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* ~4Uri VOLUE XXVI LAREN, SOTH AROINA WENESDY9 OVEBER3, 920 CIN~ MContinued from Last Wook.) "I found thoso lovely screens in the garret and thought we might as well enjoy them, and that Lang Yao jar you see on the sideboard oughtn't to be hidden in the vault." "I am sure Uncle Bash would be happy to know you care for these things so much," I said, noting that the white roses she had chosen for the jar-I knew the choice was hers served to emphasize the deep red of Its exquisite glaze. "I am among the unelect," remark ed Mrs. Farnsworth. "When I am t'old that such things are beautiful I am immediately convinced. I say they are beautiful, and that is enough." "That has always been enough for me," I replied, "My uncle used to try to interest me, but he gave it up when he found that my pagan soul was aroused by nothing but pottery idols. I am a heathen1" "I am gratified that you make the admission so frankly," said Mrs. Farns worth. "I have always been a great admirer of the heathen. But, you Irnow, Mr. Singleton, Alice ,and I never can agree as to just what a heathen is. All our squabbles have been about that. I am disposed to include all who believe in fairies good, or bad, and persoDs who honestly believe in signs, omens, and lucky stones, and all who have the receipt of fern-seed and walk Invisible-there's Shakes peare for that." "I think," said Mrs. Bashford soberly, "that I have always believed in witches; and If I keep on believ ing I sl all see -one some day. Wt shall find anything In this world that we believe in hard enough." She was talking very gravely, a. though witches were the cotumonest topic of conversation, but finding m eyes turnell upon her in frank wonder she lnughed at my amazement. "Let us he honest with you. Mr Singleton," Mrs. Farnsworth explained "and tell you that we are just testisn yon. it may be a breach of hospital ity, and you are but a stranger. bu we are curious to know whether yol are of that small company of th favored -of heaven who can play a being foolish without becoming idloth Allee Is sometimes very near ilioc You admit that, Alle I" "1 not only admit it. but I mnigi even hoast of it!" my atint repled. At the mention of witches I hn caught Antoine crossing himself as I turned to the sidehoard, I confe that 1 ;":eself had1( been startled b~y t11 drift '. t the talk. Mr's. Farnswort and my aunt treated each other th'ough they were contemiporarles, an it was Alice and Cnsltnce betwee themt. As the talk r'an exhefustivel ttrough the iore of'witches and( gol lins I had hoped that one or the oth' would drop0i some clue as to the( prev' otus history of may amaizing anunt. was as plain as (lay that she' al Mrs. Farnsworth indulged in whini for the joy of it, and her zest In ti discussion of witches, carried onwh Antoine servedl the table, lips tight compressed, and with an exaggerati of his stately tread, was the me startling fronm the fact that my atun companion was a woman of years, handsome woman with a high-bred who did not look at all like a pers wvho would dIscuss witches as thou they hand been) made the topic of t day by the afternoon newspape And when the shape of a witch's el became the immediate point of d cusion I knew It was in Antoin mind that such conversation wasi becoming, an offense to the memory IRaymond Bashiford. Mrs. Far worth's brown eyes sparkled, and 1 color deepened in my attat's cheeks we discoursed upon witches and i chins thereof. I had a friend in< lege who used to Indulge in the sa sort of piffling, but that my une] widow and her elderly compan shotild detight in such absurdities wildered me, I had been address my aunt as Mrs. Bashford .seemed ridiculous to call -, her' A' Alice-and in the heat of our ar ment, s to whethier witches are ne< - arihy naughty and maligit beingi WithI no hint of arehlness: "Can't we make it Alice and Bob? I think that would be a lot friendlier." I experienced a curious flutter of the heart the first time I tried it, but after that it came very easily. She was simply the Jolliest, prettiest girl that had ever crossed my horizon, and to be talking to her across the table gave me thrills compared with which sliding out of clouds in an airplane Is only a rocking-chair pastime for old men.. We had coffee on the veranda (Alice thought it would be nicer there), and as Antoine gave me my cup he edged close to my chair to whisper: "That party, sir. If he shoula come-" "Tell the troops not to attack any visitors," I said, loud enough tor the others to hear. "Air. Torrence will he here shortly, and it would be annoy Ing to have him ushered in on a shut ter." "I know why this is the land of the free and the home of the brave," li ugied Allee. "One has to be brave to live here." Anttoie departed with a resentful twist of the shoulders, and I deelded to meet sc(larely the matter of the vis! ors who had so troubled him. "'len se don't be frightened," I said as lin-htly as possible. "but these oid .folows haven't enough to do, and they I ar. inli of apprehensions. They have beeni al1ttamed by an agent of some sort who wants to welcome you to Anmeria by selling you a piano on 'asy ponyments." An11tointe hal been hovering inside. 3nil my remark brought him to the door. "li .iprdon. Mir. Singleton, but tit party Is not an agent. but quite tifereit. sir. lie came to the house. (itiie Ilke n gentleman, severall times. amii isked it' Mrs. Uashford had ar rived. He cine In a big car, and seemed disappointed, madame, that you were not here and not expected. A very well--spoken gentleman, and we'd have thought nothing of it except that a few days later I caught a man I was sure was the same party, but dressed In rough clothes. sneaking across the veranda right there where you're sitting. When I called to him he ran as hard as he could, and Graves-he's the vegetable gardener saw him leaving the property by the back way." "It's hardly possible that a man rho impressed you as a gentleman rhen you saw him at the door shouTd xave returned in disguise and tried to )reak into the house." "Oh," exclaimed Mrs. Farnsworth. 'it would be so much more delightful if that were true I Any one in dis guiso is bound to be interesting. A iisguise suggests most beautiful pos sibilities." I could -not be sure in the dim light of the veranda, but I thoudvit I detect ed a white slipper cautiously reach out aixd tout-h a black one. .At any rate, Mrs. Farnsworth lapsed into si ence. "Thank you very much, Ar.toine," said Alice. "It is very proper for you to tell me anything of any stranger on the property, but I see nothing here to be alarmed about. If the same gentleman calis again, let me know Instantly." "Very good, madame." And then, turning as though conferring upon me E part of his responsibility for the se curity of the premises: "It's a party with a limp; just a trifling limp, sir; you'd hardly notice it. A smallish nian, rather dark, with a little mus tache turned up at the ends." Continued on 'page two, this section.) Goose Eggs Best. Geese lay the best egga, from the point of view of nourishment. Then zotno ducks and guinea fowl. lens are lourth on the list, with turkeys and plovers' following. 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