Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1869-12-24

as giving dinner parties to an intimate
friend or friends. | have had such an
invitation myself; a box at the theatre
has diversified the proceedings"
Excellent exclaimed Lady Carts
brook, am sure that cannot do bet
ter than 10 follow such capital exam
| pie. Will you favor me with your com
pany at my house to dinner tomorrow at
seven, Sir Charles ,"
" shall be most happy" he said,
Lily St. Aubyn came up and they
We're separated; but Lady Carisbrook
had made the engagement, calculating
meaning any harm, though she ought to
have known that it was wrong TO do any
thing which she could not tell his lord
ship.
The greater part Of the day was pass
ed by her in buying flowers in Covent
garden, and making preparations for
charming little dinner, such as would at
once display her taste and the resources
of her establishment.
In the afternoon she went to her bed
room to lay down and rest for an hour.
She was tired. 1t had been quite late
when she left Mrs. st. Aubyn's, and not
used to such hours, she found it difficult
to recover from the fatigue which they
occasioned.
To her surprise she was disturbed, as
she was about to close her eyes for re-
freshing sleep, by knocking at the door,
!" 1t is only |, Emily" said voice,
which she recognized instantly.
:" Good gracious, my husband! What
brings him back can he suspect?" she
began, when her speculations were cut
short by the entrance of Lord Carts
brook, who caught her in his arms and
kissed her tenderly, and cried:
Here | am again, dearest, sooner
than you expected All, what is this
You do not seem pleased to see me as
l thought you would be-"
"You Fri htened me. was half asleep
and my nerves are little weak | was
at Mis-. St. Aubyn's last night till late"
she answered, rubbing her eyes and sit
ting on the edge of the bed wrapped as
she was in the capacious fold of pink
dressing-gown. "But what brought you
away from Caldecott in such hurry ?"
"a relative Of mine--who made for
tune in India, became eccentric and lived
in London under another name-is deal
died yesterday in fact, and his solicitor
has written to me to say that he has left
me the greater portion of his wealth"
There is nothing very interesting
about that" her ladyship said, 1--WE have
as much money as we want already. Is
that all that has brought you up in such
hurry Pas for me | would not have
gone across the street for such news"
You have very strange IDEAS" re-
piled Lord Carisbrook, with a tone of
disappointment. "You were sorry at
seeing me, and now you don't care for
the legacy" -....
Il do like people to be consistent
Your return has destroyed my projects
OF independence for week. I was go
ing out to dinner tonight, and"
"What is to prevent you ?" interrupt
ed Carisbrook. 81 have engaged myself
to the solicitor and shall very likely stay
late, talking over matters with him. I
shall not be home till twelve certainly,
so you can go where you like without
paying the slightest attention to me.
Imprinting another kiss upon her lips
Lord Carisbrook took his departure, cali
ed a cab, drove to his club, and told his
friends of his good fortune, and ordered
dinner.
Her ladyship determined to be brave,
and receive Sir Charles Evander, though
prudence dictated the adoption of very
different course.
1t happened that Sir Charles was more
considerable. He belonged to the same
club as Lord Carisbrook, and met him
there in the afternoon.
"How do ?" he said. 81 thought you
hundred miles away in the country"
"At Caldecott," replied ais lordship.
Il have only just returned. Business
brought me back. 1t was a great pity.
never saw finer weather for shoe ting"
Sir Charles went to the writing-ro ON,
and wrote letter to Emily, in which he
said that be had met her husband, and
hoped she would excuse him for breaking
his engagement, as he had no wish to
meet Carisbrook, and he sincerely trust
ed that this evening alone was only a
pleasure deferred.
In the hall he did not see Carisbrook,
who was putting on his hat, and he said
TO the porter distinctly in his lordship's
hearing:
give this letter to commissionaire.
and let him take it to Lady Carisbrook's
Wilton Crescent"
These words fell like q thunderbolt up
on his lordship, who halfstupefed watch
ed Sir Charles re-enter the club. He was
himself going for stroll round St.
James's square, in which his club was
situated, to get an appetite for dinner,
and changing his mind, he put on his
hat and extending his hand to the porter
said:
Give me that letter it's for nv wife,
and | can deliver it, Most probably Sir
Charles Evander did not see me, or he
would have asked me to take charge of
it."
The porter did as he was requested
and Lord Carisbrook. tuning like an
angry lion, went up stairs to the smoking
room TO read the letter at his leisure. III.
observed and uninterrupted
Its contents astounded him. They in
deed, were calculated to throw suspicion
upon the conduct Of any woman, and if
a man had plunged knife into his heart
Il r. 4.