Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1896-04-18
MRS. BOB.
BY JOHN STRANGE WINTER.

dressing room. "Most women would be
hncommoniy glad when another woman
had lost all her diamonds, but she Is just
as sorry and feeling about 1t as IL she had
lost them herself
"Yes-very nice woman" said Lucifer, |
struggling with his tie.
Those Mauleverers may turn up their
stupid noses at her rs much as ever they
like" her ladyship went OH, las much as
ever they like. "It's so silly. they always |
pretend they won't know her on any nc
count. Such nonsense; why, she's jnst as
good as they are, or IL not quite 50 well
born, a great deal pleasanter to know.
At all events Colonel Crquhart didn't
want to marry one OF them, or Colonel
anybody else, either"
AT this point Lord Lucifer ruineds his
Fourth tie. Dbl the thing he burst
out-then looked. at his wife. Really
Violet darling. beg your pardon, but IL
Is awfully a~ggravating. Nv no time TO
lose and my fingers seem all thumbs to-
night. Pom my word,' he ended, 81 shall
give up wearing these ties altogether. i
shall take 10 those things that hitch on
behind"
II should II ! were you," said her lady
ship, calmly: "they would be less trouble
and You could get them tied a great deal
better for you, instead Of wasting half a
dozen ties for one evening you would hitch
one On as yon call IL and you would look
better turned out altogether"
Lord Lucifer nearly exploded; why, the
Idea was preposterous, aud he had only
suggested IL 10 the evaporation OF the
moment, expecting as n matter OF course
that his wife would at oace utterly re-
pudiate the bare idea OF his ever degrad-
ing himself by wearing a tie that was
ready made and would hitch on behind,
repudiate II with Indignation and scorn.
In his disgust at her reply, he took mp q
fresh ..c s:a adjusted q into 90 neat and
exquisite n bow as was ever turned out
by the fingers Of pan, and when he saw
the result, his Wrath died ont and be
was his own good humored self once
again.
"Ah, well, well. / think | need not
take to made-up things while | can tie n
bow like that he said, surveying his
handiwork proudly. But, VI, hadn't
you better be going' It's getting awfully
late"
Eyes, but l nm quite ready" she an
swered.
CAV Jaw OtNu kthAihk NV Nv bapht' no
she talked and now began to button the
everers to her tonight" she said, going on
with their original conversation.
"Oh, are they coming''
"Why. yes. One couldn't leave them
ont, you know; and Of course skittish
young things like they are would not
miss a G. lnce OF n dance. Is 10 likely?n
GsNfta frru fFar1 t.rnnft thas.E ynf, -
mo, perhaps not; but she will bear it TO
oblige me, I know"
Thus c~haritably determined. Lady Luci-
fer wen. down TO dinner, nor did she
when her opportunity came, show that she
had forgotten her intentions. For when
she found herself near TO the Mauleyerers
and by q happy chance to Mrs. Trafford,
she said suddenly, "Oh! by-the-bye, Miss
Mauleverer, | want 20 introduce you 10
Mrs. Trafford. You are neighboEs and
ought TO know one another"
Miss Mauleverer, thus cornered. had no
choice but TO give Mrs. Trafford her stiffest
bow land OH ii was stlf-a poker wasn't
in IL with that act of courtesy and speak
a word TO her.
Mrs. Trafford, secure In her position as
the mother-in-law OF her dear chiIdren's
| husbands aud in the fact that Julia was
at that very moment gliding by them in
Stephen Howard's arms, was not very
| cordial, not indeed more thar barely
\ ~ mnctf snt WIS so Oveffiowfng wfth
Joy that she could have taken the little
widow right into her arms aud Rugged
her.
Miss Mauleverer had not expected this
move, she had expected her 10 be more
gushing, more overwhelmed with the hon
or thus put upon her. In truth she wac
so taken aback by the quiet dignity of
Mrs. TrafYord's demeanor that she caught
herself saying something about the bad
ness OF the roads between Matcham and
Blankhampton. Now this was Mrs. Traf-
ford's chance, nor did she lose II.
Really" she said, sweetly, 'are the
roads very badf"
"Oh! very bad" answered the spinster
In a superior tone. Then | suppose you
came by train-it is a long drive from
Blankhampton."
Move are staying 10 the house." re-
turned Mrs. Trafford, very quietly.
after this the spinster judiciously melt
ed away, and Mrs. TraYord was left in
~undoubted possession Of the field. Lady
Lucifer, who had been Mt hand all the
time though she had apparently been talk
ing TO other people, had not missed q
word, and as Mrs. Trafford moved away
after an i~nstant's pause in quite a differ
ent direction TO Miss Mauleverer, she
caught her hand for a as she
passed. Mrs. Trafford turned and smiled
at her in return but spoke not a word.
Indeed there was no need of words for
yrithnut thapn zach unJarfonl sho 49,.
perfectly it was q harmony without
words.
And during all this time Julia was in
Elysium! She had a fresh white gown on,
and carried a beautiful posy OF white
lowers tied with loug white ribbon
streamers, which had been sent up TO her
room with Mr.. stephen Towards compli-
ments. She had his initials $. III. set
down on her programme against more
dances than l think 1t would be quite
honorable OF me to mention, and she had
heard someone say as she passed-"Who
is the charming girl with the tall fair
uian?" so what more could be wanted TO
fill the cup OF her happiness until IL over
Cowed! Well, TO be strictly accurate
only thing, and that she knew now
would come sooner or later, probably be-
fore many days had gone by.
CHAPTER Ix.-oN THE BRINK.
IL would take more space than I have
IN give were I fully to describe that week
at Matcham. the ball at Plackingtop. the
big dinner ut Lord Mallinbro's. the bazaar
which Lady Lucifer opened, the little
friendly dance the next evening at Match
am to which ouly the very incest people
were asked and for which no formal invi-
tations were sent out. I think perhaps
that enost of them enjoyed that evening
more than all the rest OF the week, the
hoo was In perfect condition, there was
plenty of room, the supper was charming
and the wine the best that was ia the eel.
lar. Julia did not dance much, only three
values with Stephen Howard, who
waltzed divinely-tJulia's adjective, not
mine)--but she sat out q good deal and
Stephen sat with her, and really 1t was all
one to them whether they were dancing
or resting.
But still he did not take the plunge and
propose, and on the asth Julia and her
mother went back to st. Ewes much A.
they had come. that is to say with no set
tied and definite change looming In the
near future for either of them.
Nevertheless Mr.. Trafford was perfectly
satisfied and Julia was amazingly happy
aud the admirable Cox perceived that all
had gone well with them.