Jasper County Democrat, Volume 5, Number 20, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 23 August 1902 — Master Waller, Diplomatist [ARTICLE]

Master Waller, Diplomatist

CjO HE proudest sohietlmeu unbend, jl and the Botanical Gardens were, for one afternoon, throwing off their usual reserve. Ordinary folk had »nly to come across Regent’s Park from Chester Gate ami present a card at the entrance to the gardens, and the bow-ler-hatted old gentleman at the gate welcomed them as though they were meat Important members. Miss Llewellyn and Master Kenneth Waller, her friend, walked on the grass In the direction of music. “Anybody you know here, Miss Llewellyn ?” “I don’t suppose so, Kenneth.’’ “You don’t know many people, do you, Miss Llewellyn?” “Very few.” “Wonder at that,” said the small boy, “because you’re not bad-looking, you know. Did you use to come here when you were well off? Do they sell lemonade here?” “Seems possible. You think that everybody ought to have plenty of friends?” “Plenty of friends,” said Kenneth, wisely, “but one in particular. Wonler how old you are?” “That,” said the young woman, goodtemperedly, “that is the only question. Kenneth, that you must never put to a lady.” “I should guess,” lie said, critically, as they sat down in the low chairs near the refreshment tent and watched the people, “that you were about 26." Miss Llewellyn gave a quaint gesture of horror. “Well, 25, then. Fancy!” The small boy whistled amazedly. “Twen-ty-five and not married yet.” “Young man,” said Miss Llewellyn, flushing and affecting a tone of grave severity, “I find your conversation much too personal. You would like lemonade, I think, and two pieces of cake.” The scarlet coated band perched on Beats near the glasshouse, with a crowd of smartly dressed folk in froqt of them, started a cheerful selection from a comic opera. Miss Llewellyn, a composed young woman in an ordinary way, as young women are who work for their living, found herself in quite * delighted mood. Music can do much when It tries, "Of course,” said her candid guest, with cake at his mouth, “I don't mean to say Hint you mightn't get married Wen now. I had an aunt once who ras close upon 30 before she could get ny one to look at her.” “The instance is encouraging, Kenleth. Don’t eat too fast, mind.” “Still,” said the youth wisely, “If I were a girl I should be Jolly careful not to miss’ a good opportunity. Are those orchids they’re carrying there? Hasn’t that chap got a brown face who’s telling the men where to take them? Seem to have seen him somewhere before. Shouldn't like to be an orchid, should you. Miss Llewellyn? Why, you’d have to grow out in South America, and people would have fearful trouble to find you, and risk their lives Hullo! Brown-faced chap’s coming this way.” Miss Llewellyn looked up and then looked down again quickly, and for a moment her face went rather white. Her hand trembled a a she held It out, “Mr. Bradley,” she said. “How do you do? I did not expect to see you here.” “I did not expect to see you again anywhere,” he said. There was the pause that comes after the banalities of greeting. Master Waller, not having spoken for quite half a minute, felt that he was in some danger of being overlooked, and coughed. “This is my little friend, Kenneth Waller,” she said. “Kenneth, this la Mr. Bradley.” “What’s Hie matter with your face?" asked the small boy. “Have you been abroad?” Mr. Bradley placed a broad fist on the round Iron table and leaned down towards Master II oiler good-natured-ly. He secup'd as confused at the meeting as Miss Llewellyn, and as unprepared with conversation. “I have been abroad, young man. I've been hunting orchids.” "Are you home for good now’?” asked ' Kenneth. Miss Llewellyn gripped the parasol that rested in her lap with Imtli hands. "I can’t do any good at home," said Mr. Bradley. "1 am off again to South America in a day or two.” “Why don’t you stay in London?" “Nobody asks me to stay." “Should have thought," said Master Waller, “that you could have got somebody to do that. Have you any for elgn postage stamps about you?" Friendship between the two gentlemen was cemented and made permanent by the production of several foreign stamps and an envelope to place them in. People were coming up to the refreshment tent now, the band having decided to rest for half an hour and recover breath, and Master Waller Invited Mr. Bradley to take his chair. “You don't mind?” asked Bradley of Miss Llewellyn. "Not Ht all,” she said, politely. ’“May I smoke?” “Let me strike the match," interposed Master Waller. “I’m awfully good at that. And tell us some of your adventures.” “They Wouldn't Interest Miss Llewellyn," “Gjrls don't count,” Master Waller. “Tell me. Make It,” said Master Waller, appealingly, “one where you nearly lost your life.” Ro ten or fifteen minutes were thus occupied, tile small boy seated on Bradley's knee and staring at him with open-mouthed astonishment. Miss Lie- •*»

