Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1884-08-07
A WOMAN,S INSTINCT.

charming This was nearly enough to
make her detested by her sex; but add
TO this that her husband was devoted
to her, and that all the men, of her ac-
quaintance admired her. and there is
quite sufficient reason Tor the enmty
felt toward her by all women less fascin-
ating-or, as they would have said, less
clever.
In truth Mrs. Valery was the most
innocent little woman in the world.
and it was very easy for her to walk in
the paths of virtue, as size had the ex-
ceptional advantage of being in love
with her husband. But, of course, her
female friends could not be expected
to believe that, though the men had all
found it out long ago and had admired
her all the more for it, She accepted
their admiration with an ease and
grace all her own; she had been great
deal abroad, and possibly this gave her
manner brilHance and gaiety. Half
her cirhood had been spent with rea-
tions in St. Petersburg, and she spoke
Russian rs if she was herself q Slav.
From that gay city perhaps she had
brought her love of social life and the
vivacity which delighted her male
friends. All these things were enough
to make the ladies of her acquaintance
quite convinced that she was i'm
proper" and only needed TO be found
out
Lady Lynx lived just opposite Mrs.
Valery in Wilton Place. This was one
reason why she was tacitly elected de-
tective-in-chief to spy upon Mrs Val
D. . ,,,,,nh 81
reason tor the lady's willingness to I'LL
that post. Her husband, Sir George
LYNX, was n confirmed globe-trottcr,
lover OF almost any land but England,
and he seldom returned to the wife of
his bosom. In his absence men treated
her with chilly poltencss. though she
painted and powdered and dressed to
perfection. Yet Mrs. Valery, though
her husband was stay-at-homc, had a
constant train of visitors. Lady Lynx
was convinced that there was more in
this than met the eye; she devoted her
sef to Mrs. Valery, became her most
intimate friend, and resolved that some
dav She would outwit and expose her
On certain afternoon. when the
season was Mt its height, Lady Lynx
came into Mrs. Valery ) arawing-roOm.
'Sir George is coming nome to-day"
she said.
Mrs. Valery looked up with an air
of interest.
Indeed" she said; Il shall be glad
/ to make his acquaintance.
II don't know NJ what tine, said
| Lady LYNX, "or | would 90 and meet
him. But must sit Vt home and watch
from my window for the wandering
/ knights return.
( "Wil he come to Charing CROSSE"
asked Mrs. Valery.
Yes" said Lady Lynx. "Whv?'
30, nothing" said Mrs. Valery,
carelessly; "only that / have 10 go and
meet q friend this AFTERNOON. | must
start soon, she added, looking at her
watch.
''You have TO meet friend there?"
said Lady Lynx.
Yes, said Mrs Valery; then, with
/ n laugh, cor rather. | should say a
stranger. II seems absurd, but l have
to meet gentleman whom ! have
never seen.
lit does seem absurd, indeed" said
Lady Lynx, echoing the laugh mechan-
4 ically. Her thoughts went ranging
back over st. Georges frequent alb
! sences. Had Mrs. Valery been abroad
when he was away? Yes, Il hundred
! times. Doubtless they had met at
many continental resort, and were
! old acquaintances.
lit is absurd, yet true, said Mrs.
/ Valery, inditferenuy. You know |
have great many old friends in St
/ Petersburg Well, one of these writes
me that certain Russian gentleman
viii arrive in London this afternoon,
and will be utterly lost unless | take
pity on him and 20 TO meet him. de
believes that no one in England can
! speak anything hut English, To GER
/ tain extent he his right. He will find
it difficult to get on with the cabmen
and porters at Charing Cross; they
don't generally speak French. So l
must go, and mt least send MIN to
hotel where he will be understood
''What q queer thing TO ask you to
doi' said Lady Lynx, looking at Mrs.
/ Fqlery with an expression which sad
/ as plainly rs possible, 'Do Ylu think
/ I'm an absolute fool? And are you
really going to meet him in the station,
/ and shake hands with all the men IN
the train on chanceP' she asked.
NO, not quite that, said Mrs. Val
cry with another laugh. He will go
TO the Charing Cross hotel for tonight
| will ask for him there, bring him
home TO dinner if he looks nice; in any
case, give him some little information
about this wilderness OF a London. Mr.
Yalery has found me some addresses
for him; one or two hotels where the
people are French. It's a pity Frank
can't 90 with me. "
1T is, indeed" said Lady Lynx
dryly.
Il really must run awaym said Mrs.
Yalery, again consulting her watch.
I'm very sorry to seem rude. y
"Ohl not at all, " said Lady Lysx.
rising TO 60. Her mind was working
busilv. Why had Sir George said that
I he should be home some time in the
evening probably TO dinner2 He had