Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1886-07-08
LADY BIS BUTLER.

LONDON Lie
Miss NJ. is a pretty heiress, whose
name for obvious reasons we must
suppress; Mr.. r. is a young diplo-
matist who fancies he has every chance
of becoming an Ambassador before
the last ofhis short-cropped locks has
deserted him. Mr.. r. has heard of Miss
M. as being the owner of wonderful
ly beautiful diamond necklace, and al
so as possessing more personal at
fractions than are supposed to belong
to any but interesting paupers. Miss
NJ, on the other hand, has been in
formed that Mr.. r. was a very decent
sort OF fellow, with the smallest
amount possible OF Foreign Office
swagger. They met for the first time
Under Lady BIS roof, and surveyed
each other with mutual interest from
opposite sides of an elaborately-deco-
rated dinner table. The necklace came
up to Mr.. RS expectations, but their
owner surpassed them. Not only was
she pretty, but also vivacious and
evidently amusing a painted,
dressed-up doll like the women beside
HIM, got up for admiration, and inca
pablo OF conversation. Not being &C.
customed to admire without some
sort of return, he left the doll
to the tender mercies of her left
hand neighbor, and devoted his atten-
ton to Miss M, They had grown quite
friendly over five O'Clock tea, and now
exchanged Geographic signs across the
table about any small episodes that
arose during dinner. Mr.. r. thought
he was getting on, and became so en-
crossed that he neglected his favorite
entree, and had scarcely time TO do
Justice to the saddle OF mutton. But
when the regulation ice-cream had
made its round he noticed a sudden
change in the girl opposite to him.
She turned as white as her own hand
kerchief, and leaned back in her chair,
silent and distracted with wide-o open
eyes and parted lips. For the rest OF
the time she scarcely talked at all,
and seemed incapable of railying; but
she shook her head when he made a
sign that he was ready to assist her
out of the room, and kept her seat till
the ladies rose and filed slowly through
the door. He would have given much
to follow them at once, because his
curiosity was wildly reused, He
was sure there was some mystery be.
hind the scenes, for she looked as il
she had received a siiock-seen q ghost,
or discovered an unwIshed for friend.
As soon as he could get away he look
ed around the drawing-room. and see
ing Miss NJ. sitting apart from the 9TH
ers ladies and turning over the leaves
of a photograph book in evident pre-
occupation, he made his way to her,
and standing before her, so as to shield
her,from observation. asked in a low
voice if he could do anything for her.
She looked up in surprise. Thanks,
l don't want anything"
"But you are annoyed or i'll, one or
the other. / shall never forget your
look at dinner"
"Did any onenoticeit eagerly.
"Not q soul, except myself. OF
course, don't wish to force your con-
fidence, but if can be OF any service
to you"
"No one can do me any good" hur-
riedly. only | wish to heaven l had
never GOMEZ"
He looked at her with genuine COM
passion, for he saw that she was shiver-
ing from head to foot.
"Shall | fetch Lady B."
'Not for the world. / would tell
you, only you would think me so fool
ish," looking round to be sure that no
one could overhear.
AZ promise you I won't" earnestly,
as he took a chair and sat down
just in front of her, so that she should
not have toraise her voice. pray tell
me-"
at was only DREAM" with the
ghost of q smile. Last night
thought / was being murdered for the
sake of this necklace" playing nerv-
ously with the diamonds round her
white throat, land | woke up strug.
cling with mana man with long
chin and reddish hair. felt | should
know him anywhere, and saw HIM
to-day at dinner" with shudder,
'handing the liquors"
"Why that was Bird, the butler
You couldn't be afraid of him."
81 am" looking at him with terror
in her pretty eyes. al am sure he will
try and murder me tonight. / can't
60 to bed. / should never close my
eyes" and she shivered again.
"Gou can go to bed and sleep in per-
feet confidence ! tell you what I'll
do for you," and Mr.. r. smiled, feeling
that he was making noble effort.
"0ur rooms lie on the same corridor
l have heaps of letters to write-worse
iuck-so that | must sit up. I'll keep
my door aiar, which won't benoticed
as there is light in the passage, and
my ears are so sharp that would
defy any to pass it without my know
ing it. Win that content your"
"You are very kind; but he might
wait till your letters are finished"
THAT will make no difference.
promise to sit up till my hot waters
brought. VIII that satisfy you?
"0h, but that's too much"
Not at all. Hyou tell me in the
morning that you've had a good
night" with pleasant smile, ~ shall
feel amply rewarded; besides can dc
with less sleep than most people, and
I'm sure to take it out before lunch
| con-"
Miss NJ. expostulated, but he would
not listen, being quite excited
at. the idea of rendering q ser
vice TO such pretty girl; and wher
L ha rriIa II fr,,. 4 -
he whispered, 81 haven't forgotten,
she gave him SO charming look o
gratitude that his heart fiuttered lik,
a schoolboy's.
Two o'clock A. NJ, with a decayin.
FIRE and without the solace of a pipe
| He had written two or three letter,
| Just TO save his conscience, but the eff
fort had been so great that h,
| wouldn't have begun another to say,
his life. In order to reassuse MISS NJ.
| who might be on the lookout, he lef
the smookingroom on pretext of 1
headache, and established himself il
his room about midnight. Smokin!
and sleeping were both out OF the ques
ton, and two longer hours he haC
never spent in his whole existence HI
heard doors opening and shuttin
downstairs, suppressed laugh a
the last good story told amidst to
baceo smoke, the tread of severa
pairs of feet in different directions
and then silence.
Miss NJ. being no longer there witt
her white tace and her small figure al
OF a tremb,e to work up his feelings
he began to feel his position eminentl,
ridiculous. His excitement had coole'
down, his compassion had waned lik
the moon; but infinitely bored and in
tensely sleepy, he was bound by hi
promise to a glrl. And all on accoun