Mexico weekly ledger., 1890-11-13

fellows-of course, this is o confidential
conversation, and what We say between
ourselves will go no farther-would
either of you have permitted Thorold
to marry Lady BelvoirT'
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 a
union.
You see," said Lord Guise, turning
to Thorold, that you would have been
in safe hands. For my own part, I
have known Sybil Belvoir pretty nearly
all her life
so have l." interrupted Thorold.
Exactly: you have known her with
out knowing her. Everybody in Lon
don-even u friend Schneider, who, /
believe, has never exchanged a word
with her-seems to have been better &C.
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 wv people, upon marrying Bel
voir-who is dead now. 50 Wen say no
more about him, except that he drank
himself to death. As you are aware, it
wasn't exactly a happy marriage. Since
she became a widow she has firred-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.
II don't think we need go into all
that" he said.
Every well; we won't. / merely wish
ed to point out to You that a woman who
has made herself SC unp]easantly notori-
Gus can still manage to deceive even a
clever fellow like you"
Moreton said very gravely that Lady
Belvoir was a downright bad lot, "about
| as bad as they make Them" and for a
moment it looked as if Mr.. Schneider
was about to express verbal concurrence.
But Mr.. Schneider, upon reflection, o
tented himself with wagging his head.
Lady Belvoir. bad though she might be,
was after all a leader of society, and one
should not speak evil of magnates; that
is, until one has lost all hope of being
invited to their houses.
1T isn't every man." Lord Guise re-
sumed 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-fnancial advantages you
occupy a perilous position and ought to
be very careful. As for Moreton, he is
exposed tc myers of a somewhat differ
ent Ind, but not the less real on that
account. myself am not, perhaps. very
likely to fall a victim at this -ir!e of day;
still, one should never be 700 arrogant.
Let us, therefore, while We are still in
full possession of our sellse". agree to
form square, as it were, ar 10 stand
shoulder to shoulder and l-.s TO back
against the common foe"
Little Mr.. Schneider looked much fat
tered. He was pleased that his social
advantages should be recognized, and
still more pleased that he should be in
vited to take any sort of engagement
upon him in suchgood company. He at
once signified his willingness to do as he
was requested, and Eustace Moreton fol-
lowed suit, with the remark that he was
always graceful to anybody who would
take care o. him. Only Thorold, whose
attention had wandered a little during
the last few minutes, demurred.
"What is this desperate practical joke
that you want to play upon us, Guise?'
he asked.
SIT isn't a practical joke at all; it's
practical earnest, and I have already ex-
planned my object" answered Lord
Guise. SIN case of necessity we are to
have the power of insuring each other a
breathing space of six months, that's all.
Now I'll administer the form of oath
or, if you prefer it, you shall beat liberty
to affirm. Perhaps it will be sufficient
for us to bind ourselves by our honor as
gentlemen"
The smoking room was now all but
deserted, the members of the club who
had been dining there having gone away,
while those who were spending the even
ing at theatres or parties had not yet
come in. In n of the far corners a
fat man, with his hat tilted over his eyes,
was slumbering stertorously; a little
nearer another was nodding over the
evening paper.
81 think" said Lord Guise, "that we
may proceed to business without fear of
being betrayed"
Accordingly the four men drew their
chairs close together and each in turn
solemnly repeated the following formula:
81 promise upon my honor as a gen.
tleman that if from this day forth I
should at any time form the intention of
asking a lady to become my wife I will
at once call a meeting of this society to
consider my intention, and make such
inquiries as may be thought necessary.
l also promise upon my honor as a gen.
tleman that in the event Of a majority
Of the society deciding against the lady
in question I will abstain for the space
of six clear calendar months from the
date of such decision from holding any
communication with her, whether YER
bal or written, direct or indirect"
"That about finishes me-" observed
Eustace Moreton; 81 may now look for
ward to a lonely old age. Hitherto I
have always thought that. if the worst
came to the worst, I might fall back
upon the customary elderly heiress; but
now that bright vision must be dis
missed. No heiress, however elderly,
could be expected to stand total deser-
ton for six months at a stretch"
"My dear fellow" said Lord Guise,
"why should you take it for granted
that the society would decide against
the elderly heiIess? For my part, if 1
believed her to be a sensible, well con-
Quoted person, I should give my vote in
her favor. Our object is to promote
one another's happiness, and nobody who
knows you can doubt that you would be
happier with an elderly woman than
with a young one. Sensible elderly
women make allowances-which you are
pretty sure to require"
Thorold rose to wish his host good
night. In doing so he thought it neces-
sary to mention that it was from a pure
ly unselfsh motive that he had joined
the newly constituted society. He him
self, he declared, was a non-marrying
man, and proposed to remain 80. If,
however, he could be instrumental by