Those Dale Girls Part 19

"Do you know, Peter Snooks," she said speculatively, "we have one very important feature in common-our noses." At this he thrust his up in her lap. "Yes," she continued, patting him, "we have. Yours denotes your state of health-mine the arrival of a stranger within our gates. A certain proud and haughty person jeers at mine but you know how it is, don't you, old man?"

The dog pawed her lap by way of showing that he understood perfectly and with his big eloquent eyes fixed on the sugar bowl, thrust out his tongue suggestively.

"What! is that sensitive too! Oh! you scalawag!" and she tossed him a lump of sugar.

This conversation had stolen in through Julie's reverie and she pulled up her chair and leaned over to her sister as she took her cup of tea.

"I dare say I did jeer at that saucy nose of yours," she began, "but in token of my future awe and respect I am going to kiss it now," suiting the action to the words. "It may be a precaution against its owner's kissing me as an alternative in the next emergency! Peter Snooks, I call upon you to witness that I hereto set my seal," with another kiss, "having at this moment solemnly declared that I consider the aforesaid feature infallible."

CHAPTER XV

Radnor society was all agog over the second appearance of Monsieur Gremond, and no sooner was his coming made known than Renshawe was fairly deluged with invitations for his guest.

Miss Ware took that occasion to give a big reception to which magnanimously, "those Dale girls" were invited. This was the only outcome of the after breakfast talk many weeks before with her brother.

To tell the truth, the interest in them kindled at the moment by his enthusiasm, waned, and she never arranged the little party for which he had told her she had such a talent. Not that she altogether meant to waive her promise; she compromised with her conscience by telling herself that she had not yet gotten around to it. Here then was her opportunity and the girls were invited to the reception not only by card but personally. She only succeeded, however, in extracting a half promise from them to come, for they were having an anxious time over a new departure in their work and were little inclined for social dissipation.

Kenneth Landor gave a stag dinner at his club in honor of the Frenchman on the night of his arrival and Dr. Ware entertained Renshawe, Gremond and Landor at the same place later in the week, dining them informally before his sister's reception. Dr. Ware greatly enjoyed the society of younger men, who sought him in many capacities and as a counselor found in his quick comprehension of their difficulties many a solution of problems which to the young so often seem insurmountable. Then it was that the wisdom grown out of his vast experience of life gave itself freely to those who came to him, and many a man and woman left his presence cheered by the grip of his hand, strengthened by the kindliness that looked out from his eyes and pervaded his whole personality. On his lighter side, as a delightfully congenial companion, he had no equal in Radnor and this rubbing up continually against a younger point of view tended to freshen his mind and keep him in touch with much that otherwise, through the exigencies of his profession, would have escaped him.

"I do not want to seem inhospitable," he was saying that evening as the four men sat together at dinner, "but we must not linger too long over our cigars, or my sister will hold me responsible for keeping you away from her." He had his own reasons for wanting to arrive fairly early.

"In that case we'd better move along, Landor," said Renshawe rising.

"Dr. Ware," turning to his host, "will you take Gremond with you or wait a few moments while we look in at a committee meeting upstairs. We will not be long if you both care to wait."

"I am in the hands of my friends," said Gremond.

"We will wait, by all means," replied the Doctor, consulting his watch.

"It is not much after nine now."

Thought transference was a psychological phenomenon over which Dr. Ware had pondered much, and a startling instance of it was borne in upon him when after the other men had departed, Monsieur Gremond turned to him and said abruptly, without any preamble:

"May I ask, Dr. Ware, if you know in this city a family of Dales? In particular a Mademoiselle Julie Dale?"

"Why yes, I believe so," said the Doctor who was nothing if not non-committal, "do you?"

He was totally unprepared for the effusive manner in which the Frenchman literally fell upon his neck, exclaiming, "Oh! my friend, I thank you, I thank you!"

Masculine demonstration is not particularly pleasing to a man of Anglo-Saxon blood and Dr. Ware, in order to prevent a further exhibition of it, drew away slightly and offered his guest a fresh cigar.

Monsieur Gremond shook his head. "I will not smoke-I will do nothing but ask you questions-if I may. Oh! you cannot think what it means to know I have found her!"

"Have you been searching for Miss Julie Dale?" asked the Doctor, puffing clouds of smoke into the air.

"Searching? Ah, if you but knew! I have been across your continent to California only to learn that she had long ago left there and come to your eastern coast, presumably here, though no one at the hotel knew definitely about her."

"You are especially interested in Miss Dale, I take it," said the Doctor quietly. "In that case perhaps I should tell you that I stand somewhat in the relation of a guardian to her and her sister. You may talk quite frankly with me if you care to do so."

