The record-union., 1891-08-15

she was an original woman OF the
world, who enjoyed her originality and
the world. This seems a satisfactory brief
portrayal of her.
And so, when she told the Delayahs
that she would feel obliged to them if
they would put her and her maid ashore
in Iviza, it was felt that objections would
be futile. The Delayahs protested, of
course, that they did not like to leave her
iadyship in remote Spanish island, and
alone. They insisted upon anchoring off
Iviza to give her chance of rejoining the
Yacht But all this had no effect on the
Countess, and she told Mr.. Delayah so
fatty that she had had enough of his
yacht and its luXuries, and that she would
not go on board it again, that the gentle
man was almost huffed. And so, when
the boat returned to it, the master dallied
of IviZa no longer, but put the vessels
head towards Palma of Majorca without
more hesitation. Men don't understand
women like Lady Squirm.
Their first evening at cribbage was de-
cidedly amusing to the Spaniards who
were III the hotel. They had to sit to it
in the dining-room when the gentlemen
had done with their wine, and ten or
twelve bad cigars were being smoked
while they cut the cards and played.
Marie, the maid, thought it all ex-
tremely odious.
She preferred the English to Spaniards.
And it certainly was trying TO have to sit
thus, as it were, on guard over an elderly
lady who was well able to take care of
herself.
AS for the Countess she was in high
spirits. Situations of this kind were a
real cordial to her. She showed remark
able Vivacity, and Mr.. Faulkner quite
fancied he was getting we'll established III
hnl HNrGh CrnC1 n a Y
for him Tor perhaps unfortunately, he
was smart player. But he had the tact
to bring each game to as close fight as
possible.
Towards 10 o'clock, when they had
played about twenty games, the Countess
yawned without covering her mouth and
pushed the crIbbage- board away.
THAT viii do, thank you, Mr.. Eaulk-
ner, for the present. l owe you for seven
games, do [ not? Seven times five are
thirty y-fve-pll give it you in English
money if you don't mind. Marie, pay
Mr.. Faulkner thirty-tiYe shillings. Good
nightH'
something Of the kind" muttered Mr..
Faulkner to himself with frown. But
he squeezed the girls pretty little hand
when she offered him two sOVereigns with
request for change.
''Do you want a receipt" he asked.
"Monsieur!" exclaimed Marie, much
! shocked, and then she followed the
! Countess.
! For three mortal days this life lasted,
save for couple of hours III the morning,
| when the Countess took the air in one OF
! the somewhat rough little carts Of IviZa.
She and Mr.. Faulkner were always at
! cribbage. In the course Of that time the
gentleman won about five pounds. 1t
! was not much, but it sufficed to pay his
| RXDpnSpS at lVIZa for q fOrtuirht
On the fourth morning the Vice-Consul
| hustled into the hotel.
Your ladyship," he said hurriedly.
there is an opportunity you may not
| like to miss. y bark has arrived this
morning from Alicante, and she departs
at sunset precisely for Trapani. in Sicily.
| If your ladyship still Wishes
why, of course L do, Senior MarianaS.
1t is the very thing, Have the goodness
to arrange for a passage at once, if the
accommodation is no worse than this OF
Don Johns. / shall have no difficulty
in getting from Trapani up to Rome just
in time for the Holy Week functions
Marie, is it not Providential?'
Yes, your ladyship," said the girl,
! much pleased. But and she glanced
towards Mr.. Faulkner, who had by this
endeared himself to her.
But what?"
'How your ladyship will miss your
!
For the matter of that, Countess, y
said the gentleman Immediately, If you
do not object to my society, should be
glad of the chance Of reaching Sicily di-
rect r
"Object! OF course not. 1t will suit
me admirably, in fact. | shall have
plenty of time for my revenge. She's
bound TO get becalmed somewhere. They
are divine old slow coaches, these Medi
terraneaners"
"Thank you," said Mr. Faulkner, with
a look at Marie that the girl seemed tC
appreciate. Lis ~
1t was easily arranged The Captain O
the Alfonso, as the bark was called, gave
up his own room to the Countess anC
Marie, and the first officer inconveni.
enced himself for MI Faulkner.
Twenty-four hours after the entrance
of the Alfonso into Iviza Bay, the shil
was a score of miles southeast of thC
island, and cur three friends were OF
deck. under an awning, with the crib
bage board.
You must not suppose that all this time
Mr.. Faulkner was enjoying himself be
yond measure. He was not. Really, ht
was well-nigh bored to death; but he en-
dured the tedium for the sake of a certain
little plan that he had concocted will
himself And it was also for the sake o
this plan that he pretended to feel ar
affection for the girl Marie, who could no
or would not disguise from him that shC
thought him delightful gentleman.
well, declare" exclaimed her lady
ship. 1.-TWO for his mob again, which
| gives you the game just when seemed
safe to play up. Mr.. Faulkner, you mus
have been born under lucky star.
hope your novels sell well. You write
under nom de guerTe, ofcourse. would
not for anything print book of mine un
der my own name"
This was the way in which the Counties:
was wont to rattle on. She seemed not tc
need a companion with the gift of speech
II he had ears to hear, and hands, and {
mind wherewith to play to her, that wa.
sufficient.
They had good winds for their little
voyage. This brought them within sight
Of Sicily in about week from Iviza. The
Countess was delighted. She had haC
enough of Mr.. Faulkner. He had be
she conhded to her maid which mean
that she would cut herself adrift from
him the moment they set foot on civil
lied land.
But Marie deigned that it should bt
otherwise. She was in love with Mr.
Faulkner as much as she could be witt
anyone. And in their various moment:
of mutual conversation she had told Mr.
Faulkner all about her ladyship's bag
gage-which trunk held the jewel-case
upon what banks the letters of credit were
drawn, and so forth.
My little angelr' Faulkner was won
to term her when they were quite alone
But though she was his little angel, sh,
never paid him q single shilling more
than his due from the cribbage-board)
even by accident. She was q loyal littl,
girl, though her heart was feminine anC
frivolous.
Purple mountains and the deep blue
sea-of such is the fair haven of Trapan