Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1890-11-02

would be sufficient. why shouiuh W
fonr make a start here and now? we
seem TO be pretty well agreed, and We're
none of us in love at present, are we?
"Not more than usual" answered
Moreton. speaking for himself.
s.Not the least bit in the world, an
swered Mr.. Schneider complacently.
Thorold, after brief pause, said; Il
believe may swell the chorus. Every
BODY knows that | was engaged TO my
cousin. Lady Bevoir, short time ago,
and that | am not engaged TO her now:
As the affair was broken off by mutual
consent. it may be assumed that there
is no longer any love lost between us.
I'm glad you mentioned that, Thor
old" observed Lord GuiSe, leaning back
in his chair and blowing a cloud OF
smoke toward the ceiling. 81 didn't
like TO cite your case without your per.
mission, though it'svery mnch in point
Il have no objection to your citing II;
but is it in point?"
"Well-isn't it? A more fortunate eS-
cape never heard of. Heaven forbid
that should call Sybil Belvoir suit
able wife for any man, but OF all men In
the world can't imagine one less suited
10 be her husband than you"
"Oh, very likely" returned Thorold,
with touch of impotence. Il don't
see how that makes mine Il case IN
point. though. We found out our UNI
suitability for ourselves; we weren't in
debted to you or any other friend for
the discovery.
Lord GuiSe smiled very slightly.
"You have escaped" he said; 'but
you have had an uncOmmonly narrow
shave. What l meant was that if you
had belonged TO our protection society
YOU would never have been allowed to
run such risk. Now would either OF
YOU fellows-of course, this is a conf
dental conversation, and what we say
between ourselves will 90 no farther
would either of you have permitted
Thoro.d to marry Lady Belvoir?"
Rather mott exclaimed MOretOn.
Mr.. Schneider was less emphatic and
more prolix; but the upShot of his re-
marks was that if he had been given
any power in the matter he really would
not have been able TO reconcile it with
his conscience TO sanction such Il union.
you see, said Lord GuiSe, turning
to Thorold, "that you would have been
in safe hands. For my own part, have
known Sybil Belvoir pretty nearly all
her life
80 have l." interrupted Thorold.
Exactly: YOU have known her with
out knowing her. Everybody in Lon
don-even our friend Schneider, who, |
believe, has never exchanged a word
with her-SeemS TO have been better ac-
quainted with her than you were. For
that matter. her history speaks for itself.
She was hardly out of the Schoolroom
when she insisted, against the wish of
all her own people, upon marrying Bel
voir-who is dead now, so we'll say no
more about him, except that he drank
himself to death. As you are aware, it
wasn't eXactlya happy marriage. Since
she became a widow she has tlirtcd-tO
put it mildly-with every man, eligible
or ineligible. whom she thought it might
amuSe her to enSnare; she has
Here Thorold interrupted the speaker
for the second time.
Il don't think we need go into all
that" he said.
Very well; We won't. merely
wished to point out lyon that woman
who has made herself so unpleaSantly
notorious can still manage to deceive
even Il clever fellow like YOU
Moreton said very gravely that Lady
Belvoir was downright bad lot ''about
aS bad as they make Them and for
moment it looked as if Mr.. Schneider
was about To express verbal concur
renee. But Mr.. Schneider, upon re-
Election, contented himself with wag-
ging his head. Lady Belvoir, bad
though she might be, was leader of
society, and one should not speak evil
of magnatcS; that is. until one has
lost all hope of being invited TO their
houses.
'It isn't every man, Lord GuiSe re-
Sumcd presently, who can expect to
have ThOrold'S luck. Yesterday it was
his turn; tomorrow, my poor Schneider,
it may be yours. With your great per-
Sonal and-er-financial advantages you
occupy periOuS position and ought to
be very careful. As for MoretOn, he is
exposed to dangers of somewhat
different kind, but not the less real on
that account. | myself am not, perhaps,
very likely TO fall victim at this time
of day; still, one should never be too
arrogant. Let MS, therefore, while we
are still in full possession of our senses.
agree to form a square. as it were. and to
stand shoulder 10 shoulder, and back 10
back, against the common foe"
Little Mr.. Schneider looked much fiat
tered. He was pleased that his social
10. al
still more pleased that he should be in
yited TO take any sort of engagement
upon him in such good company. He at
once Signiiied his willingness to do as he
was requested. and EuStace MOretOn fol-
lowed suit, with the remark that he was
always grateful 10 anybody who would
take care of him. Only Thorold, whose
attention had wandered a little during
the last few minutes demurrcd.
"What is this desperate practical
joke that you want to play upon us,
GuiSe?" he asked.
at isn't practical Joke at all: it's
practical earnest, and have already
explained my object" answered Lord
GuiSe. In case of necessity we are to
have the power of inSuring each other
breathing space of six months, that's
all. Now I'll administer the form of
oath-or, if you prefer it, you shall be
at liberty to affirm. Perhaps it will be
sufficient for Us to bind ourselves by
our honor rs gentlemen
The smoking room was now all but de
serted, the members of the club who
had been dining there having gone
away, while those who were spending
the evening at theatres or parties had
not yet come in. In one of the far cor
nerS a fat man, with his hat tilted over
his eyes, was Slumbering StentoriouSly;
little nearer another was nodding over
the evening paper.
II think" said Lord Gnisc. .sthat we