr.. and Mrs.
Maiden all the way to Washington.
Did you ever have the slightest
reason to think that my daughter
was not deeply in love with her
husband, and he with herr"
"Never, sir. If ever on the face
of Gods earth married pair were
devotedly in love with each other,
those two were"
where were you educated, Boyn-
ton?"
The man looked up quickly, but
answered, simply: "At Columbia
university, sir. But didn't special
ize, and the crash came, and could
get no position such as l wanted.
SO, as / am a mechanician by ma
ture, l CHANGED upon this job with
Mr.. Maiden, and 1 gladly took it. 1t
leaves me bit of time to read, and
l don't expect to be cheauffeur all
my life. Will you dress for dinner
now, sir? It's getting on"
Very well. One more question;
are you loyal to Mrs. Maiden, my
daughter?"
John Lowell was looking straight
into the others eyes, and on Noyn-
tons rather good-looking face he
saw nothing but absolute frankness
and honesty. But it seemed to him
that Boynton quivered his eyelashes
ever SO slightly, as he replied:
LAS l was to my master, sir. l
had the most sincere respect and
admiration for him, and, if l may
say so, have the same feelings to-
ward his wife,"
A little time later, a correctly at
tired, if somewhat bewildered gen.
tleman, went downstairs to the
drawing-room. His hostess awaited
him, impressive looking in a dull,
heavy robe of black
A variety of cocktails was Of
fered him, in which Mrs. Maiden
joined him, and he noted with re-
lief that the effect upon her was
pleasantly eXhilarating.
Your daughter will not dine with
us, 1 understand" she said; per
haps it is just as we'll"
Nor shall / dine with you, ma
dame, if you make any remark or
observation that can be construed
as slight upon my daughter. 7
may as we'll tell you now that at
any such remark 1 will leave your
table,"
You are outspoken, Mr.. Lowell"
and the bright, beady eyes looked
sharply at him, but that permits
me to be outspoken, too"
And then Pierre. the impressive
looking French major-domo, an
nounced dinner and stopped to as
sist his mistress from the room.
Lowell followed Mrs. Maiden. to
find, as he had anticipated, a sump-
tuous dinner, elaborately served.
The conversation was restrict
ed to general subjects.
With the dessert Lowell allowed
himself to introduce the topic of
Malcolm's arrival
"My son." he said, "who is in
Washington, expects to come down
here tomorrow. l trust there will
be no objection"