Part 20 (1/2)
Monsieur Thuran beca's uncle in Cape Town His attentions were very irl's every wish that she came to depend upon him more and more Did she or her mother or a cousin require an escort--was there a little friendly service to be rendered, the genial and ubiquitous Monsieur Thuran was always available Her uncle and his faness to be of service Monsieur Thuran was beco thewas startled She did not knohat to say
”I had never thought that you cared for me in any such way,” she told him ”I have looked upon you always as a very dear friend I shall not give you et that you have asked o on as we have been--then I can consider you frole for a ti for you is ht for a ement was perfectly satisfactory to Monsieur Thuran He deeply regretted that he had been hasty, but he had loved her for so long a tiht that every one must know it
”From the first ti to wait, for I areat and pure a love as mine will be rewarded All that I care to know is that you do not love another Will you tell me?”
”I have never been in love in my life,” she replied, and he was quite satisfied On the way hoht he purchased a steam yacht, and built a million-dollar villa on the Black Sea
The next day Hazel Strong enjoyed one of the happiest surprises of her life--she ran face to face upon Jane Porter as she was co out of a jeweler's shop
”Why, Jane Porter!” she exclaimed ”Where in the world did you drop from? Why, I can't believe s!” cried the equally astonished Jane ”And here I have been wasting whole rea you in Baltimore--the very idea!” And she threw her arms about her friend once more, and kissed her a dozen times
By the time ton's yacht had put in at Cape Town for at least a week's stay, and at the end of that tie--this tiland ”Where,” concluded Jane, ”I am to be married”
”Then you are not married yet?” asked Hazel
”Not yet,” replied Jane, and then, quite irrelevantly, ”I wish England were a ed between the yacht and Hazel's relatives Dinners were arranged, and trips into the surrounding country to entertain the visitors Monsieur Thuran was a welcoave a dinner hiratiate hiton by many little acts of hospitality
Monsieur Thuran had heard dropped a hint of soht result froton's yacht, and he wanted to be counted in on it Once when he was alone with the Englishe was to be announced immediately upon their return to Aton--not a word of it”
”Certainly, I quite understand, ton had replied ”But you are to be congratulated--ripping girl, don't you know--really”
The next day it caton's guests aboard his yacht Mrs Strong had been telling them how retted that a letter just received fro her visit shorter than they had intended
”When do you sail?” asked Tennington
”The first of the week, I think,” she replied ”Indeed?” exclaimed Monsieur Thuran ”I am very fortunate I, too, have found that I must return at once, and now I shall have the honor of acco you”
”That is nice of you, Monsieur Thuran,” replied Mrs Strong ”I alad to place ourselves under your protection”
But in the bottoht escape him
Why, she could not have told
”By Jove!” ejaculated Lord Tennington, a ton, of course,” ventured Clayton; ”it must be a bully idea if you had it, but what the deuce is it? Goin' to steam to China via the south pole?”
”Oh, I say now, Clayton,” returned Tennington, ”you needn't be so rough on a fellow just because you didn't happen to suggest this trip yourself--you've acted a regular bounder ever since we sailed
”No, sir,” he continued, ”it's a bully idea, and you'll all say so
It's to take Mrs Strong and Miss Strong, and Thuran, too, if he'll coland with us on the yacht Now, isn't that a corker?”
”Forgiveidea--I never should have suspected you of it You're quite sure it's original, are you?”
”And we'll sail the first of the week, or any other ti,” concluded the big-hearted English date
”Mercy, Lord Tennington, you haven't even given us an opportunity to thank you, enerous invitation,” said Mrs Strong