The Ohio Democrat. (Logan, O. [Ohio]) 1886-1906, 1894-02-03


Lord Ernest was quicker, and believe
Victoria likes him because he is poor
She would have felt that she was not
turning her money to proper account IL
she had married rich man."
For a moment he appeared to be in n
dream.
That's fine idea," he said; "its
like most other things about her.
can't pretend to be glad, but Darby
shire is good chap, ard he deserves
his luck, though It's colossal. I suppose
it'll be pretty soon?"
"Well, you have to bc pretty quick
over things in these days, If they are
to be done at all"
That's so," he answered. When he
had gone she told herself that there
was something about h.'u you were
never able to forget He stopped at
florists on his way home nd bought a
handful of yellow roses. ITS impossi-
BILE to go by this shop AMI not come
in." he explained to the young lady
who put them down to his account; he
looked so much more than he said, that
the rest of the day seemed to be bright
ened for her by the mere remembrance
of his voice. They will please Mrs.
Berwick" he thought; "she likes little
attentions, and there is no reason on
earth why she shouldn't have them
while the game lasts | expect it's
about slipped from me this afternoon;
| but it's as we'll to take it calmly. It's
foolish thing to say, but / believe
could have borne it better II I'd had
single kiss to remember He let him
self in with a latchkey. Mrs berwick
had evidently been waiting for him; she
came to the dining-room door and
bec,Soned; there We're tears in her eyes,
and little cambric handkerchief was
crushed up in her hand. Her agitation
interested him. but he wished that she
used some other perfume than white
rose; it was too strong, and he was
tired of it.
"Oh. Mr.. Medway," she said, there
is a horrible man in the next room.
He says he must be paid before he
leaves the house
"I may differ from him on that
point" he answ cred, slowly, but
meanwhile don't distress yourself.
| Here are some roses. | saw them and
| felt that their natural place was under
your care If you wo uld give me Il cup
of tea in the drawing-room l should be
very grateful. But first I'll speak to
the scoundrel in the library A little
later he sent for the butler Rogers, :"
he said, take care of that gentleman
downstairs, and make much of him.
To-day is Wednesday: he will be here
| till Friday morning, when the bills will
all be settled. ! am tired of people
clamoring for their money. And,
Rogers" he went on after II pause
while his eyes flashed with amusement,
II shall invite all the gentlemen and
their bills here tomorrow night. Have
good supper ready in tn dining
room the best you know how. | shall
take one end of the table, and Mrs. Ber-
wick, have no doubt, will have the
kindness to take the other" Rogers
looked at him for moment puzzled.
Eyes, sir III see to it," he answered
without word of comment. The next
morning the majority of Mr.. Medway's
creditors received little letter. 1t
ran thus:
my DEAR SIR: Iapologize for having neg.
lected you so long, but my Australian affairs
have taken up all my time. 1t would give me
much pleasure il you would come here to NOR
row night, ut eleven, when wish TO do myself
the honor of entertaining you with some other
! creditors ut supper. and OF Immediately after
! wards settling your claims upon me.
! Yours truly, G. MEDwAY."
AT ten o'clock the next night, Med
way and Mrs. Berwick stood looking
at the supper table. Rogers" he said
| get four of those folding Japanese
screens from the bedrooms-the very
high ones. Open one fiat cross the end
| of the table, so. Put IA small table, not
wider than this, and not more than
/ two or three feet long, on the other
side, and push it close up, so that but
for the screen it would join on to the
supper table"
Rogers, who prided himself on never
! showing any surprise, did as he was
told
7 Now" continued Midway, lay my
supper behind the screen. ] shall want
IA bottle of champagne-open it, mind
and my check book, pen ink and Il
sheet of paper by me. No, you needn't
put any candles; ] shall not want then
to guess that am here, and there viii
be light enough from the lamp above
Now place my chair, then the Other
three screens close as possible, so tina,
they make little square room thai
anyone may walk round and yet set
nothing" He looked at it carefully
when it was complete. Quite a snug
little place" he said. Mrs. Berwick,
he went on, turning TO her, Il am go
ing to ask, you to receive these gentle
men when they arrive. Bring then
down, sit at the head of the table, ant
be as gracious to them as you can.
shall eat my supper behind thos
screens: you can make any excuse yo,
like for my absence. Rogers, put th
wine on the table-a bottle of cham
pagne to each man. When it is prett,
low down. he said, speaking to Mrs
Berwick again, Il want You to say tina
. there's a pleasant surprise awaiting
them. as well as settlement of al
their claims, and propose that the
, should drink my health. Just as the
are putting the glasses to their lips
Rogers is to pull away the front scree
across the end of the table, and the
will have the pleasure OF knowing
have been with them all the time, an
each man will be able To reflect wit
satisfaction on any remarks he ha
made.
!, "Oh, Mr. Medway," she exclaimed
clasping her hands over the front {
her low yellow silk dress, ''how am