Show LADY LAD V LARKSPUR LAIR ir I 1 7 5 10 T U T R 1 ff r by MEREDITH NICHOLSON 1 copyright by charles scrib nersi 11 I 1 CHAPTER V continued 13 I 1 then jotted down on a scratch pad this memorandum the young woman representing herself as sirs mrs bashford and now established in my uncles house Is one or all 0 of the following persons 1 uncle bachs widow 2 an impostor 3 A spy of some sort pursued by secret agents 4 violet dewing an actress 5 the most interesting and the loveliest and most charming girl in the world the following lay day nothing of importance happened though alice and mrs farnsworth again spent the morning in the woodland presumably studying searles play my thoughts galloped through my head bead in a definite formula if she Is not my aunt P if she lie Is in impostor if she is a spy playing a deep game in the seclusion of barlon if she Is the actress searles Is seeking at any rate I 1 would respect tier her wish to play the game gaine through the dangers of carrying the storybook story book idea to one of half a dozen possible conclusions were not incon demable de rable but I 1 was resolved that abbe should finish the tale in her on fashion it I 1 had expected searles searle and his play to be introduced into the table talk I 1 was doomed to disappointment A dozen times I 1 smothered an impulse to tell alice arid and mrs farnsworth I 1 had watched them in the woodland and of searles long search for the ideal of his lady larkspur but I 1 was afraid to ilsk their dis displeasure leasure they enjoyed walking in the wood they said and when I 1 charged them with selfishness in not taking me inc alon along alice immediately suggested a giamp later in the afternoon ill send you away after luncheon I 1 have bare loads of letters to write but by four ill be keen tor for the hie woods again letters to all my good fairies she laughed when I 1 went for her and you look at the addresses she suggested that we walk to the village as she liked to post tier her letters herself we vent neut through the woods N where I 1 bere iere I 1 had bad seen her the day before constance and I 1 were here this morning she said when we reached the big boulder let we me see I 1 think ill try a little trick to test the hand of fate gine me those letters please if this falls with nith address up ill mail it 14 and she chose one and ir handed me the others if the flap side turns up ill destroy it I 1 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 a weed N eed no decision I 1 cried its an exact perpendicular she knelt beside it pondering 1 I think it leans just a trifle to the address side she announced therefore you may return it to your pocket awl and it goes into the post office these letters would probably answer a lot of questions for me it if I 1 flared dared run away anay with them 1 I suggested the thought does you no credit sir y you ou promised riot not to ri meddle but just to let things take their course and I 1 must say that you are constantly Imp improving roNing at times you grow suspicious i ves es you know you do but take fait it all in all you do very well at the post ollice she dropped all the letters but one into the chute it really did tall fall a little to the address side she questioned I 1 gave my judg judgment mIlt that the letter stood straight on edge edg me inclining neither way it if my life hung in the balance I 1 should certainly not act where fate had been so timid suppose said alice musingly 11 1 I weve were to tell you that it if I 1 mail this letter the effect will be to detain me in america for some time it if I 1 dunt dont send it I 1 ahall haie hae to write another that will mean that I 1 shall go very soon if I 1 stay on at barton instead of going home to take up ray my little part again for england in the war it will be an act ct of selfishness just some more of 0 my more of the make believe life that constance and I 1 have been living litie 11 1 I want you to stay I 1 said earbert ly taking the letter let me ale be your fate in this in everything ever thing that affects your life fore forever fo rexer er she walked quickly to the file door and add I 1 dropped the letter into the chute und and hurried after tier her you turn round I 1 said as we started down the street for all 11 you know ive got the letter in my pocket oh im not a bit frightened 1 it would be just as interesting one olle way as another but I 1 want you to stay forever I 1 declared as we waited on the curb for a truck to pass the remark Is almost impertinent she be answered when ive known you only seven days been wonderful days it really makes no difference about letters lettera or your duties elsewhere where YOU yon go I 1 shall certa certainly faly follow something I 1 should like to have understood der stood here and now loitering along the beach on our way home I 1 was wag guiltily gull conscious that I 1 was making love rather ardently to a lady who had introduced herself to me as aa my uncles widow the sensation was on tho the whole very agreeable mr torrence and mr raynor kaynor antoine announced as we were leaving the dinner table sir mr raynor asked alice who pray Is mr raynor their arrival together chilled me a chill increased by Torren ces frosty greeting as lie gripped my hand band angrily and hissed in my ear youve deceived me about this whole business busi I 1 suggest that you leave the room I 1 was walking toward the door when mrs farnsworth protested you are not going alice liere Is no reason why mr singleton should leave us of course he be Is not going said aid alice she abe was established at ease in a wicker rocker unconcernedly plying the ostrich plume fan there may be matters began torrence oh nothing that rob bob cant heart hearl alice declared very well muttered