Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1889-11-10
.,rance 70 sav LADY BETTY forgot 10 tell

There we're illustrlous percentages present,
but they naled beside her. The Duke, WITH
whom she was great fayorite, laughed NJ
her sallies until he could laugh no more
and even her husband. her very husband
forgot for time tho country and the crisis,
and listened. half proud and half afraid;
But she was not aware of this; she could
not sec his face where she was sitting. 40
all seeming she mover looked that way. one
was quite model society wife.
Mr. Stafford himself was an early riser.
IL was his habit 90 be up by TO make ms
own coffee over spirit-lamp, ana tnen
not ONLY TO get through much woTk IN MS
dressing-roOm. but 10 take hrs daiiy rue
also before breakfast. On tho morning
after the Dukes party, however, he lay
later than usual, and 0s there was more
business to be done--Owing TO the cfisis,-
the cantor in the park had to be omitted
lie was still among his papers, though mo
fncntarily awaiting the brcah laat-gohg,
when hanson cab, driven az iuli speed,
STONED al the door. lie glanced up
YEARLY "a he heard the doors OF tne CAP
flung open with n crash. Ibere had oeeh
time when She stir and hustle Oh such ar
rivals had been sweet TO HIM aOt 50 s"eet
os 10 some. for no had never been deeply
in love with the parade OF oibce-Dut
swoeter than to-day. when they We're no
more 20 him than the creaking 81 me mn
10 the camel that turns it blindfolded and
Naturally he was thinking of Lord PHI
primstonc this morning, ana guessed pe.
fore he opened the note which tho servant
lrouoht In 10 him who was its writer. but
is contents had. nevertheless, an electrical
e,fect upon him. HIS brow REDEEMED.
with quito unusual display Of emotion lie
eorapg 10 his feet. crushing the fragment
If manor i'm his fingers.
"Who brought this ?" he asked sharply
"Who brought it?" he repeated before the
eervant could explain.
The man had never seen him so moved
:" Nlr. Scratchley, sir" he answered. -.
"Hal Then show him into the library.
was the Quick reply. And while the servant
went 10 DO his bidding the Minister hastiiy
changed his dressing-g0wn for a coat ana
ran down n private staircase, reaching the
room he had mentioned by one door as
Mr.. Scratchloy. Lord Pilgrimstone's secre-
tarv. entered II through another.
by that time he had regained ms conpo-
sure aud looked much a. usual Stul, wheh
he held up the cIumpled note there was
lrusqueDess ia the gesture winch would
have surprised his ordinary acquaintance,
and did remind Nj Scratchlcy OF certain
warm nights" in the House. You know
tho contents Of this, Ilr. Scratchley " no
said, without prelude, aud IN a tone when
matched his gesture.
The visitor bowed. BE was grave, ma,
dlc-aged man. who seemed oppressed ana
burdcncd by the load of cares and respon-
sibilities which his smiling chez carried
so inuntilv. People said that nc was the
proper complement OF Lord Pilgrlmstone,
as the more volatile Alley wasof his leader.
And YOU are aware" continued MI;
Stafford. still more harshly, that Lord
Pilgrimstone gives yesterdays agreement
70 the winds?"
II hive never seen his Lordship so deep
" moved" replied the discreet one.
lie says: Our former negotiation was
closure can only be referred to treachery or
gross carelossness' Whet does tins mean
! know Of no disclosure, Mr.. Scratchley. |
must have an explanation, and you, pre-
/ sumc. are here to give me one"
For moment the other seemed taken
aback. go,
You have not seen the Times?" he muir
INJURED. ...u
! lie snatchcd it rs ne spoke from table
at his elbow and unfOlded IT. Inc secre-
/ tary approached and pointed to the head
/ of a column-the most conspicuous, the
/ column most readily TO be found IN the
paper. "Ihey are crying It Mt every street
/ corner passed" he added apologetlcally.
/ There ia nothing 20 be heard IN ~.
! James street and Pail Mall but DETAILED
/ Programme OF the Coalition The other
dailios are striking Of second editions to
| contain it,"
! Mr. StaffOrd's eyes were riveted to the
paper. and there was a long pause-a pause
! on his part of dismay and CONSERVATION
! lie could scarcclv--to repeat common
/ phrase believe his eyes " IL seems" he
| muttered nj length" it seems fairly accu-
rate-a t0lerably precise account, indeed.
1t is q verbatim copy sand the seere'
! tary drylv. THE question IS VINO iur-
! nished it, Lord pIlgriInstOne, am author.
! lied to say, has not permitted lus note o.
| the agreement TO pass Out OF MS POSSESSION
! even up TO the present moment
"And SO he concludes the Minister
| said thoughtfully-"i is a fair inference
enough perhaps-that the Times must have
/ procured its information from my note
mol" the Secretary objected sharply
! and fOrcihlv. at ~ not matter or III
ference, MIR. Stafford. l ain directed e
say that | have inquired, early, as 1t is
ut the Times Office, and learned that t1'
copy printed came directly from the hands
! of your messenger"
"Of INV messenger! cried MIR. Stafford,
| thunderstruck. You are sure OF That
- am sure that the sub-editor says So
| And AGAIN there was a silence. ms
must be looked into said Mir. Stafford al
! Iougtb. controlling himself 10y an effort
/ "For the present / agree with Lord Pll
grimstone that it alters the position-%nt
perhaps finally .,, .,;..t.
ewes Of n laree section OF his supporters
| seriously damaged" said Mr. Scratchley
| shaking his head and frowning.
Possibly. From every point or VieV
| tbe thing IL TO be deplored. But will cal
ON Lord Pilgrlmstone," continued the Mn
ister. after lunch. VIII You tell Inn
so Z" ,
A curious embarrassment showed ltsei
in the secretary's manner. lie twisted III
! hat in his hands and looked suddenly slch
and sad-as if he were about to join in n,
croan at a prayer-meetng. Lord ~
grimstone," he said IN voice he vainl'
! strOye 10 render commonplace, Is go,h!
to the Sandown Spring meeting to-day.
The tone was really so lugubTious-tQ sa'
NOTHING of a shake of the head with whici
! he could not help accompanying the state
mcnt-that q faint smile played on Mr.
! StaGord's ltp. "Then l must take the mex
possible opportunity. VIII see nm 10
| morrow,
| bowed himself out, after another word 0
two, looking more gloomy ana careWorl
than usual. The interview had not beel
altogether TO his mind. He wished nov
that he had spoken more roundly to MI
Stafford: perhaps even asked tora catego
rical denial of the charge. But the Minis
ter's manner had overawed him. He ha'
| found II impossible 10 put the question
And then the pitiful degrading confession
he had had to make for Lord Pilgrim
stone! That had put the coping-stone L
"Oh!" sighed Mr.. Scratchley as h
stepped into his cab. ION, that men 81
Great should st0op to things so little
IL did not occur 10 him that there n
! condition of things even more sad-"hel
little men NEEDLE with great things.
| MEANWHILE MIR. STAFFORD, left alone
stood al the window deep IN unpieasan
I thoughts. from which the entrance OF tn
butler. sent 10 summon him TO breakfast
first aroused him. Stay a moment MAJ
cusl" he said, turning with q sigh as IN
man was leaving the room after dong ID
GRAND. Il want to ask YOU question
Did Won make up the messengers bag las
| EVENING"
YES, sir"
Did You notice letter addressed t
the Times Officer
Tho servant had prepared himself to cogl
tate. but he found it unnecessary. Aes
air be replied smarily. Two"
"Two?" repeated Mr.. Stafford. dismal
in his tone, though this was Just what II
-