The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1894-01-03

OF course, I needn't tell you; young men
know everything nowadays-but it is
easy to see that poor Noels weakness is
hereditary; and 1 must say" she added
abruptly, restoring the chalk to its re-
ceptacle under the table with little
jerk, his taste is certainly better than
his fathers. At least this girl is not
creature who dresses in-who appears In
burlesques. But 1 dare say she will
when she gets a chance"
While the duchess of Cidershire
achieved small break, playing with an
absence Of Judgment which in itself be
1rayed her state of mind, her cousin
Sthe kinship existed although he was
considerably her junior and the degree
lremote) permitted himself a little in
ward laughter at the lady's discreetly
andiscreet allusion to her husbands es-
.capades. He has so often wondered how
much the duchess knew of the dukes
youthful vagaries, which even now Rad
hardly ceased to form topics for vagrant
discussion in boudoirs and smoking
rooms. If there was anything in here
adity certainly Lord Noel Ciderton's in
fatuation for Sylvia Faunthorpe, the
charming ingenue of the Imperial thea
ter, was quite adequately accounted for;
but his friends, and especially his par
ents were none the less disposed 10 view
the case with the keenest disapproval.
The fact that Miss Faunthorpe mo one
ever called her Mrs. Hibbard, even be-
fore her divorce) had acquired a certain
celebrity Csome people might have said
notoriety) did not improve matters; the
duchess. in particular. complained that
-, RI ba
brated: it involved somehow a conrta-
diction in terms And. as regards the
paternal precedent. it was true that the
duke had shown himself on more than
one occasion a remarkably easy victim.
but his liberality had never extended so
far as a serious offer of marriage TO an
actress. He would cheerfUlly have
shared his fortune with any ornament Of
the stage who had won his admirati
but he was more scrupulous when it
came to choosing a partner in the bear
ing of his title. 1t was hard on Lord
Noel, Capt Ives reflected, that his more
honorable intentions should aggTavate
the enormity OF his alteration but after
all one could sympathize with his fam
fly. especially if Cand this was the cap
tain's enviable position) one was engaged
70 marry Lady Hilda Lord NoeTs twin
sister. a girl with a long neck and fine
air. who could talk for hours about poll
tics. and phagocytes. and knew thirteen
variations Of the barn dance.
The duke had called his son fool-a
peculiarly qualified fool. expressing him
self with more ardor than elegance; and
Lord Noel. after receiving from his moth
er, in somewhat potter language, an as
surance that her estimate of his con-
duct was practically identical with that
of his other parent, had packed his port
manteau. turned his back on the pleas
ants which We're waiting in the coverts
10 be shot. and retreated to town The
position was therefore desperate. and
Capt. Ives. deity accomplishing a DIFF
fcult cannon, could not wonder that his
opponents nerve was shaken. In spite
OF her curious passion for the pasume
(she had taken IL up originally because
the billiard-rOom was the incest room in
the house, and the game afforded such
opportunities for the display of a pretty
hand and wrist. which had never de-
served the epithet better than now al
though she Was frankly middle-aged)-
IN spite OF her enthusiasm and the fact
that the red hall lay blushing in a
coyly inviting position over the right
hand middle pocket. the duchess paused
abstractedly when it was her turn TO
play.
she said half apOlogeucally, glancing
across the table at Ives. You will 90
up TO town tomorrow and demonstrate
with that wretched boy? There is no
time to be lOst-he talked Of marrying
her at oncel And-and don't you think
you might see the creature ,"
Capt. Ives raised his eyebrows. "Of
course l Will do anything 1 can I Will
see Noel, though I can't say 1 think it
will be of much use. But"
'fRut - echoed duchess ba
paused. Are you afraid of the act
ress ?"
Capt. Ives laughed uneasily. brushing
We'll, what on earth could I say to
her? You don't want me 10 ask her to
let him off?'
Oh said the duchess hopeIessly.
tell her that I'm a perfect hend-that
should lead her a life; that Noel hasn't
any money-he hasn't much. you know.
Tell her that-that she wouldn't be re-
ceived."
Much she would mind THAR COM
mented the captain candidly. L don't
suppose she expects it. And, YOU know
she isn't really such a bad sort: she's
very pretty, and I've never heard much
Il Ike your much! Hasn't she been
divorced"
"Yes-On her own petition"
'Oh. WE'LL cried the duchess 1--WE no
doubt she's an angel-for mountebankl
But as Lady Noel Ciderton, as nv
daughter-in-lawI Ugh, L should like to
shake them both"
She made a vicious stroke. driving the
red ball against the shoulder OF the
cushion instead Of into the pockeH. and
left an easy cannon for her opponent
who finished the game with a brilliant
break of seventeen Just then the
dressing-gOng sounded, but the duchess
did not Immediately obey it's resonant
summons. She watched Capt. Ives while
he replaced the cues and rests in the
rack ana lowered the lights; then, under
cover as il seemed to her ccanpanion
of the comparative darkness. she re-
turned TO the attack.
Tell me, Philip" she asked softly; lis
she really very pretty2'
Haven't you seen her2' replied the
other. with a glance family Indicative
OF surprise.
"Oh, 1 suppose so-on the stage But
any one can look pretty-in paint and
things. on the stage"
well, / haven't met her in private
life said the captain fmpartially But
I'm told that she's uBcommOnly pretty
and extremely amusing. Tells awfully
good stories. L believe In fact, I've
heard some OF them
Yes" said the duchess dryly, mo
doubt After a pause she continued
Then you NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. you wouldn't
mind"
wouldn't mind,'' echoes Ives
well she's uroffv