Mexico weekly ledger., 1890-12-04

upon the neduS OF IilOSe "uo arc sup
posed to represent the concentrated wis
dom of the nation, and heard harangue
from the leader of the opposition which
one of them thought magnificent.
Mrs. Leslie, whose political opinions
We're of the true blue order, remained
unmoved by it. No amount of eloquence
can make black white, and Demosthenes
that it would be right to concede home
rule to Ireland. 1t must be admitted
that she knew nothing whatsoever of the
arguments for or against that measure,
but in this she only resembled the over
whelming majority of her fellow coun-
trymen, and really if one had to be per-
petually giving reasons for the beliefs
which one holds there would be no time
left to devote to the daily duties of life.
Dorothy, on the other hand, was open
to conviction, and it was Mr.. Thorold's
privilege to convince her. He did not
at once follow the great man. That task
was undertaken by more important per-
sonage; and, truth to tell, the important
parsonage made rather mess Of it.
Other speakers on both sides of the
house said what they had to say, with
out producing much impression one way
or the other upon the critic in the Ia
dies gallery; but very soon after Percy
Thorold rose she became aware that she
was listening to man whose words
We're worthy of attention. His descrip-
ton of himself as an orator had certain
ly been too modest. Brilliant he was
not: but he was fluent, he was refreshing
ly lucid, he could prove his facts, and
such points as he made were indisputa-
BILE. He was frequently interrupted,
and this did not disturb him at all. He
had a way of waiting until the noise
subsidized and then calmly finishing his
sentence, which seemed to have pecul-
iarly exasperating effect upon his oppo-
nents.
His speech, which was not very long
one, seemed to Dorothy almost, if not
altogether, conclusive, and to its cool
logic and unimpassioned exposure Of mis-
statements and fallacies she was inclined
to attribute the substantial majority OBJ
tanned by the government. This may
have been, and probably was, an error
on her part, but it matters little enough
whether she was right or wrong. What
is really important as regards this mar
rative is that from that moment she
conceived sincere respect and ajimira-
ton for one who may be called its hero,
SO far as it has hero.
She had no immediate opportunity of
letting him know how highly she
| thought of his abilities as debater, nor
did she see or hear anything more of
him for another ten days; but one morn
ing when she was riding in the park
with Lady Belvoir, who had good ma
trredly given her mount. she was glad
to recognize Mr.. Thorold among the
| other equestrians, and still more glad
when he turned his horse round and
joined them. Lady Belvoir being, as
| usual, surrounded by admirers, it natur-
ally fell to Percy's lot to escort Miss
Leslie, who had little the appearance
| of having been shouldered aside by the
| throng
Il liked your speech better than Mr..
Gladstone's," she said at once, without
any preface.
He looked very much surprised, but at
tliC SAttIIlttt. o1l-Dut L
afraid that's impossible he answered.
| 1T can't be impossible. because it is
the fact. l admit that he carried me
| away for the time, but he didn't en-
| tighten me in the least. whereas you did.
And prefer being enlightened to being
carried away
''Then you must be very unlike the
generality of your SEX" remarked Percy.
''And indeed he added presently, 81
| think that in many ways you are"
This sounded doubtful sort of COM
| pliment to pay in return for the hand
| some one which he had received, and it
probably occurred to him that his words
were open to misconstruction, for he
| hastened to explain that if Miss Leslie
differed from the generality of women
| that was only because she was appar-
emily free from their defects. "The
truth is that l am something of a
woman hater," he said, laughing.
! This avowal did not astonish Dorothy,
who was aware that he had reasons for
being what nobody whose mind is in a
perfectly healthy state ought to be. As,
however, she could think of no consola-
tory rejofnder she held her peace, and
before either Of them could speak again
her attention was fully taken up by
| other and more pressing matters. The
horse that she was riding was fresh and
| perhaps rather too high couraged for a
lady who was not (as Lady Belvoir was)
| finished horsewomen. Somebody can
tering briskly past caused him to break
into gallop and Dorothy perceived that
| the situation was rapidly becoming criti-
cal
Thorolc saw 1t, too, for he exclaimed:
| your hand
HE is out of my hand already" an
swered the girl, little breathlessly; II
can't hold him.
Of all disagreeable places in which to
be bolted with Rotten Row is the most
disagreeable. You are very likely to
get killed; you are not at all unlikely to
kill somebody else, and in any case you
are quite certain to incur universal CEN
sure for having allowed such thing to
happen to you. Fortunately for Dor
othy Leslie, she was preserved on this
occasion from breaking her own neck or
from scattering death and destruction
around her; and, fortunately for Percy
Thorold, he was the instrument of her
preservation.
There is not much use in catching hold
of the bride of a runaway horse, but a
strong arm may be of service when he
has almost but not quite run away, and
Percy was just in time to avert catas-
trophe. However. he and his companion
had galloped nearly as far as Kensington
gardens before they came to standstill,
and Lady Belvoir, who, as a matter of
fact, was unaware of what had occurred.
was nowhere to be seen. Dorothy was
for riding back and joining her, but to
this Mr.. Thorold would not consent.
lyon must let me take you home" he
said; that horse is really little bit too
much for you. He won't break away
with you in the streets; but l woulln t
ANSWER for him here, and it isn't worth
while to run risks"
but won't Lady Belvoir be anxio1s?''
suggested Dorothy doubtfully.
''Well, no." he replied, with slight
smile; Il don't think so. She isn't a
very anxious sort of person. you know;
she will be sure to think it is all right
So Dorothy allowed him to escort her
to Carlton House terrace, and he COM
plimented her upon the nerve which she