Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1896-02-08
CHAPTER I.

ehiefest mart OF fashion was crowded in
every part.
To and fro the people thronged, buy
ing and selling, if only for hearts, chat
fering for smile from beauty, bow
from the great, for any and every trifle
for which the world pays so high, and
by which the wise set no store at all,
the humber ones fighting for a place
whence they could the better view the
orderly magnificence Of 4 show most as
suredly not to be matched in any other
capital in Europe.
Earring notes there may be, ugly blots
Of color representing those who come
neither to buy nor sell. only to stare or
cape at the brave men and the fair wom-
| en- who seem Of another race to them
selves. hut they cannot mar the absolute
| perfection il every detail of the scene,
| and in which the faultless horses, equi-
pages and servants play brilliant and
conspicuous part.
Two persons chatting together near q
window III Park lane, that overlooked
Stanhope gate, had turned their backs
on the geometrical flower beds that i'll
dictated the full flood tide Of a London
season, and the lady had rutfled air,
rs Of an orchid rudely hustled by an
easterly wind, as she anfolGed letter
and regarded it with extreme disfavor.
Il don't know how to tell you, I'm
sure, Ronny." said Lady Appuldur-
combc. II know how You dislike girls,
and really never will forgive Malin-
court, neyer!'
"Malincourt is the chap who lives in
Somersctshirc all tho year round and
married your half sister. isn't he:" in
quired Ronny lazily, from the depths of
his big chair
Eyes. 1t was the first time ever
found Cecilia's taste at fault. suppose
if l had been born q beauty should
have made muddle of my life too. But
I'll read you his letter-the first I've
had from him for five years, and I
haven't seen him for ten:
"MAIIScoURr, June %, 1894.
"My DEAR JANE-I don't think have trou-
blcd you much. but now / want You to do me
n favor-ask my girl, Lesley, up to stop with
| you for "A month. II warrant that four weeks
Of town, noticed by nobody, will break her Of
her tricks and make her glad enough. after
| lifting half the county, 10 put up with Bob
Hrathcrlcy dear me, Ronny, what n nameD,
the best fellow that ever brcathed. She vows
she won't come, but she shall, and If you will
j s''ndJ" Waterloo To meet the o'clock train
| thu. ,.ly wC,l; she and her maid shall he there.
| You needn't bother about her clothes. She has
plenty. Lady Appulaurcombe groancd. Mind,
| I don't complain of her being too fond Of the
| men. It's only that she encourages them to lie
too fond Of her. And if / make my request
curtly 1t is only because know how barefaced
| and incxcusablo IL il. Your affcctionate broth.
cr-inlaw, MALISCoURT."
"And it is now $780," exclaimed
Rouny, glancing at his watch. Mother,
why didn't you tell me in time, SO that
l might 20 and meet herr
MY boy.' exclaimed his mother.
"And when have not had you back for
more than 81 hours. have sent the
brougham and Parker. But how like
Malincourt to think he is furnishing !;
girl by packing her off to taste the
whipped up cream of London season
However. he was always mad on that
point. He could stand Paris for week
when Cecilia wanted new frocks. but
nothing would persuade him to sleep 6
= night in town, and, what was more
amazing still, he persuaded my sister t
, | think the same. She was always an ex
traordinarily well dressed woman,
added Lady Appuldurcombe medita
: ltively. ''nnd she died Of the country
no doubt The child was then about s
SO the girl must be that odious age t,
, everybody but herself, Is. OF cours
she is provincial to the last degree
"Now, mother" said Ronny, laugh
ing, do allow the county to have lit
tie taste. Some of the incest girls i'll tn
world never come to town at all AM
show their sense, think, by stoppin
away"
well. ! cant forgive her. sal
Lady Appuldurco,nbe, crossing over I
drop a loving kiss on his close cropped
curly head. but its too bad, after a
these moaths Of torture I've gon
through, not knowing if you We're aliv
or dead, for silly, flirting girl to appea
and spoil everything
1.-THE trouble is all over now, mott
er." h. said checriiy, land you know
always came back to you before, didn
I: Twas in hopes those confounde
newspapers would have let US alone
Newspapers don't spare mothers,
she said, then added softly: "Cynth
was great comfort to me. She suffere
. horribly
Mother, ] didn'; ask her TO do it
! he burst out hotly and got up and stoC
looking across Park lane at the mass
. Of bloom and the carriages that roll,
y, with mufflcd rear beside them.
y II think I'll run down TO the stabl
\ tonight" be said presently. You a
\ not going ont, hoppe
I'm afraid I must. can throw oy
~ the other things, hut Green Park Hoy
J Is open this evening, and must look
: for IN hour. II you will tell Charvil
,i,e Won are ont and refuse to 60 To your eli
s rss or i'll the park because you dread an ov
aaS tion-has II not occurred to You that
= you are the most popular man in En-
81 land today am the pruudest mother
icy it,"
"Oh. mother, he said shametacedl
- for so it is that the men who are t
very pith and marrow of English ma
90 hood, and who plant the English ia