The state republican. (Jefferson City, Mo.) 1871-1896, 1895-04-18

.AN'
eclipse every fleeting glimpse OF
peace. He busted himself thus
merely to try and cheat himself and
those around him into the belief that
all was well.
Neither Sir Clement nor Brown nor
the landlady of the "Royal Arms,'
spared any pains to render the feast
worthy of the suspicious event in
honor of which it was given. Lisbeth
too weaved some garlands and did
what she could to assist, but her time
was necessarily much taken up by
her inmates, who all required her
care.
OF course she had been hidden with
the rest and so had Nurse Green and
SC mewhat contrary to Lisbeth's
wishes they were to go. Gladly she
have invented an excuse in order to
keep away from this gathering, but
none seemed available and she did
not wish to appear eccentric or call
forth any undue amount of observa-
ton.
So when the shades of evening
were beginning to gather she donned
her prettiest gown, of soft grey,
Lisbeth's attire was always sober in
hue, almost Quakerish in simplicity
and having commended the babies
and the household generally to the
watchful care of a little servant maid
whom she had lately engaged tc
help her, she gave her arm to Mrs,
Green who was infirm and tottering
and they trotted down the street
together to the Royal Arms into
which the guests were rapidly filing,
Sir Clement himself stood at the
door to receive them and by his side
was Sir Miles Berkeley who, true to
his word, had come to help him
through an undertaking which was
far more of an ordeal than anyone
suspected.
Lisbeth was cordially greeted by
both the baronets but she would
much rather they had not spoken to
her, but had allowed her to 60 to her
seat unobserved. She felt terribly
out of place at this banquet, so much
so that she scarcely knew what to
say to her many acquaintance.
Never before had Lisbeth's
strength been SO heavily taxed As il
was tonight when she was called
upon to drink the health of the heii
and rejoice with a happy c%ountenance
and a gay smile that Clement Dunra
ven's son should have been born tc
set on one side the daughter OF
whom he never even bestowed g
glance.
Before she had been there five
minutes she determined she woulc
not stay long-home duties were
imperative. She would slip out anG
Just see that all was we'll at the cot.
tage and send the little maiden dowr
later on to accompany Mrs. Greer
back.
Neither Sir Clement nor his frienC
were seated, they were going about
from table to table, to see if thu
guests were providen with ever.
requirement.
The principal table was, as thu
laudlady had suggested, in the loni
room where concerts and dancei
were given in the winter, this room
opened on to the garden at the bacl
and in this garden, the night being
fine, smaller tables had been placed
When the gentlemen were both il
the garden Lisbeth would slip on
through a side door into the inn anC
so to the street and home.
She knew full well that if eithe.
saw her departing her object would
be frustrated.
The general attention was bestowed
OF the edibles no one was thinking
about her, the two baronets were il
the garden-now was her time.
81 think, Mrs. Green" she begal
and then she stopped dead short ant
a look of utter dismay came owe
her beautiful face.
Standing against the post of tn
door leaning into the house, was he
father.
What was he doing there? Scarcel
likely that, a returned convict, h
would be invited to that feast con
sidering that more than half the Cole
shill people would have refused to 81
down with him.
To see him there at all was a terri
BILE shock to Lisbeth, but the secon
shock was even worse than the first
he was drunk.
This explained his presence, as ha
he been in his sober senses nothin
would have induced Jim Glendinnin
to confront a large assemblage of til
Coleshill people and risk being show
the door by the police.
What should Lisbeth do? She Wi
bordering the matter owe in hi
mind, but she did not now atteml
to depart. 1t was as though IL
sight of Jim Glendinning had roott
her to the spot.
Would it be possible to induce hi
to 90 aWay? But as she watcht