Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1895-10-10
"Ah. your brother was thereq" asked

~ nlIl., because ne was hdndSOmer ana
cleverer than anyone else 1 knew?
Dear Guido! What a man he is. There
are not many like him"
Mr.. Hamblin jerked his chair impa-
tiently.
II always wonder, Rex, why it is that
you do not get on with Guido; he Is SO
easy to please. But somehow you
two"
Miss Hamblin broke in quickly: "Who
else was at Lady Meredyth's, Valerie?'
"Oh, you'll see the whole list in the
Morning Post, dear. But, as usual, the
one person I wanted to see was not
there"
''And who was that?"
'Mrs. Lascelles."
Both Rex and his sister looked up
sharply.
Mrs. Lascelles?"
''Yes Guido introduced us the other
day in the park! She is perfectly
charming, and great friend of his"
Miss Hamblin fidgeted nervously
with the cups, and Hamblin threw
down his serviette SO impatiently that
1t jerked to the floor some of his opened
letters; an envelope futtering to Val
cries feet, she stopped and picked itup.
why, Rex, who is this from?" she
asked, curiously, glancing at the deli
cate feminine writing, under which, in
the club porter's clumsy hand, was the
home address.
Hamblin frowned angrily.
Its business letter." he answered,
shortly.
"Oh," and Valerie was about TO put
it down when her eye caught the gilt
monogram IS. L." II didn't know
business people wrote on paper like
this, they don't in ITALY," she added
quietly. then, turning to Miss Hamblin,
but still retaining the envelope, she
continued: Guido brought me
message from Mrs. Lascelles, though;
she wants me to act in some tableaux
wants she is getting up on the 18th
of next month; am to choose my own
characters and do whatever / like;
isn't it delightful"
what did you say?"
my dear Kate, said I should be
charmedv'
Rex looked up.
II hope you don't really mean lat,
dear?"
"WhyP"
because l cannot possibly allow you
to do anything of the kind"
Valerie stared at him in astonish-
ment. But tell you I have already
accepted, the idea pleases me, and I
have no intention of giving it up"
added Valerie, with decision.
my dear child, you must let me de-
eide that for you. You cannot posi-
bly, take part in these tableaux of Mrs.
Lascelles."
"And why not?" asked Valerie, petu-
lantly, irritated ny the unwonted con-
tradiction.
Because Mrs. Lascelles is not a
woman whom I choose to have you
associate with"
Mrs. Hamblin's face flushed. "She
is my brothers friend"
Exactly" replied Rex, in tone that
spoke volumes.
REX, how dare you insinuate such
things? Guido would not wish me to
know anyone who was not nice. He
particularly asked me to be friends
with Mrs. Lascelles, and will do all I
can to please him."
'My dear Valerie" began Rex, but
she interrupted quickly:
"You are jealous of Guido! jealous
because he is so much better looking
and more popular than you! / have
noticed it ever since he has been in
London. 1 will not have my brother
sighted, nor his friends, and 1 shall
go and call on Mrs. Lascelles this very
afternoon"
"You will do nothing of the kind,
Valerie" said Rex, in tone which
was new to his wife. 1.-THE woman is
the talk of the town, and won't have
you mixed up with her. Stella Las
celles' name is in every mans mouth"
'Stella Lascelles!-S. Ii" exclaimed
Valerie, whose eyes had wandered to
the envelope, land her letters are
in every mans pocket, too, suppose.
l understand now why you do not wish
me to meet her."
''Valeriew cried Kate, putting her
hand on the girls arm. Z.
! Leave me alone, Kater' she said,
impatiently, her face white and her
eyes lowering. "Do you suppose am
such a child as not to see through
this?"
"You are talking such abject non
sense that it is not worth contradict
ing" said Rex, rising from the table
and unfolding newspaper
Nonsense? Then show me the letter
that envelope contained"
81 shall do nothing of the sort"
''Of course not; l can quite under.
stand that. A business letter.
''If you believe"
Twill you tell me it 10 not from Mrs
Lascelles?"
81 will tell you nothing at ALL" he
exclaimed, striding towards the door,
''As you please"
Kate watched them a moment-he
standing by the open door of the tiny
greenhouse which led from the dining
room, look of pain and trouble or
his face; she, her chair pushed bach
from the table, her whole bearing
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