Marble Hill press. (Marbel [sic] Hill, Mo.) 1881-1923, 1896-02-13

DrOCner QleQ. 1t S rather a bore. b
the way, Lady Brereton, I was intend
ing to call and ask your aid about it
Women are so clever at this kind o.
thing"
Il shall be delighted" she said sweet
ly. "I'll look out for you and you mus
come and see me and report what dis
coveries you arc making on your OWL
account"
But the conversation was a little
one-sided after that Capt. Valence
chatted easily little nothings of the
hour, amusing conversation of a we'll
bred man Of the world with witty
tongue and shrewd perception. But
she did not pay much heed to what he
said. She was thinking of the time they
met. She was Blanche Forester then,
and he called her his angel, the light
OF his life, and she had laughed, and
hidden him not to be sly boy The
whole episode had been very absurd, of
course, but somehow his mockery of it
did not please her.
Thursday is my day." she said tc
him, when be put her in her carriage
by and by. But if you like to take
your chance, you know"
Perhaps she thought about him more
on her way home than she had ever
thought about him before at one time.
Il was young once" said Capt. Va.
lence to the horse chestnut trees II
was distressingly young-a malady we
all suffer from. But feel better now,
thank God!' he added, piously. And
he lighted cigar and went to watch
the polo with smile of seIf-satisfac-
ton.
They met a good deal in the course
OF the next few weeks. He reminded
her of her promise, and she mentioned
two or three desirable damsels to hia;
but her assistance ended there, and he
never saw an attractive girl in her
house. Also he found occasion to al
lude once more to his salad days.
Nothing polishes a cub" he said,
like an affair with woman of the
world. Ny dear Lady Brereton, &C.
cept the assurance Of my gratitude"
She would have been better pleased
if he had intimated that she had ruined
mis- life, better pleased even if he had
openly avoided her zone would think
| was his grandmother" she said to her
own Wrathful reflection in the toilet
glass.
For a week she saw nothing of him,
then one evening their eyes met across
the opera house, and faint resent
ment-the sequel to the unexplained
tears-was in her smieless brow. 1t !
was perceptible, too, in the manner OF
her'greeting, when, during the last en-
T'acte, he deserted his stalf for her
box, and, on Mrs. Crosbie's invitation,
iropped into the vacant chair between
hem.
Il have news for you," he muir
nured in her ear when the stage
laimed Mrs. Crosbie's attention. "She
S found"
Indeed, and am I to congratulate
'ou?"
Perhaps it would be a trifle prema-
ure. You see, l haven't proposed ye<-
II tell you all about it tomorrow ii
gu are sufficiently interested"
"Tell me now" she said.
She spoke quite naturally and she
Tas smiling. But he did not look at
or face; his eyes had been on her hand
S it closed with spasmodic force upon
lie handle of her fan.
you will break that toy if you treat
like that" he said, quietly.
She dropped it as if it had stung her
nd drew back in the shadow of the :
'aperies with her white teeth pressing ,
er lower lip. =
GO on" she said rs it an affair of :
lie heart, or of her forehead?" :
"She is the only woman l should ever
ish to marry" he answered. 81 want :
er more than have wanted anything =
l my life. hardly know how to de-
,ribe her to you. Don't laugh if 7 =.
ave; am in love, and when fellows
Ike that, you know. Lady .
rereton, you will certainly ruin your
N! But l am not going to tell you
lat she is perfect. She has variety. .
le has charm-admirable qualities to =
tract man. All, she is adorable, she >
Lady Breretonw
She was leaning back against the =
her eyes closed, her face COL :,
less y
"Nothing-don't notice mew she n
"The heat u :.
n better already" V
He bent forward to screen her from "
e other woman's view. His hand :,
vered hers, and it was shaking, like -
S voice. -
"You arc going to faint! l am a :,
ute, but l want you so badly and l y,
lew it was the only way to make YOU >, >,
re. II had shown" y
"The comedy is finished" The ~
'rds were spoken on the stage and the