Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1896-12-24
aLOVER Of THE DRY.
Continued.

IeeI ne would be brute II he ever
diregarded the lightest wish of SO low
ing, beautiful, bright and rich sister.
Then she slipped back into the draw
ing-room. where a woman, sparkling
from the shoulders to the edge of her
train in ite-bugle-studded satin,
was lying back like a sparkling snow
fake among tne deep crimson-silk
cushions of a long, low chair.
'.Sholto has come, Lena Lady GIVE
nap cried, exultantly. Il am glad Sir
Andrew is out; he would have bored
the poor boy with awkward questions
about the girl with the Irish name,
who persuaded dear Sholto that he
was engaged to her."
Il think Mr.. Graham can be trusted
to parry awkward questions" Mrs.
Cumberland was remarking, when
Sholto came in and, after being heart
lily Rugged by his sister, was recog-
nized by Mrs Cumberland, with an
apparent effort that struck sickness
into his soul.
Il have been in town for the lost fort
night and | don't think l have seen you
anywhere, Mr. Graham. | took it for
granted that you had gone off to the
war after all" she said, setting all
her bugles jdngling as she slightly
moved to hold out her hand.
"Sholto was besieged by the clan
Graham. Having caught him they
kept him as long as they could" Lady
Gwenap said, quickly. Then the an
nouncement was made that dinner was
served, and the three went down the
wide staircase without ceremony.
What shall we do tonight? We are
too late for a theater, are we not?"
Lady GWenap asked, when dinner was
over
TOO late for anything amusing at
any Of the theaterS, but if your
brother liked he could take us to a mu-
sic hall. Chevalier sings at the En-
pire at 1920. We could do that east
Iy"
But isn't it rather-rather fast for
ladies to go to music halls?" Lady
Gwenap asked, hesitatingly.
you dear little provincial! Don't
you know that smart women can go
anywhere in these days if they are
properly escorted? You make the sug-
gestiOn to Mr.. Graham when he comes
mp"
L don't think Sir Andrew would like
it," Lady Gwenap said, more hesitat-
ingly than before.
Nonsense! He must be prepared
to see you doing what other women of
your class and generation do. Besides,
why should he know anything about
ito" Mrs Cumberland asked in a
gocd-tempered but slightly patroniz-
ing and contemptuOus tone that net
tied her less worldly wise and expert
enced friend
IF he comes home before we are
back he must know it,"
Why? You won't confide to your
servants where you go, [ suppose?
And if he asks you. say you've been to
a concert 1t will be a concert of a
sort.
The coachman will know Lady
Gwenap protested.
My dear child, you won't take your
own carriage! Wen have a couple of
hansoms. You and l will go in one
and Mr. Graham in another until we
get to the Naval and Military club in
Piccadilly, where we will pick up
friend of mire Then we can rear
range ourselves, and go on" Sholto
came in and just then Mrs. Cumber-
land put her plan before him without
delay.
"A capital ideal" Shoto said, rath-
err more heartily than he felt Not
for the world would he have allowed
Mrs Cumberland to see that he had
two or three old-world scrupes still
left In his heart he neither approved
Of his sister going to the Empire, nor
of keeping her husband in the dark
as to her doing so. But he was intirm
of purpose when Mrs. Cumberland's
will and wishes were opposed to his
slight instincts for right.
The programme as arranged by Mrs.
Cumberland was carried out to the let
ter They picked UP her friend at the
"In-and-Out'' club in Piccadilly, and
again against such small better judg-
ment as he had, Sholto deferred to her
decree that the stranger should take
her place in the hanson with Lady
Gwenap, while she (Mrs. CumberlanD
should go on with Mr.. Graham for her
escort.
You needn't look GRIM" she said,
laughingly, as Sholto took his place
by her side. "Mr. Vereker is a cousin
of mine-at least. he is a cousin of my
late husbands. He's a very nice fell
low his only fault is poverty, but he
is a master Of the fine art of showing
a fair front to the world. He never
offends ones sensibilities by looking
poor"
(Which service is he in?'
HE is in the shire but he could
not live on his pay and the allowance
his people made him, SO he got into
the army-service corps and now he
can just scrape along. I hope your
sister will be kind to him and help him
to find a passable heiress. Oh, by the
way, though, she can't be expected to
look after any other mans interest in
that direction until yours are assured"
Mine do not lie in that way" he
was trying to say, when the hanson
stopped and they were at the Empire.
In justice to her it must he told that
Lady Gwenap did not enjoy her first
visit to London music hall at all, and
though Mrs. Cumberland rallied her
freely about her nervous breads and
wifely qualms as to what would hap
pen should Sir Andrew hear of her first
Of ~, ~, oo,,I5