Little Falls transcript., 1886-07-09
LADY BIS BUTLER.

matist who fancies he has every chance
OF becoming an Ambassador before
the last OF his short-cropped locks has
deserted him. Mr.. R. has heard of Miss
NJ. as being the owner of a. 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 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-not a painted,
dressed-up doll like the women beside
him, got up for admiration, and inca
pable of conversation. Not being ac.
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-
tion to Miss NJ They had grown quite
friendly over five o'clock tea, and now
exchanged telegraphic 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 it's 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 abstracted with wide-open
eyes and parted lips. For the rest Of
the time she scarcely talked at all,
and seemed incapable of rallying; but
she shook her head when he made g.
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 vividly reused. He
was sure there was some mystery be-
hind the scenes, for she looked as ii
she had received asilock-seen aghost,
or discovered an unwlshed for friend.
AS soon as he could get away he look
ed around the drawing room, and see-
ing Miss M. sitting apart from the 9TH
er 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,
don't want anything"
"But you are annoyed or i'll, one or
the other. I shall never forget your
look at dinner"
"Did any onenotice it," eagerly.
"Not soul, except myself. OF
course, | don't wish to force your con-
fidence, but if can be OF any service
to you-"
mo one can do me any good" hur-
riedly. "Only I wish to heaven l had
never comei"
He looked at her with genuine COM
passion, for he saw that she was shiver-
ing from head to foot.
''Shall I fetch Lady B."
"Not for the world. I would tell
you, only you would think me so fool
ish," looking round to besure that no
one could overhear
Il promise you / won't t." earnestly,
as he took chair and sat down
just in front of her, so that she should
not have to raise her voice. "Pray tell
me-"
ut was only q Dream" with the
ghost of smile. "Last night
thought I was being murdered for the
sake OF this necklace" playing nerv-
ously with the diamonds round her
white throat, "and woke up strug-
Cling with a mana man with a long
chin and reddish hair. I felt 1 should
know him anywhere, and l saw him
to-day at dinner with a. shudder,
''handing the liquors"
"Why that was Bird, the butler.
You couldn't be afraid of him." 4
II am" looking at him with terror
in her pretty eyes. II am sure he will
try and murder me tonight. can't
go to bed, [ should never close nv
eyes" and she shivered again.
"You can go to bed and sleep in per-
feet confidence. I tell you what I'll
do for you" and Mr.. R. smiled, feeling
that he was making noble effort
"Our rooms lie on the same corridor.
! have heaps OF letters to write-worse
luck-so that Imust sit up. I'll keen
my door ajar, which won't be noticed.
as there is light in the passage, and
my ears are SO sharp that I would
DEFY any to pass it without my know
ing it.. Will 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 water 5
brought. VIII that satisfy you?
"Oh, but that's too much.'''.
mot at all. If you tell me in the
morning that you've had a good
+ nigh" !" with q pleasant smile, 81 shall
feel amply rewarded; besides / can do
with less sleep than most people, and
I'm sure to take it out before lunch,
con. = q. ~ S, vi
Miss n. expostulated, but be would
not listen, being quite excited
at the idea of rendering 4 aer.
wee to such . pretty girl; and when
the guests separated for the night, and