Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1888-09-23
aHbselias Register
THE MYSTERY
-oFA-
HANSON CAB.
BY FERGUS O. HUME.
THE MYSTERY
BY FERGUS @. HUME.
looNTINUED.1
CHAPTER XIII.

ACROSS THE wALNUTs AND THE WINE.
Mark Frettlby had an excellent cook,
and his wines were irreproaehable, so that
Brian, in spite Of his worries, was glad
that he had accepted the invitation. The
bright CLEAN of the silver, the glitter of
glass aud the perfume of flowers, oil col
lected under the crimson glow Of pink
globed lamp which hung from the ceiling,
could not bat give him q pleasuraole sen
sation.
90 one side of the dining room there
were French windows opening onto the
yaranda, and beyond appeared the vivid
green of the trees, and the dazzling colors
of the flowers, somewhat tempered by the
soft, bAzy glow of the twilight. Brian
had made himself IS respectable as poesi-
ble, under the odd circumstances of dining
in his riding dress, and sat next to Msdge,
contsntedly slipping his wine and listening
70 the pleasant chatter which was going
ON around him. Felix Rolleston was in
great shirts. the more 50 as Mrs. ROLES
ton WAS at the fnrthsr end OF the table,
hidden from his view bv an epergne OF
fruit and flowers. Jolia Featherweight sat
near Mr.. FreStloy, and ehattsd to him so
parsisteatIy that he wished she would be-
become posed Of dumb devil. DR.. Chin
stou aud Patterson were seated on the
other side of the table, and the old eolonist,
whose name was Valpy, had the post OF
honor on Mr.. Frettlby's right hand. The
conversation had turned onto the subject,
ever green and fascinating, OF politics, and
ME-. Rollsston thought it good opportu-
nity "a air his views as 70 the government
of the colony, aud to show his wife that
he meant TO obey her wish and become q
power in the political world.
"By Joye. You know" he said, with q
wave Of his hand, 81 though he were ad-
dressing the house; the country is going
to the dogs, and sll that sort Of thing.
What We want is 3 man like Bsscons-
field"
"Ah! but yOu can't pick up man like
that every day" said Frettloy, who was
listening with an amused smile to ROLES
toms disquisiticns-
'sRsther a good thing, too" observed
DR.. Chinston, dryly. Genius would be-
come too common"
iFWell, when am elected" said Felix,
who had his own views, which modesty
forbade him to publish, on the subject Of
the coming colonial Disraeli, 81 will prob
ably form party"
ITO advocate what ?" asked Patterson,
euriously.
''Oa, well, you see" hesitated Felix,
'T haven't drawn up programme yet, so
can't say At present.
"Yes, Won can hardly give n perform
anes without q programme" said the doc
tor, taking q sip Of wine, and then every
body laughed.
'tBnt Won have never gone in for poll
tics. Mr.. FrettlbyP" said ROlleston.
'sWhoP-I-nO," said the host rousing
hiuself ont of the brown study into which
he had fallen. 'Im afraid I'm not sufh.
GENTLY patriotic, and my business did not
permit me"
"Aud now?"
Nov" echoed Mr.. Frettlby, glsucing
at his daughter, "I'm going to travel"
''The iolliest thing out, F" said Patterson,
eagerly. Zone never gets tired OF seeing
the queer things there are in the world. !"
'I've seen queer enough things in Mel
bourne in the early days" said the old
eolonist. with wicked twinkle in his
eyes.
"Ohp cried Julia, putting her hands up
to her ears, don't tell me them, for I'm
sure they're naughty"
Eve weren't saints then, said old Val
DIV, with a senils chuckle.
"Ah, then, we haven't changed much in
that respects retorted Frsttlby, dryly.
''You talk Of your theatres now" went
on YaIpy, with the gArrulousness of old
age; why, YOU haven't got dancer Ike
ROsauna."
Brian started on hearing this name
agsiu, and he felt Maige's cold hand
touch his.
"Aud who was Rosanua?" asked Felix,
euriously, looking up.
"a dancer and burlesque actress, re-.
piled Valpy, vivaeiOusly nodding bis old
head. ''Sueh beauty; We were all mad
about her-such hair and eyes. You re-
member her, Frettlby?"
eyes" answered the host, in curiously
dry voice
Az the conversation seemed to be getting
too much Of the sfteT-dinner style, Msdge
arose and all the other ladies followed her
example. The svsr-polite Felix held the
door open for them, and received q bright
smile from his wife for what she consider
ed hi5 brilliant talk at the dinner table.
Brian sat still and wondered why Frettlby
changed color on hearing the name-he
9upDOSe0 bnhb tuo uuihto1oho haN WV.
mixed mp with the actress and did not care
about being reminded of his early lndis-
cretiOns-and. after all, who doss2
''She was light Is fairy" said Falpy,
with wicked ehuckle.
''Whst became of her ?" asked Brian,
abruptly.
Mark Frettlby looked up suddenly as
Fitzgerald asked this question.
''She went to England in 1858, " said the
aged one. ~ am not quite sure II IL was
July or August, but it was in 1858"
'fYou will excuse Tue, Vslpy, but hard
ly think that these "reminiscences OF
ballet dancer are amusing" said Frettloy,
CURLY, pouring himself ont glass OF wine.
''Lst rs drop the subject"
When q man expresses q wish at his own
table it is hardly the proper thing for any
one 10 20 contrary to u, but Brian felt
strongly inclined to pursue the converse
ton. Politeness, however, forbade him
to make any further remark, and he con-
soled himself with the reflection that, az
ter dinner, ne would SAX old Valpy about
the ballet dancer whose name caused
Mark Frettlby to exhibit such strong emo
ton. But, to his annoyance, when the
gentleman went into the drawing room,
Frettlby took the old cOlonist of to his
study, where he sat with him the whole
evening talking over old times.
CHAPTER XXIV.
BRIAN RECEIVES A LETTER
Notwithstanding the hospitable invita-