It was impossible to restrain or even resent the hand-shake with which the younger man expressed his appreciation.

"The Fates have been kind!" was his exclamation. "I am rewarded for my bitter disappointment. Is Monsieur Dale dead?" he asked suddenly.

"Not dead, but so ill that he is no longer able to look out for their interests-the privilege, therefore, devolves upon me."

"I wish to marry Mademoiselle Julie," said the Frenchman with a directness Dr. Ware liked. "I came to this country chiefly for the purpose of taking her back with me. I knew them at Los Angeles two years ago and Monsieur Dale liked me-at least I do not think he disliked me, for he allowed me to be much in his daughters' society. I realize that to you I am quite unknown, but Renshawe will vouch for me and any questions you may care to ask about my family or my future I shall be most happy to answer."

"Thank you." There was silence for a moment and then the Doctor said slowly, "Have you reason to suppose that Miss Dale will marry you?"

"Ah! that I do not know,-but she will-she must! Our intercourse was so perfect that life without her is incomplete. And she seemed always very happy with me. Has she never spoken of me or those days?"

"I think not," replied the Doctor, remembering that according to his sister that was in a man's favor. "But it is not at all unnatural," he hastened to say kindly, "we have gone little into the past since they have been living here-for many reasons."

"Will you tell me where they live and have I your permission to call on them to-morrow?" asked the Frenchman eagerly.

"Better than that, Monsieur, Miss Dale and her sister will be at my sister's reception this evening. It will give me great pleasure to see that you meet her at once. Many changes have taken place since you last saw her, but of all that she will prefer herself to tell you. You will find her developed from a winsome, lovable girl into a n.o.ble young woman whose attractions in every way are greater-"

"Not greater than when I knew her-that cannot be possible," interrupted the Frenchman. "To think that within the hour I shall see her! How can I express to you my intense grat.i.tude for all this?"

"By making her future all she has a right to expect from the man to whom she entrusts it," said the Doctor earnestly. "For the rest, we will talk things over more thoroughly in a day or two. I think," he said rising, "that Renshawe and Landor have forgotten us. Suppose after all we go on and let them follow at their leisure."

And Monsieur Gremond readily a.s.senting, Dr. Ware called a cab, which soon left them at his door.

The house was already crowded and Miss Ware gave her brother a look of displeasure which she considered his tardy appearance merited. It was not more than a fleeting frown, however, for Monsieur Gremond followed close at his heels and what hostess could fail to wreathe her countenance in other than most charming smiles to greet so distinguished a guest! Dr. Ware presented a number of persons to him and saw him well launched before he left him to go in search of the Dale girls. He rubbed up against Kenneth Landor presently and secured his aid as a scout to reconnoiter, for in his semi-capacity of host he found it difficult to ignore the people about him in pursuit of two elusive young women.

Kenneth appeared at the Doctor's elbow in the course of half an hour and confided to him that they were nowhere visible-"upstairs or downstairs or in my lady's chamber." He wore such a dejected look that the Doctor laughed and asked him why he wasn't up to his old tricks-weren't there dozens of pretty girls in the room? Kenneth merely raised his eyebrows expressively and the Doctor laughed again and reminded him that suspense was stimulating. Then he bethought him of Monsieur Gremond and discovering that individual, answered the questioning look in his eyes with an encouraging nod and managed to go over and say, in spite of the people by whom the Frenchman was surrounded, "She has not come yet but you shall know the instant she does."

When an hour pa.s.sed and they did not appear he accosted his sister who was still standing at her post receiving.

"Where are the girls?" with difficulty getting her attention.

"Girls? what girls? It seems to me there is no lack of them."

"I mean the Dale girls. Didn't you send the carriage for them as I directed?"

"Of course I did. They-how _do_ you do, Mrs. Smartset-and Mr.

Smartset, charmed I'm sure."

The Doctor stood back and patiently waited while an influx of guests pa.s.sed before her. When an opportunity offered he spoke again.

"They are not here, Mary. If you can give me a moment I would like to know why."

"You wouldn't have me neglect my guests to discuss those Dale girls would you? _Must_ you be going, Mrs. Marston, and your daughter too-so good of you to come-goodnight. They are not coming," she said in an aside to her brother, "the carriage came back with a note. I had no time to read it and I do not remember where I put it. Now for pity's sake go and look after people and don't worry me any more about them! Ah, Mrs.

Lennox, this is really charming to see you," as that individual entered.

It was no easy matter to escape to his office but Dr. Ware did it and sent for Kenneth.