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

iques and Worth's last within are of
no avail. He seems absolutely blind
to q woman's attractions when mat
rimony is in the question. Really,
Marcia Foljambe, you are a fool!
Why should you want to marry him?
You have as much money as you a
spend, a pretty little nest of your
own, and your independence. Now
let me ask you, is it for any reason
beyond a woman's love of conquest
that you wish to be called Lady
Marcia Delane. Anyway, you are
heartwhole, you risky old beauty"
Thus did Lady Marcia Foljambe
apostrophise herself as she sat before
her looking glass arranging her hair
in little artistic curls about her fore
head.
She burst out laughing.
"Ill give him up" she ven on.
Gle won't have me, SO III give him
up and enjoy myself thoroughly as
the 'frisky widow which l believe
people call me. Gracious-wheels,
and Pm not nearly dressed"
She got up and looked out of the
window from which she could see the
carriage drive.
"Elvira! | wonder why she has
come so early. invited people for
four and it is only a little past
three.n
Then going to the door she called
out:
"Murchison, ask Miss Dclane to
come up here"
Another minute or tive and Elvira,
in a charming mauve toilette which
suited her admirably, came into the
room.
Lady Marcia had a garden party
that afternoon-th last OF the sea
son, for September was already
mellow.
Glow charming you look La
Ferriere, eh? l really think l shall
have to go to La Ferliere instead of
Worth, you are so well turned out
always
And she held her friend at arms
length to look at her before she
bestowed on her the usual womanly
salutation.
''Yes, | zane early because want
to have a little chat with you before
the crowd arrives. | thought YOU
would have been dressed by this
time
alt is all right, dear. My maid is
busy doing the. tiowers-we always
leave everything until the last minute
in this house. l am going to dress
myself-we can talk. What is it?
Isn't Pa coming. Never mind, Eve
given him up"
Elvira smiled, She wa accustomed
to these jokes about "Pa'; they did
not trouble her, as she had no belief
whatever in any intended marriage
on his part.
IL believe he is coming later" she
said, "we are always independent in
our movements. 1t is not about him
but about someone else | want to
talk to you. Have you any idea
what has become of Pierce Vaughan?
Has he gone abroad, Or where is
he?n
~ expect him here to-day" ans
wered Lady Marcia, sat least | wrote
and told him to come. He did not
answer, so no doubt he will arrive
looking a. if he had travelled in a
band boX-just when the lawn is
most crowded. | was also beginning
to think that we have not seen him
for some time, but l have no doubt
he will explain himself to-day"
GLOW long is it really since you
saw him?n
''Let me see, quite six weeks if
not more. Now YOU come to speak
of it, it is a long time, he generally
comes much more frequently. |
suppose if | had not been taken up
before.'
500 You remember that awful
Thunderstorm we had one afternoon
in Augusta"
"Good gracious, Elvira, don't ask
such questions, you make me SILVER.
What has that storm 10 do with
Pierce Vaughan9"
"Was he staying here them"
"Let m see. Let me collect my
scattered senses and try and remem
Der. Yes, now | know all about it.
was going to see Gerty and it looked
81 threatening that l turned back.
No, Pierce Vaughan was certainly
not here-there was no n here but
old deaf Mrs. Arnes who bored me
to distraction, and what is more, |
have not seen him since. But why
do you ask?"
"No one seems to have seen him
since. Gerty declares that she saw
him walk along at the bottom of the
terrace that afternoon, and she fan
cied he was staying here"
'She is full of f%ancies, dear. /
daresay it was not him at all. Why
should he be at the bottom of the
terrace when he was staying neither
x,;tb tho,, 4, mich