Evening journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1888-1932, 1891-09-29

DOOA1llIlllI . UEI AhI u INV
Whatever else Dockercll intended to a,
y was evident that he did not mean TO 20
Mrs. Rashley began 70 be alarmed. Sin,
had asked him down. to be sure, withou
specifying the exact day he was to leave
out now The last guest had made the las
pretty speech and the dogcart containing
lingering sportsman and his belonging,
was disappearing down the drive. and vet
by blazing fire IN the coy study, She
knew that at that moment Wiilouubby
Dockrell was unfolding the morning pa
pers and lighting a cigar with that com.
placent smile which irritated her so much
when she was not in the mood for it. And
she was by no means In the mood for it TO.
day IL was not only that fresh set OF
people were 60 arrive tomorrow. most Of
whom would by no means SHIRE her en-
thusiasm for the poet who was now
stretched at his ease Ia her favorite arm
chair, but that the party invited for the
next few days was to include a faithful
and somewhat stolid admirer, Major Cham
pion.
Now, Mrs Rashleigh was not one OF the
order OF women who are unhappy II they
have not II second lover to play of on the
first Under such circumstances. she
opined, both were apt TO be fretful and nm
amusing. Mrs Rashleigh, to be sure. had
been widow for exactly five years, so that
10 may be inferred that she knew some
thing Of the other sex. Young, cheerful
and well off, without being pretty, she was
distinctly attractive, and, having the So
cial instinct her place in Blankshire was
nearly always full. In London she was
inclined to affect the smart intellectual
SET" and she liked to be credited with
ideas and opinions. Ideas and opinions
we're, perhaps, rather scarce in the circles
IN which Mrs RaAhleigh usually moved.
IL was probably this which had made her
seek the society OF Doekrell, for the man.
az any rate, had brains. But there were
questions which she could not help asking
herself in her present unsteady frame y
mind.
Apart from volume Of poems which
had made certain stir, who and what yas
her Nobody seemed quite to know. least
OF all In the rather fashionable sst into
which he had effected an entrance. He
had clean cut face, plausible manners
ana pretty talent for giving the talk a
neat and epigrammatic turn; while II was
certain that be had lived in Paris, in Rome
and IN New York, and that he knew every.
body little and nobody we'll II men, too,
instinctively disliked him, IL was notorious
that for most women he had an irresistible
attraction, so that one was apt to meet
Willoughby Dockrell more frequently in
inner drawing rooms than IN the more
breezy mental atmosphere of the clubs.
But though Mrs. Rashleigh was fond OF
having long discussions with her literary
admirer, II by no means followed that she
intended to continue those discussions for
life, and during the last day or two Dock
rell had assumed an an conuuering air
which was distAsteful TO her IL is always
awkward for hostess TO have TO tell a
guest to 20, aud Mrs. Rashleigh racked her
brains for an expedient as the hall door
closed 70 on the last member Of the party
. and she thoughtfully crossed the hall.
We'll, ! shall have to tell Jack all about
It when he comes tomorrow She said 10
herself at last, with that little sigh OF re-
lief which q woman gives when she has
determined to transfer her troubles TO
shoulders broader than her own.
And meanwhile Willoughby Dockrell,
having finished a second cigar, was medi.
tating on his plan Of campaign For nearly
thirty hours he would have his charming
hostess TO himself for the young sister
who was there TO play propriety hardly
counted, and he would surely be able Co
get her 70 drive or to ride alone with him
that very afternoon. Thirty hours, he told
himself, alone 10 a country house with a
woman who obviously likes you is worth
thirty months Of afternoon calls and din.
ner conversations ia London.
he glanced around the room How de.
lightful il all was-so coy, so old fash.
Toned, with the air Of having been always
just like that. The leather bindings az the
books were worn and mellowed the nit Of
the picture fra2hes was a little dim with
age a Roreney and a Gainsborough-
portraits Of departed Rashleighs-gaze
down on him from either side Of the FIRE.
plaSA A granduncie with dilettante tastes,
who had made the grand tour" had
brought back that Canova from Rome.
Generations 81 gentlefolks had lived and
read and chGtted in that room At his
hge, and with his tastes, IL was all just
what appealed 10 him most--the sense Of
security, Of rest, Of long unchanging years.
Willoughby Dockrell had been Of late a
frequent guest in English country houses,
but no home that he had entered had ap.
pealed TO him quite SO intimately as this.
- AaeA ~ ANA ~ HAfNt WIZ Ahc AlNfAl III IAOck
OF the capitals OF civilization, generally
turns at last to some such haven. AT for
ty-dye the boulevards Of Paris, the clUbs
OF London and the balls OF New York may
begin to pail.
At that uncertain age, when he is neither
old nor yo.Dgt he had begun To think that
man wanted a home, a position and a
wife Now, all these things, he thought,
were well within his reach There were no
children, the place WAS hers for her life.
time, after which il would go 70 a distant
cousin. As to that unpleasant affair in
America-weu, il all happened fifteen
years ago, and New York is a long way
from London, even il London is tolerably
near New York. Only one man in England
knew anything about the story of those
bonds, and that man he was certain not t.
meet in n small country house. Aud then
Mrs. Rashleigh had said nothing in hei
note OF invitation as 10 the length Of his
stay; indeed, it had been word or two
only. Dockrell took the note out Of hi.
pocket and read it with euriously salts
fed smile.
Cant yos come aud see me in the coun
sryf' it ran. and ths fact Of there being ns