The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1894-11-22

ton, ana probably declined to discuss
| the matter. But to lady it was i'm
/ possible to be rude. He regarded her
absurdly unconventional presence with
/ tolerant kindliness.
''Of course, | admit that there are
faults, but upon one or two points in
! your criticism | can not agree with YOU
/ / should very much like to discuss them
with you. May II"
Certainly" His mouth was twitch-
| ing under his mustache "But don't
you think, pending the verdict, that
YOU had better sit down? You will be
fatigued. If you'll permit me to wheel
this armchair nearer the fire for you
So"
Having carefully arranged it so that
she should face the light, he seated HIM
self opposite to her-the A b G of
diplomacy, but she did not appear to
notice it. She was drawing arabessues
on the carpet with the point of her
ivory-handled umbrella.
Il should very much like to know, :"
she said, what you think of me for
coming here?"
Il think you are plucky-yes, and
recklessly unconventional"
Candid, at any rate! And / like
that" She looked up. "Now for the
first Indictment on the list. Mr.. Ever
dene! You accuse me of improbability.
| deny it"
His manner bordered upon preoccu-
patton. In truth he was thinking what
wonderful lashes she had, and how be-
coming flush of excitement could be
to clear, pale skin.
you assert" she continued, warmly.
that 1t IS ridiculous TO suppose that
man and woman of the world could fall
in love at first sight, as | make my hero
and horoine do, and that such proceed
ings are limited 10 boys and girls in
their teens and the pages of penny fic-
ton. | should have thought that Mr..
Aubrey Everdene would have shown
wider sympathies."
Then you really believe. Lady Hill
yard, that adult, sensible people do con-
ceiye such abrupt attachments?"
81 am convinced that it happens fre-
quently."
"Oh, come, not frequently"
''Well-sometimes, " she amended. Il
could give you a dozen instances"
He lacked the heart to argue with
her. 1t would have been like breaking
a butterfly on a wheel And after ali
there might be more sentiment in fin
de-siecle humanity than he thought:
women have wondersul intuition in
these matters.
We'll, suppose we let that slide for
the moment, and proceed to indictment
No. 2 What other phrase of mine do
you take exception TOP"
You said that had not the remotest
idea of construction, and that Fashion
and tootLights' was evidently a speci-
men Of that Objectionable class Of fiction
which you regretted to see was growing
so preyalent-the amateur novel. born
Of vanity and lack of wholesome occu-
patton.
Her voice had died away with a
Temor. He had only stated the truth.
bat the i1ct did not prevent the speech
less Eyerdene from feeling as if he had
committed particularly brutal muir
der and the ghost of the victim mad
come 10 arraign him before all the peo-
pie whose opinions he valued most.
II cried" she murmured, pathet-
icaIly.
Her lips quivered. Beads Of perspira-
ton rose to the mans forehead.
Good heavens if | had only guessed
now much | should hurt you! 1t was
harsh, monstrous. No doubt | was in
bad temper and your unfortunate
book was the first thing that afforded
me an opportunity TO vent my spleen"
Lady Hilyard applied six square inch
"a pf p1jll,1ip and luaa tho of
an eyelid.
If you'll only believe me, my dear
Lady Hilyard, when l tell you that I'm
sorrier than | can say"
"Then you acknowledge that you
were needleesly cruel?"
81 was brutal" He would have COM
mitted blacker perjury as she wiped
that tear away.
And that | had just cause for indig-
nation?'
You were perfectly right"
a smile broke like April sunshine over
her face.
'In that case, 1 suppose, 1 must for
give you"
He was ridiculously grateful. He
heaved a sigh of relief and hesitated |
with his hand on the button of the elec-
tric bell.
Lady Hilyard, you know the Arab
custom oftaking salt with ones friends?
As token of good will. permit me to
give you the prosaic English equivalent
of a cup of tea"
The offer was tempting. the weather
was hot and she had talked great deal. |
She yielded. When the refreshments
came, accompanied by wonderful sweet
meats from Bond street around the cor
ner, she asked permission to pour it out |
for him, with winning graciousness
an odd sense of pleasure, too to see her |
white fingers moving about the china. ]
He was unaccustomed to the presence /
Of women in his house
With the JaDanese tables between +