The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1890-12-28

me in beautifully dressed and asked
see some hats. saw who she was,
lough I've never met her, l don't want
meet her." savagel,-; lone sees quite
lough of her in all t. \ hop windows"
lone does" 1 remar Aed, soto voce.
''She wanted a hat the color of this
me; so l brought it out and showed it to
ler and told her the price, and explained
Why it was so expensive. oh, don't
mind giving that for tn hat she said,
it is well worth it. 1 am quite in love
with it, Nine. Destrier, but 1 daren't
buy it without letting my husband see
it. He is so very particular about what
| wear. Could have it sent round to-
night for him to look at? l would let
you know some time tomorrow whether
would take it or not OF course / said
should be glad to send it, and she gave
me the address, and the hat went round
there that evening. Last night she sent
it back and said she was very sorry, but
Lord Loddington didn't think it suited
her. thought it looked alittle tumbled,
but one has to run those risks when one
sends goods on approval. She had de-
termined to have that hat just to wear
for the one day, and she was too mean to
get it honestly"
"Of course you'll have it out with her
you'll expose herr" l said.
was as angry and disguised as Nina,
who stood opposite me, with her pretty
eyes and cheeks flaming with honest in.
dignation.
my dear boy, would if dared, but
can't afford to. It.would drive half
my customers away from me, and must
think of Hugo and Giles. They don't
cost much while they are such TIMES,
but want to give them every advan-
tage, the darlings, and was left so bad
ly off, and the business is Just beginning
to pay so well. darent run the risk of
exposing Lady Loddington's meanness"
AZ had forgotten your children. No,
see it wouldn't do Trust me to give
her mauvais quart d'heure, if get the
| chance"
promise you'll be careful. Think of
the boys"
81 won't injure the dear little chaps,
! you best of mothers"
"Well, in that case, only hope fort
une may favor you"
Fortune did favor me at last, but size
kept me waiting till the autumn, like the
tickle jade she always is. Ny chance
came in this wise: My uncle asked me
up to his place in Scotland for shooting,
and / went. The old gentleman is a
] Of
pretty woman of note is bound to be
asked up to d. sooner or later. | got
there in time to dress hurriedly and ap-
pear in the drawing room just as my
uncle was telling every one whom they
were to take in. | was introduced to
some girl haven't notion who she
was, but gave her my arm and took
her down to dinner, murmuring com
monplaces on the way. The truth is,
was half famished with my journey and
my one idea was dinner. 1t was not till
was well on with the fish stage that l
looked at my left hand neighbor. 1t was
Lady Loddington herself.
II haven't seen you since we met at
Ascot" she remarked pleasantly.
She certainly is a most lovely woman,
by the way. l stared blankly, and she
went on, with an air of well acted re-
proach:
Il believe you have forgotten we ever
met there"
Here was my chance; / seized it.
Forgotten! Why, | remember every
word you said, the color of your gown,
and even the very hat you wore-the
loveliest and most becoming hat ever
saw in my life"
The compliment told.
Il don't believe you do" she pouted.
"Upon my word do. 1t was sort
of big affair of amethyst velvet and
feathers to match. / remember it with
double force because made cousin of
mine quite angry with the mere descrip-
ton of it. don't know if you have ever
met her? She has gone into millinery,
like everybody else. She calls herself
Nine. Destrier'"
looked Lady Loddington full in the
face, and laid a peculiar emphasis on the
name.
never saw any one so thoroughly
caught III my lie. hueW III d ulOIuenJ
that she knew knew, as Punch would
put it. She turned perfectly scarlet to
the roots of her hair, and then quite
white, and didn't speak for at least
moment. Then she pulled herself to-
gether as only woman can, and adroit-
ly changed the subject.
But she has been monstrously civil to
me ever since, much to the surprise of
my friends. am plain and uninterest-
ing; am not a parsonage; l haven't
farthing-not even expectations-and
they can't make out where the attraction
lies. They had better ask Nine. De-
strier, OF Oxford street, to enhghten
them.-Lopdon World