weliyn, her head bowed, studied the band program In apparently a laborious search for the misprints that a musical program always offers. Bradley told the story very well, without obtruding his own share in the adventure, and when he had finished, punched Hie small boy humorously to bring him back from Routh America to Regent’s Park. “And is that story true?” asked the small boy, respectfully. “It has-that drawback, youngster.” “Well,” said Master Waller, "I’m a man that's awfully fond of adventure, but I shouldn’t care for that. What did you think of when that tierce animal Was waiting to spring upon you?” “Guess.” “Can’t,” said Master Waller. “Can you, Miss Llewellyn?" She shook her head, and again became Interested in the band program. Bradley looked at her and waited for her to speak, but she made no sign. Now, silence may at times be tolerable for grown-up folk, but for Impatient young men like Master Waller it brings nothing but weariness. “Is there any chance of seeing the orchllds, Mr. Bradley?" asked the youth. “It’ll be something to brag about to my people if I could just get a sight of them.” "We’ll all go over to the marquee and have a look. Miss Llewellyn, will you come, or shall we leave you here? There’s rather a crush.” “Let's leave her,” suggested Master Waller. "Miss Llewellyn likes being alone.” “I think I will stay here,” she said. "We shall be ten minutes," said Bradley. Master Waller had to trot to keep up with the long strides of his new friend, but he did not mind this, because he felt a kind of reflected glory in being accompanied by the man who had brought home some of the rarest of the amazing specimens in the crowded tent. "Girls are a nuisance, aren’t they?” said Master Waller, looking up confidentially. "Sometimes,” said Bradley. “She Isn't so tiresome, though, as some.” “I think I agree with you there.” “Works awfully hard. Too hard, my mamma says.” “No necessity for that, surely," said Bradley, rather sharply. “But Miss Llewellyn has to live,” urged the small boy. “My mamma says that she was well off for a year or two before her father died, but since that ” “Her father dead?” “Here, I gay," said Master Waller. “Don’t grip a man's shoulder like that.” “Sorry!” "They come into money, so my mamma says, a few years ago ” “I remember that.” "And then Miss Llewellyn’s governor put all into something, and it never came out again. That’s why she has to manage the callsthenlc school that I go to. And I say! Can you touch your toes with the tips of your fingers without ” “Where does she live now?” Mr. Bradley seemed excited. “In rooms,” replied Master Waller, volubly. “I’ve been there to tea along with my sisters. (That’s a fina orchid there. You can’t see it now; a girl’s hat's in the way.) And Miss Llewellyn’s got awfully nice furniture and photographs, and ’’ Master Waller slapped his knee suddenly. “I remember now where I’ve seen your face before, Mr. Bradley. Only without the short beard.” “Come outside,” said Bradley, “and tell me.” They made their way through the crowd and reached the exit. Bradley held his breath and bent to hear the small boy’s reply. “On her dressing table,” whispered Master Waller, confidentially, “in the beautlfulkst frame you ever saw, and Where are you going?” “Back to Miss Llewellyn,” cried Bradley. "Well, but," said Master Waller, protestlngly, “wait for me.” Bradley did not obey the young man. lie strode across the lawn, past the band, which was playing a quick march that was not quick enough to keep pace with him. Before Master Waller found the two there had been a swift exchange of low sentences that altered their views of the world, and made them both think of it as a place where happiness is to be found. “And why did you refuse me before, dear?" "Because all my people pressed me to accept you,” said Miss Llewellyn. "The excuse of a very obstinate young woman." "Why did you—why did you not ask me again?” she demanded. "Because,” snld Bradley, “It was just then that your father came into that money." • "The excuse of a very Independent man," said Miss Llewellyn, touching with pretty affection the big band that rested on the round table. “When—when It Is that you leave for South America?" “Not until yon tell me to go, dear, ’ lie said, promptly. "Here, I say,” cried Master Waller, arriving after some difficulty. “You two! Don't lose sight of me, mind. Miss Llewellyn, have I been a good boy?” "I’ve a great gilnd to kiss you, Kenneth,” she said. .“Rather have some more lemonade." "As Kenneth declines your sugges-

tion,” said Bradley, signaling to s waiter, “may I venture to submit myself ” “Hush!” said Miss Llewellyn.—The Woman at Home.