an extremely winsome
stranger. His artistic eye instantly remarked not only her
well-preserved beauty, but its gentle dignity, rare refinement, and
untypical quality. Whether it was Creole or _Americain_, Southern,
Northern, or Western, nothing betrayed; on the surface at least, the
provincial, as far as the ironworker could see, was wholly bred out of
her. He noted also the unimpaired excellence of her erect and girlish
slightness and, under her pretty hat and early whitened hair, the
carven fineness of her features. Her whole attire pleasantly befitted
her years, which might have been anything short of fifty; and yet, if
Scipion was right, she might have dressed for thirty.

"Are you Mr. Beloiseau?" she inquired.

"I am," he said.

"Mr. Beloiseau, I'm the mother of Geoffry Chester. You know him, I
believe?"

"Oh, is that possible? He is my esteem' frien', madame. Will you"--he
began to dust a lone chair.

"No, thank you; I came to find Geoffry's quarters. I left the hotel
with my memorandum, but must have dropped it. I remember only
Bienville Street."

"He's not there any mo'. Sinze only two day' he's move'. Mrs.
Chezter, if you'll egscuse me till I can change the coat I'll show you
those new quarter'. Whiles I'm changing you can look ad that book of
pattern', and also--here--there's a pigtorial of New York; that--tha'z
of my son and the son of my neighbor up-stair', De l'Isle, ric'iving
medal' from General Joffre----"

"Why, Mr. Beloiseau can it be!"

"But you know, Mrs. Chezter, he's not there presently, yo' son. He's
gone at St. Martinville, to the court there."

"Yes, to be back to-morrow or next day. They told me in his office
this forenoon. I reached the city only at eleven, train late. He
didn't know I was coming. My telegram's on his desk unopened. But
having time, I thought I'd see whether he's living comfortably or only
fancies he is."

On their way Mrs. Chester and her guide hardly spoke until Scipion
asked: "Madame, when you was noticing yo' telegram on the desk of yo'
son you di'n' maybe notiz' a letter from New York? We are prettie
anxiouz for that to come to yo' son. I do' know if you know about that
or no, but M. De l'Isle and madame, and Castanado and his madame, and
Dubroca and his madame, and Mme. Alexandre and me, and three
Chapdelaine', we are all prettie anxiouz for that letter."

"Yes, I know about it, and there is one, from a New York
publishing-house, on Ge