The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1886-04-22
MY LADY'S MONEY
BY wILKIE COLLINS.
AN puoDn IN rmn LVE OF TOUSo omL.
CHAPTER XXI

Hardyman wen. on 10 tho cottage lie
found Isabel In some agitation Aud there
by her side with his tail waggng slowly and
his eve on Hardyman In expectation OF a
possible kick-there was tina lost Tommiel
'Has Lady LydiArd gonel" Isabel asked,
eagerly ,n a.,
find the dog''
As events had ordered II, the dog had found
Isnbel--un ler these circumstances
The appearance of Lady Lydiard's card In
the smoking room had been an alarming
event for Lady Iydlards adopted daughter
She was guIltly conscious OF not having an'
swered her adyships note, inclosed In Miss
Pinl's letter, and Of not having taken her
lndyshlph advice in resisting the advances OF
Hardyman, As he roo TO leave the room
and receive his visitor In the gronnl l., Isabel
entreated him 20 say nothing of her presence
at the farm unless Lady Lydard exhibited a
forgiving turn Of mind by asking 20 see her
Left by herself In tho smoking room she sud
denly heard bark In the pa sage which had
a familiar sound In her ears She opened
the door, aud In rushed TommIe, with one
Of his fhrrlts OF delight Curiosity
had taken him into the house Ho had
heard tho voices Ia the smoking room, had
recognized labels voice, and had waited,
with his customary cunning aud his Gus.
tomnry dstrust Of strangers, untIl Hardy
man was out Of the way, Isabel kissed and
cnresied him, and then drove him out again
TO the lawn, fearing that Lady Lyllard
might return TO look for him, Going back
90 tho smoking room, she stood at tho win
dow watching for Hardymana return.
Whom tae servants came In 10 look for tho
dog, she could only toll them that sho had
last seen him In the grounds not far from
the cottage, Tho useless search being abnn-
ddnod and tho carriage having loft the gate,
who should crawl OF from the back OF a
cupboard In which some empty hampers
were placed hut Tommio himself How no
had contrIyed 10 got back 10 tho smoking
room unless she had omitted 10 completely
close the door on her return II was impos'
slblo 10 say, But there he was determined
this time TO stay with Isabel, and keeping IN
his hiding place until no heard tho move
mont Of the carriage wheels, which informed
him that bis lawful mistress had left the
cottage Isabel had NJ once called 10 Hardy
man, on tho chance that tho carriage might
yet be stopped, II was already out OF sight,
and nobody know which Of two roads II had
takcn, both leading 10 London, In this
emergency Isabel could only look AZ Hardy
man, aud ask what was 10 be done
"I can't spare servant an after the
party,r he answered "Tho dog must be
tied up ~ the stables
Isabel shook hor head. 1ommIe was not
accustomed TO bo tied up, He would mako a
disturbance, and lao would bo boaton by the
grooms "l win take care OF him, sho said
Gle won't leave mo'
"lhoroa something else 10 think Of besides
the dogn Hnrlyman NjOlned lrrltably
"Loo NJ these lottorsl' He pulled thom out
OF his pocket ~ ho spoke 'lloro are no loss
than sovcn mon, all calling themselves my
friends, who accepted my Invitation, and who
writo TO excuse themselves on the very day
Of the party Do you know whyi They're
nll afraid OF my father; forgot 30 tell you
he's cabinet minister ~ well ~ u lord
Cowards and cnla they have heard no Isn't
coming, and they think 10 curry favor with
lhe great man by stopping away Como
Iong, Isabel Lots take tholr names or the
luncheon table Not man Of them shall
ever daIkou my doors agalnl"
''l am 10 blanc for what has happened Y
Isabel answered sadly ~ am cstrangingl
you from your frionda There IA atill time,
Alfred, 20 nltor your mind and lot tmo GO
Ho put his arm round hor with rough
iondnt.a 81 would sacrifice oycry friend II
have Ia the world rather than loso you.
Come alungN
They cit tho cottage 40 tho entrance %
the tent ] lnrlymnn noticed thodog ~ Isabella
hccl, aud ytntod his III temper ~ usual
with male humanity, on the nonreHt un.
ollonling creature thn hr could llnd. lie
on YOU mpnF.Ol biWtolN he shouted, Tho
fa.l Of Iommip relaxed from II, customary
tight curve over the small ut hh hpcl,, nnd
tho logs Of Tommio with his tall helwcen
them took him M full gnllop 90 the friendly
ahrl ~ Of the cupboard In the smoking room,
II was one OF those r. fling circumstances
which women notice seriously Isabel said
nothing, ah' only thought 10 herself ~
wish hc had shown his temper WHOM ! lHt
knew him
They entered the tent Z
'lll read the unmes,' said llnrdymnn,
"nnd you ilnl the cards aud tcnr them up
Stopl IN K op the cards You're Just the
sort Of woman my father likes ilo'll bN rec-
oncilrd 10 mo when hn noct YOU after We
arc married II ono of those men ever asks
him Tor place ti take care, N lea years hence, 10
put an obstacle In hla way Here, take my ponc
and make mark ON the cards 10 rrnlnd mel the
same mhfh sui against horse In my book when !
don't like huHa crusa lnrl0ard IN clrn" Ito pro
duced his pDtkuthpuk ills hands troubled with an
yer aa hp gave the pencil "a Isabel nnd hd The book
on the table llp hnd uat read the name " the fst
false friend aud Isabel had iuai found tho carl,whcn
a servant appeared with messhRc, MIRA Drum
blade has arrived, sr aud wishes 10 500 you on
matter NJ The greatest Importance"
liardymAn lpft the tent not very willingly WALT
here" he abld tn lthbcl 'l'l he back directly"
the was standing near her avn place NJ the table
Moody had lrf one end " The jewellers case Visible
above the napkin, to attract her attention IN
minute mOfu the bracelet aud the nuie were IN hei
handA she dropped on her chalf overwhelmed bj