St. Landry democrat., 1889-08-17
HIS RIVAL A LORD.
EDWARD N. vALLANDIeHAM.

Henry Judson, aged "A, struggled with
a troublesome cambria tie on cold even
ing in January, and cursed the inconven
fence of the tiny "hall bedroom" which
he dign1ied with the deceptive plural,
slodging." Henry was going to Mrs.
Diana Venator's Saturday night an
entertainment which began at 10 o'clock
and continued into the small hours of Sun,
day morning. When Henry entered the
crowded drawing room half an hour later
he was chidden for being tardy, and was
at once presented to Miss Bates, an unus-
ual looking girl who sat deep in the en-
b,ace of a great easy chair and gazed out
upon the throng with wide blue eyes.
Bates Do That .s ySu are neither poet, nor
( philosopher, soldier nor statesman. Mrs.
Venator has tugged bit of biography to
the name of every other person vino has
been presented to me. You she presented
as plain Mr.. Judson May hope that you
are only gentleman r
.My dear Miss Bates, am none of the
things you fear" laughed Henry.
"How delightful? But perhaps you
come of an old Colonial family and have
historic middle name p
Not even that.
q snThen you are, indeed, blessing. ALI
these people would be very we'll If dear
Mrs. Venator would not act as Snowman
| championed them to an Englishman only
a moment ago. Said he: 'Of course,
YOU know, Miss Bates, that literary people
and others who have attained celebrity are
gladly received in the highest circles OF
England Received Y said. Don't
Won think that mere aristocrats anywhere
4, I :y,I oi o1nitfpH to
the society of Intellectual men and wo-
men r"
eSurely you administered no such re-
hnka +, the noble stranger within our
gates Tonight"
"I,ord Monterrace7 No, indeed. I'm
sure he never said anything so snobbish.
He's as well bred as any American l ever
met"
AT that moment Mrs, Vena:or appeared
With Lord Monterrace, and, after intro
dueing the two men. said TO Henry
GONE sir I'm going to present you TO q
Ynillion dollars and, after moment
talk. his lordship was left with Miss
s.What do you think of Miss Bates and
lord Monterrace p asked Mrs. Venator.
asbe's clever and pretty, and his lord
shin strengthens my theory that lords are
much like other men.
.sYes 7" said Mrs. Venater, doubtfqiiy,
q az if Henry were taking little from Loro
Monterrace's lionine qualities and nlurlne
him as q show beast, 81 mean that nj
shau make Miss Bates Lady Monferra Z;
You know they are both staying at the
Pent and. H. ;l1io,
dollars. was dark, pretty and good tenn
nered, though Henry induced her TO nm
that dazzling compilations IKE thss o.
M;ss Bates was likely TO fade early
S;x weeks later Henry found himself
aqain at Mrs. Venator's. Meanwhile ~
had improved his acquaintance with MIS-
Rates and was on avery friendly ioosns
with the youns woman herself ana ne.
pncle. the naturalist, under whose "ihs
cha was seeing New York.
lyon never looked lovelier, he Wnlsp
arad to Miss Bates, as they stood IN In
ssNo p She said. $50 Lord Monterr "a,
and other celebrities have told me. IN
IONS have roarsd at me to night as genti.
- smoking doves. Can you guess " nat Il
the change that has won all these colhpii'
They were now in corner alone, she u
law chair. he on small sofa at her sac
IA locked boldly into her face untli sn
felt half annoyed.