Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1886-08-11
"Who the dickens Is that SQUARES

/ need not announce him." Squares
spoke in a tone of respectful indigna-
tiOn, ut this outrange of conuenances.
Godfrey kept his presence of mind.
''Oh, of course. l had forgotten.
What time did the gentleman oome?''
(TbiS as an after-thought while ascend
ing the stairs
sat half past 4, SIR"
Half-past Al And it was now half-past
IL.
'sDid any one else call this after
noon?"
''Yes, sir; but afther the gentleman
came Mrs. Fitz Johnson told me to say
not at home to any other visitors"
Godfrey did not wait to hear any
more, but dashed into the drawingroom.
He half expected to find his wife the
victim of an aSssassin's Knife. On the
contrary, she was at the eternal piano
playing dreamy sonata of Ruben
STEMS. On his entering the room she
half arose, but, On seeing who it was,
she resumed her seat, exelaiming s'Dh,
it's only you!'
"Whom did you think it was? That
Guy Fawkes back again? Who, may |
ask, is he. and what was here from half
past till now for, to the exclusion of
everybody else?"
Geoffrey was gradully working HIM
self up into passion. FlOrrie made no
attempt to calm him, but smiled family
and struck a few aggrivating chords on
the piano.
''If you really care to know, that
Guy Fawkes,' as you are pleased to call
him, is Count Sparlatti, an old Dresden
friend Of Joey's, He is an Italian, and
when joey came back from Dresden the
count came with him to learn English.
He was always at Mumblethorpe. All,
me. another plaintiye chord what
happy DAYS those We're. And what fun
we had. The count was my sweetheart
then"
"Why, you were only nine years old"
''That's all" (anotheI still more plain
tive chordl.
Don't be a fool, Florrie." The
passion had died out and the lecturing
mood taken its place. ''You are nine
teen now, and quite old enough to know
that is not proper to have men staying
three hours tete-a-tete with you, and to
tell the servants you are at home to no
one else. Do you understand?'
'No, don't;n the blue eyes opened
their widest. II thought it was the
chic thing to do. Of course at Num-
blethorpe they would be awfully shock
ed, but then they are so old-fashioned.
| They even have family prayers. But
since have been married have gained
experience, ! have seen several scharm-
ing women Lady Angelica for in
stance. Could you wish me to take bet
ter model? Hence II any one notice my
friendship with Count Sparlatti you can
tell them that knew him when quite
boy-such a nice boy may soon be-
come so charming that can make love
in public-smile in the nice boys face,
put my hand on his arm for him to clasp
in his Only this sort of thing requires
practice, SO you must not think IL
strange if ! have few private rehear-
sails when am not at home to the
world at LARGE
"IIow dare you speak like thisfi
''Oh, you don't know how much 1
dare when am put to It," But the
defiant little laugh ended in a sob, and
the dauntlesS novice ran out of the
room.
Geoffrey gnawed his moustace, fumed
about the room, resisted, as unmanly,
an impulse 10 run after his wife, kiss
away her tears, and implore her to be
only charming on the old Mumblethorpe
lines, and finally decided to confide his
troubles that very evening to Lady
Angelica.
From that fair oracle he received but
very cold comfort. "My dear Geoff, it
serves you well right, You thought
because she had given You all her heart
YOU were warranted in neglecting her,
So like man. Mr.. Landsdell was just
the same. Now she is consoling herself.
Quite right. l had no idea she had so
much sense. 1 admire her. Do you
think she would dine with me on the
18th? By-the-bye, if the necessity should
arise, let me recommend you my solicit
ors. They manage Mr.. Lansdell and
my affairs beautifully. My husbands
messages sound almost atfectionate
when they come to me through the
senior partner" Heavens! Had it really
come to this2 Not married year and
solicitors on the tapis alreadyl Lady
Angelica gave stealthy glance under
her eyelashes at her dOwncast COM
panion. She had a heart, though no
one suspected it, "Look here, Geoff.
Be man. Go home and tell your wife
that you mean to turn over a new leaf,
and not take all her devotion for grant
ed. but try and earn it. Close up the
mystery Of our mods and becks and
wreathed SMILES Explain to her that
the tender little episode at the foreign
Office was only gratitude on your part
for having promised to speak to the
Duke about that staff appointment with
which you wanted to surprise her, and
fun ON mine to make her jealous and
see what stuff she was made of. Tell
her | have repented in sackcloth and
ashes and have sent you back to her
with flea in your ear and the staff ap-
pointment in your pocket. Tell her that |
She is better off than l. If her husband |
has neglected her, he still loves her,
while /"
s'God bless you, Angelica"
ssDon't be silly. Now be off. Aha
comte. -Enchdntc de votls uoir. N'drez,
ro,l, pas entendu des noupelleS!"
Geoffrey walked homo under the stars
n happy man, lie had been brute and
a fool. he told himself severely. 1t was
lucky things were no worse. After all,
if winning his wife's heart the second
time was half as pleasant process as
the first, the penance for past neglect |
was a light one. 1t was striking II as
he left himself into the dark hall. The
darkness was unusual, for Squares
always left the gas burning for his mas
ter 10 put out. Ills matchbox was empty,
hut there might be stray light In the
pocket of his Inverness. To the solemn
ticking of the hall clock the search COM
menced. 1t ended prematurely in the
sudden opening of the drawing,room
door and the flooding of the landing at
the top of the stairs with light. Some |
one was still up. Might it not be Flor
rie waiting for him? Goeffrey walked
quickly to the foot of the stairs, but |
stopped with one foot on the lowest step,
as IL turned to stone. 1t was Florrie-
and some one else-engaged in rapid,
breathless conversation.