torrence frowning his complete disapproval ne be fidgeted for a moment and tried to catch Ray nors eye but Ilay Ray nors face expressed amusement I 1 found myself lilting liking raynor very much mr raynor told me that he wished to speak to mrs Bast bashford iford privately said torrence if lies hes satisfied im sure I 1 have no objection to mr singletons gle tons remaining I 1 regret that my own duty is a disagreeable one really murmured alice with nicely shaded impudence 1 I am convinced beyond any question said torrence sharply thit th it 4 0 Y really murmured alice you are not the widow of the late raymond B Bash bashford fordi that statement said alice without ceasing the languid flutter of the fan is correct quite correct certainly it Is entirely true affirmed mrs farnsworth and your coming here as you lid did Is if you will v ill pardon my frankness susceptible of very disagreeable constructions it is my painful duty v ile he choked upon his duty until raynor baynor spoke smiling broadly 1 I find my duty really a privilege he said not only are you not mrs bashford he went on with the utmost good humor but you are a very different person I 1 should explain that I 1 represent the american state department and that our government lias has been asked by the british embassy to find you and deliver a certain message to you oh papa wants me to come home cried alice its droll constance that papa should have thought of making an affair of state fate of us dear papa pap will always indulge me just so far and then lie becomes alarmed 11 lies iles certainly alarmed now 1 laughed raynor but tho the ambassador has haq warned us to be most tactful and circumspect you may not know that sir arnold seabring reabrin Se abrin la Is on his way to this country on a confidential nit mission selon that of course is not tor for publication sir arnold Spa seabring bring gasped torrence the father of file honorable dixs Sen bring replied raynor with an elucidating nod toward alice but how I 1 beg began an mrs bashford the widow of your uncle Is the honorable miss Sea brIngs aunt Is that quite correct it Is all true said alice 1 I nm am a fraud tin on impostor you might go on and say that mrs Farms farnsworth worth Is the wife of sir cecil arrowsmith but all the gulit guilt Is mine it was my idea to come here and play a little because I 1 knew aunt alice mind she knew just what I 1 meant to do really she did mr torrence Torrenc et I 1 to in fact I 1 have her written permission to use the house ho use which I 1 should hove have shown you yon if we had got in ID a pinch but it seemed so much moro fun just to let matters take their course its a pet theory of 0 mine that life Is 19 a dull affair unless we trust to luck a little after my brothers death I 1 was very unhappy and had gone out east to visit aunt alice who Is a great roamer I 1 thought it would be nice to stop here on the wily way home just for a lark without telling papa who was frantically cabling rna me to hurry back to england this the first time ive played hide and seek with my family I 1 was always doing that as a child and it if it been for ray my general waywardness I 1 should never dever have known you constance why I 1 have known you gentlemen 1 it has baa all been so delightful I 1 this naive confession amused raynor greatly but torrence was waa seeing nothing in it but a dangerous escapade in the name of the bainbridge trust company I 1 must notify you he began that by representing yourself as another person entering into possession of a large property properly but weve been paying all our on expenses we taken any money from you pleaded alice of course you do such a thing raynor my instructions are to give you any surn sum of money you ask in fact the government of the united states Is instructed to assume full responsibility tor for you until your father arrives slay may I 1 go on and clarity clarify matters for these gentlemen for mr torrence at least Is entitled cn tilled to a full explanation constance sold said alice turning with a little shrug to her friend we have been caught I 1 our story Is being spoiled for us please go on mr raynor just what does the amerlean american state department have to say about us that you are endowed with it a very unusual personality continued raynor his eyes twinkling you are not r rt et t all content to remain in that station of life to which x aich you were born you alli playing at being till nil sorts of other persons once so your friend the file ambassador confided to me aou ou ran away and followed a band of gipsies which must have been when you were a very little girl 1 I was seven said alice and the gypsies were nice to me and then you showed talent for the stage A dreadful revelation 1 she exclaimed cl but you dont know that it was really your father who managed to have mrs farnsworth Farnswor lh one of the most distinguished actresses in england take charge of you no alice uever never knew that said mrs farnsworth laughing 1 I was her chaperon as well as her but alices father knew that if alice found it out it would spoil the adventure for tier her alice must do things her own way yeu tu are a fraud said alice but I 1 always suspected you a little speaking of the stage resumed raynor it Is also a part of my instructions that the honorable Bono rable miss seabring shall N t discouraged from any further adventure in that direction ashes far too talented theres danger of her becoming a great luminary in other words she Is not to grace the boards again us as violet dewing alices brow clouded and she turned to me that was settled when you mailed that letter for me it was to make an appointment with an amerlean american playwright who wants me to appear in a most adorable comedy TO BE CONTINUED |