Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-03-09

lowing morning.
On arriving home Geoffrey was informe,
that Lady Honoria was dressing, and ha
left message saying he must be quick an
do likewise, as gentleman was coming
dinner. Accordingly he went to his ow
room-which was at the other end of tn
fat-and put on his dress clothes. Befor
going to the dining room, however, he sal
good night TO Effie-who was in bed, but no
asleep-and asked her what time she ha
reached home.
"At $40, daddy" Efice said PROMPTLY.
''Twenty minutes past 81 Why, yol
don't mean to say that you were an hou
coming that little wayl Didyou get blocke'
in the tog?"
mo, daddy, but"
"But what, dear?"
"Anne did tell me not to sayP'
"But tell you to say, dear, never mint
AnneF'
Anne stopped and talked to the ticket
man for long, long time"
"Oh, did she?" he said.
AT that moment the parlor maid came tt
say that Lady Honoria and the gentleman
were waiting for dinner. Geoffrey asked
her casually what time Miss Efiie had
reached home.
about half-past five, sir. Anne said the
! cab was blocked in the fog"
Every we'll. Tell her ladyship that
shall be down in minute"
Daddy" said the child, 81 haven't said
my prayers. Mother did not come, and
| Anne said it was all nonsense about pray.
ers. Auntie did always hear me my pray.
ers"
Eyes, dear, and so will I. There, kneel
upon my lap and say them
In the middle of the prayers-which
Effie did not remember as we'll as she might
have done-the parlor maid arrived again.
"Please, sir, her ladyship"-
''Tell her Iadyship am coming, and that
if she is in hurry she can 60 to dinnerl
Go on, love-"
Then he kissed her and put her to bed
again.
Daddy" Efie said, as he was going,
"shall see Auntie Beatrice any more?"
81 hope so, DEAR
want to see her, don't you, daddy? She did
love you very much"
Godfrey could bear it no longer. The
truth is always sharper when it comes from
the mouth of babes and sucklings. With a
hurried goodnight he fled.
In the little drawing room he found Lady
Honoria, very we'll dressed, and also her
friend, whose name was Mr.. Dunstan. Geoff-
rey knew him at once for an exceedingly
wealthy man Of small birth, and less breed
ing, but burning and shining light in the
Garsington set. Mr.. Dunstan was anxious
to raise himself In society, and he thought
that Notwithstanding her poverty, Lady
Honoria might be useful to him in this re-
spect. Hence his presence there tonight.
How do you do, Geoffrey?" said his wife,
advancing to greet him with kiss of peace,
"You look very we'll. But what an immense
time you have been dressing. Poor Mr.. Dun
stan is starving. Let me see. You know
Mr.. Dunstan, think. Dinner, Mary"
Geoffrey apologized for being late, and
shook hands politely with Mr.. Danstan-
Saint Dunstan he was generally called on
account of his rather clerical appearance,
and in sarcastic allusion to his somewhat
shady reputation. Then they went into
dinner.
''Sorry there is no lady for you, Geofrey;
but you must have had plenty of ladies' So
ciety lately. By the way, how is Miss
Miss Granger? Would you believe it, Mr..
Dunstan? that shocking husband OF mine
has been passing the last month in the COM
pany of one of the loveliest girls ever saw,
who knows Latin and law and everything
else under the sun. She began by saving
his life-they were upset together out of a
canoe, you know. Isn't it romantic ?"
''You know, Godfrey" she went on, ''the
Garsingtons have refurnished the large hall
and their drawing-room. 1t cost 81 800,
but the result is lovely. The 6rawing-room
is done in hand-painted white satin, walls
and all, and the hall in old oak"
"Indeedp' he answered, rejecting the
while that Lord Garsington might as we'll
have paid some of his debts before he spent
81 800 on his drawing-room furniture.
Then the Saint and Lady Honoria drifted
into long and animated conversation
about their fellow guests, which Godfrey
scarcely tried to follow. Indeed the dinner
was dull one for him, and he added little
or nothing to the stock of talk.
When his wife left he room, however, he
had to say something. so they spoke of shoot |
ing. The Saint had redeeming feature
he was somewhat of a sportsman, though
poor one, and he described to Geoffrey new
pair OF hammerless guns, which he had |
bought for trifIng sum of 140 guineas,
recommending the pattern to his notice.
YES" answered GeofTrey ''I daresav |
they are very nice; but, you see, they are |
beyond me. A poor man cannot afford so |
much for a pair of guns"
''Oh, if that is all, answered his guest,
81 will sell you these; they are little long !
in the stock for me, and you can pay me |
when you like. Or, hang IL all, have |
plenty of guns. I'll be generous and give
erous, don't know who CAMP
"Thank you very much, Mr.. Dunstan,"
Geoffrey coldly, "but l am not in
the habit of accepting such presents from
my-acquaintances. Will you have glass
Of sherry?-no? Then we will join Lady
Honoria."
what have you said to Mr.. Dunstan to
make him go away SO soon, Geofrey?"
asked his wife.
"Said to him? Oh, I don't know. He
offered to give me pair of guns, and told
lin that cid not accept presents from my
Really, Honoria. I do not
want to interfere with your way of life, but
10 not understand how you. can associate
With such people as this Mr.. Dunstan."
'It is really curious, Honoria," said her
husband, "to see what obligations you are
eady to put yourself under in search of
pleasure. 1t is not dignifed of you to ac-
ept boxes at theaters from this gentleman"
Nonsense. There is no obligation about
t. If he gave US box of course he would
make it point of looking in during the
vening, and then telling his friends that it
vas Lady Honoria Bingham he was speak
ng to-that is the exchange. I want to go
o the theater; he wants to get into good
ociety-tkere you have the thing in nut
he'll. 1t is done every day. The fact of
he matter IS GoeffreH" she went on, look
ng very much as though she were about to
'urst into flood of angry tears, "as I said
ust now-beggars cannot be choosers-I
annot live like the wife of q bankers clerk.
must have some amusement, and some
omfort, before become an old woman. If
ou don't like it why did you entrap me
nto this wretched marriage. before 1 was
Id enough to know better, or why do you
ot make enough money to keep me in
ray suitable to my position?"
"We have argued that question before,
1onoria, said Godfrey, keeping his tenn
er with difficulty, ''and now there Is an
ther thing i wish to say to Won. Do Won |