The record-union., 1895-07-20


served that her figure was light and girl
lsh; that she was as pretty as she had ever
|, looked on the stage, and that her tawny
copper-colored hair, slightly disarranged
was magnificent, particularly In conlunc.
ton with her wonderful eyes, which
were blue, OF the color of lapis lazuli.
He found himself wondering little at hel
beauty, which was as candid as her man
ner. he had seldom considered actresses
apart from their native boards and he
had always entertained a vague idea o1
| two types-the buxom, blonde person
with straw-colored hair and a cons picu.
Gus complexion, who played virtuous
herolnes and tlirtatious school girls; anG
the dark-haired, melancholy maiden,
with hollow eyes and pale cheeks, who
was SO intimately associated with black
clinglng draperies and in ured innocence
lie had seen Miss Faunthorpe on the
stage more than once, but yet it was
! something of q surprise to HIM TO find that
she did not come under either of these
| categories. He began TO form an ex-
tremely deprecated estimate OF the dis
cernment and taste OF the divorced hus-
band; he had to remind himself that even
ii he envied his cousin it would never dc
TO tell him so.
Lord Noel took advantage of the first
break in the flow of the lady's eloquence
to Introduce his friend with due ceremO-
ny. Miss Faunthorpe bowed very gra-
clously, sinking into low chair and in
viting the gentlemen to seat themselves
ON either side, near the toa-rable. For a
while their conversation, to which Miss
FaunthOrpe was the chief contributor:
ran freely enough over q rather cOnven-
tlonai line; they discussed the new plays,
the new theaters, Ibsen and the home
rule bill the actress spoke with enthusi-
asm OF the part which she had been study
ing in the garden when they arrived,
even reading them fragments from her
dog scared type-written copy.
Presently, however, it leaked out, from
some chance alluSion which Lord Noel
made, that his cousin had just come up
from Appleiord, and this intelligence
seemed to impose certain restraint on
Miss Faunthorpe who became forthwith
more sparing Of her pleasant laughter.
and neglected her little musk-scented
cigarette. When her guests rose to take
their leave she hesltated for moment,
while they tumbled with their gloves,
glancing askance at Captain Ives, who
somewhat prided himself on his deLec-
ton of her mental attitude. Then she
turned to Lord Joel brightly. laying one
hand upon his arm.
but you mustn't go without seeing my
poor Romeo! 1t was understood when
you gave him to inc that you were to be
i.foSpOuSlDl0 IOI HIS HCdilu alO Ho uOt dL
all we'll. Pm afraid it's nerves-and you
know he is to appear in the new show.
DO go and look at the poor doggie. He's
in the library in front OF the fire."
Lord Noel smiled tOlerantly, nodding
at his cousin.
II expect Romeo has Over-eaten him
self! | shall be back IL a minute. Or
will you come too? It's only across the
passage"
But Miss Faunthorpe interposed. re-
minding the younger man OF Romeo's s
aversion to strangers.
He's the sweetest thing" she contin-
ued as the door closed, bestowing one OF
her brilliant glances upon Captain Ives.
He'll make great hit even if l don'tn'
Ives imagined for an instant that the
lady was re.errlng to Lord Noel, and his
face (Which was less adapted than his
language to conceal his thOughts) be-
trayed his quaint misconception.
YES" Miss Faunthorpe added, smil-
ing a little; "he really is most angelic
! poodle!'
Her guest uttered some vague, polite
remark, and brief silence followed.
Miss FaunthOrpe rose and walked to-
wards the window; when she reached it
she turned almost Immediately, and con-
tronted Ives with kind OF challenge in
her pose and expression which struck
something extraordinarily fine.
"Well,' abe said quickly, 'and what
are you going to tell his people-the
Duchess?"
Captain Ives gazed at her at first with
surprise, and then with dumb appeal in
his candid eyes. She continued, with a
flash OF scorn:
"Ah, you don't deny it; that is what
! you came Tor"
The man clasped and unclasped his
large, neatly gloved hands helplessly.
avoiding her eyes.
My dear Miss Faunthorpe! 1 came
simply because Lord Noel asked NO."
"Ihe Duchess hates the very idea OF
me! Will you deny that? Eh bien,
since she sent you to report what shall
you say?"
He glanced at her boldly.
81 shall say that you are all that is
most charmingW
She made him aiittle mocking court
much good that will dol Hasn't her
son told her SO? And you will add that |
am impossible, that l smoke cigarettes.
that L" She paused, Struggling her
pretty shoulders impatiently. And this
is what your great people can do! Pray,
what would the Duke and Duchess say ii
l were to send my sister Il would if L had
one) down to Appleford to inspect them?
Would they behave any better than
have done? Oh, l dare say you think
I'm dreadful!'
Lord Noel entered the room at this
point and paused open-eyed at the sound
of her voice.
81 say, say!' he exclaimed, gazing at
them Vacantly.
~ declare had forgotten about you!
You have interrupted one of my best
scenes"
Captain Ives maintained discreet si-
| lenca While she went on to question Lord
Noel about the invalid Romeo, admiring
immensely the tact with which she had
retrieved the situation. As they parted
few minutes later she gave him an in
| detinable glance, murmuring:
"What a dreadful creature you must
think me! But you may tell her what
you like. | assure you | don't care"
"Well," said Lord Noel, when the two
friends had regaIned Piccadilly, after a
somewhat silent drive, "how about that
| fiver?'
Ives followed the course of their de-
| parting hanson with absent eyes, smil-
ing gravely. He admitted that Miss
| taunthOrpe was all that his amorous
cousin had painted her; inwardly, his
thoughts were dwelling upon other as
poets of the lady than the charm OF her
radiant beauty. He permitted himself to
cast speculative, retrospective glance at
the visitor who had arrived, dismount-
ing from an exceedingly smart phaeton,
| just when they were taking their leave a
mddle-aged man with the stamp of the
Stock Exchange upon him, to whom
Lord Noel had referred as Mr.. Nettleton,
who often came on business; also he
wondered whether his cousin, too, had
! suspected that when Miss FaunthorDe
said good-by to thein there were tears in
her beautiful blue eyes.
A fortnight later the Duchess of Cider
shire received a brief note from Lord
| Noel; he was not going to marry Miss
1 EauntNOrnA he wrote hA alnnnaad lie