Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1896-08-30
THE HIRE OF A LORD.


'-...i,,tcl from top 90 bottom. Car
...-,s we're arriving and departing ana
... were huriying No the carpeied
-, after passing under The canopy
a.. stretched from the doorway to the
80 tro street. 4 crowd OF onlOokers
.s an the pavement watching the ar
., ~ ladies' 80 chermingly aitircl.
,-t sfarsford came along In hanson
.4 Dr.. walked quickly across the eit OF
Loot efretched 20 the roadway, and then
..,-s lsisurely up the broad stairs lie
... SD athletic young fellow Of Is or
,t,-.,h5uts. The moment he entered the
,...o reeertlon-room his eyes wandered
,.-.h,uelv over the gallant company,
GENTLY looking for some one whom
.,uA not find. He passed into a
s,t,,r room. and through that into "a
a,,5 ana there his searching gaze met
d.. stare o. Fnly Heckie. Heckle was
,a,rr man q about the same age as
r-,f s.ans,3rd and he also was seem
i..lv On the outlook Tor some one among
,-o arriving guests The moment he
,,o lord sansford slight frown
gathered upon his brow. and he moved
,rorc the throng toward the spot where
e.. o,bor stood. Stansford saw him
coming and did not seem TO be as
,f,,s.rf MS uicht have been expected
brf he made no motion 90 AVOID the young
nan who accostcl him without salHta-
ton. 80, III. .r
We. ,, o., .,,s,,....7 Stausford i'm a
low voice. ESQ long as Won speak in tones
~e ono else can hear. ] am willing TO
.you viii listen whether or not" re-
rrf.l tho other. who. nevertheless took
-f. hint and uhIuei his voice. i have
.+ wan ON various occasions lately, and
D gert 10 give YOU a word OF warning.
v-s seem 10 bee very devoted 70 Miss
r.rlorhar. SD perhaps you do not
know she is engaged 10 me"
I'D have heard 10 so stated" said Lord
s.arsford. "hut / have found some diff
fr.Ity in believing the statement
Sow. see here" cried the horsey
,rrrr man: 81 want none OF your cheek,
arl I give you fair warning that II you
-rv any more attention TO the young
la.y. shall expose YOU in public. /
moan what say. and am not going TO
stand amy OF your nonsense
lord stausforl S face grew pale, ana
y. Glanced about him 10 see n by chance
any one had overheard the remark. lie
seemed about to resent IL, but hnaly
Gained control over himself, and said
.Q.e are in your fathers house. Mr..
Hs0klc and l suppose IL IS quite SAFE
ID address n remark like that TO me-
.I know it's quite safe-anywhere," re-
rred TeclIe. You've got the straight
tp from me; now. see you pay attention
90 &c."
uerrIe turned away. and Lord STAINS
f,ri. after standing there for moment
wandered back 10 the middle room The
conversation had taken place somewhat
near d. hoavily-curtained window, and
fhe two men stood slightly apart from
the other guests. When they left the
SPOT the curtains were drawn gently
APART and a tall. very handsome, young
lady stepped from between them. She
watched Lord Stansfords retreat for a
moment. and then made as though she
would follow him. but one of her admir-
ers came forward 20 claim her for
Tho first dance. Music has just begun
tr the ballroom" he said. She placed
her hand on the arm Of her partner and
went out with him.
When the dance was over she was
amazed 90 see Lord Stansford still IN the
rom. Sha had expected him TO leave
or.1 tho son Of his host spoke so In
.adrgly 20 him, but the young man had
not departed. He appeared TO be enjoy
.~ himself immensely, and danced
through every dance with the utmost
devotion. which rather put to shame
many or the young men who lounged
AGAINST The walls. never once. however.
a.f La come near Miss Linderham until
-f. evening was We'll on, and then he
passed her bv accident. She touched
him On the arm with her fan, and ha
looked around.
.If-v DO you DO, Miss Linderham?'
E- a.1.
.Nrv have YOU ignored me all the eve
rr-" She asked, looking at him with
rrar.'ing eyes.
"I haven't ignored you" he replied,
with some cmbarrassment: 81 did not
know you were here"
"ol. that IS worse than ignoring" re-
piled Miss LInderham, with a laugh:
"hut now that you know I am here. /
wish sou % take me into the garden.
Do is becoming irsuiferaby hot IN here"
eyes" said the young man. CettnA
T.l BOZ the face. "it IS warm"
The rlI could not help noticing his
reluctance but nevertheless che took his
tm ana they passed through several
looms % the terrace which faced the
garden. Lord Stausford' g anxious eyes
again seemed 90 search the rooms
through which they passed. and again.
cn e1c0uutering those OF Billy Heckle.
Mss Llnderhams escort shiveroa slightly
t8 passed on The girl wandered
WHAT mystery was ar the bottom Of all
r'e and with feminine curiosity re-
foiyai 20 find out. even " she had 10 ask
Ir-i Stansfori himself. They sauntered
along one Of the walks until they reached
seat Gar from the house The music
f,ltc' out to them through the open
windows faint in the distance. Miss
ertam sat down and moioned Lord
stamford t0 sit beside her. Now" She
sal turning her handsome face full
upon h.m. why have you avoided me all
Che ever-Ncg
~ haven't avoided YOU" he said.
tut tut YOU mustn't contradict a
laaf, y0u know. ! want the reason, the
ieai reason and no excuses
BEFORE the young man could reply,
Billy heck.o his face flushed with wine
OF anger. on perhaps both. strobe down
Inc rtta and confronted them.
y gave you your warning" he said.
Loil ataai0rd sprang TO his feet, Miss
Lih1ernam arose also. and looked with
some alarm from one young man TO the
other
stop moment Heckle: don't. say a
WORD. and ] viii meet YOU where you
lae oiterwar4' huu.edly put in his
Lordsnlp.
"Aftcrward Us 10 good to me-" an
f"crol lie.kle. u gave you The tip, and
son haven't followed it,"
Beg yol 90 remember" said Stans-
iofa in low voice with a tremor in
Do. There 81 "a lady present"
Nis Lnlcrham turned 10 20
STOP moment" cried heckle. do
SOU know who this man is?"
NIss Lindorham stopped bat did not