Evening star., 1896-02-22

/ first time in his life, the little lord was pos
sessed by q distinctly keen sensation of
portions Of the park, he reached a certain
oosky dell. its branches alive with gray
squlrrels ana chattering sparrows, and dis
appeared within it's precinct.
since the first meeting at Newport of his
| iorosh1p with the Misses Meigs, hardly day
had passed that he had not recklessl.' ex-
posed himself to the influence Of their So
ctety. In vain had been marsh hailed before
Eim-at the horse show, the portrait show,
the opera house, everywhere-a glittering
phalanx Of maids and matrons illustrating
American charm and beauty. To all other
women save the two fair sisters from Chi
cago, who were known to be handicapped
| by the terms of an exasperating willard
| no one knew which of them Teviot preferred
ne was as adamant. And as attentions to
eiris under their circumstances were as good
as disinterested, some people even began to
look on Teviot as that rara avis among Wis
iting Englishmen-a man who was marry
ing for love.
To prove, however. that he had not alto
gether forsworn his nationality. his lord
SNIP accepted on all sides, and with no dis
crlmlnatlon as to the givers, invitations to
CLUBS, coaches yachts, dinners, luncheons
suppers. hunts and visits out of town. The
inconvenience of future call 10 repay
these civilities in kind upon his own soil was
the less feared, because of Teviots long
practlce In the matter of contracting debts
| liauidate.
1t was a pleasant life and soothing to
one who had for some time seen nothing
but the cold shoulders of respectable peo-
pie IN MS own country, to be caught to the
bosom. as il were, of select American hos
! pitality: to be told off in every company to
the society of the most Gignitied matron or
the choicest young girl; to have precedence,
everywhere. over the white haired and
reverend Signors of the republican beau
nonoe. Ievlct, who cared little for his
rank. and less for his title, was actually
puzzled 10 understand the extent Of his
own deserving in the minds of these pa
triouc Americans But. being man, and
a young one, he thought it all very Jolly
| and certainly an immense improvement
| upon what he would just row have been
enjoying in his native island
IN the merrE-go-round of dining and win
ing and Junketing with his New York ad-
mlrers however, Teviot had rot lost sight
Of the main chance. New York. for an epi-
sode, was pretty fair; and the Yankees on
their own ground, were good sort'' GER
tainly But London, and Belmore, and re-
mobilization Of his bank account were the
objects to be striven for. Save for his en-
tanslement with the Misses Meigs, imme-
diately upon arrival, he might even now
nave mad mind at rest, with the certainty
OF fetching his own price in the matri-
moniai market of America
1t sometimes occurred to him to wonder
whether there had been any mischief in the
intentions OF his first patroness. in so soon
running his bark upon the shoals But
Mrs. " NlnS, after her return to town for the
| lnfeilcities with Mr.. Wing, Lord Teyiot had
no opportunity to call her to account. The
fact was that though he admired the elde-
o. the two sisters more than any other wo-
| man ne mad seen, and was fully persua dcd
She would fill all personal requirements
likely TO be made upon his countess, his
vasrant fancy had actually attached itself
| with enthusiasm to Olive
Never had Teviot experienced at the
hahus OF any woman, complete a men
| tai and moral overhauling that bestowed
| upon hin by this young girl. At no mo-
1 Et"ht, since their acquaintance set in. had
| ne been able to decide whether she was in
| jest or earnest. Her purity of mind. her
downright speech, her wit and merriment
| were revelation to the jaded little lord
| In her company he was continually unde-
cided whether to enjoy himself or to turn
ana go away in pet. And although he
could not but often suspect her inclination
| 10 a1fofd him an opportunity to make love
! TO her. somehow or other the opportunity
had never come.
Thus matters stood. when, after they ha,.
| seen meeting in a general way for many
Gays IN New York, and when Tevio. had
| heSun to chafe under a sense that she was
eluding conversation alone with him,
ohve had given him hint of something
better.
Only an off-hand hint, to be sure. that If
ne happened, on such a day. at such an
| hour to be strolling in a certain portion of
| the park-he might perchance find her there
| prepared to talk with him uninterrupted
| upon subjects Of Importance to bo.h of
| them.
| AS might have been expected, no sooner
| mad olive gone to this length than the earl
| began to pull himself together, and wonder
what the deuce the little girl was after
| Rackins his brain for an explanation of her
overture, he jumped at the conclusion that
like most of the women he had known best
| olive was. after all, self-seeker, and
| meant If possible. to get ahead of her sis
| ter. by bringing him to prompt declara-
| ton and offer of his hand
| Yet here, trotting UP and down an alley
| OF the little wood she had indicated. her
hands close in her muff under the frills of
| one of those fantastic capes that kept man
| at his proper distance, he found Miss Olive
| Meiss. looking not in the least sentimental
| but rather equipped for business