Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1896-09-07
CHAPTER XIX

Lady Lirripcr expressed herself en-
chanted with the cottage, which was
indeed as thoroughly coy as most'bach.
elors' diggings usually are--if the aver
age male understands one thing thor
oughly II is his own comfort-and lond-
ly congratulated herself ON her exchange
Of domicile. while IL took very short
time to beat up those choice spirits IN
the ncighborhood who at some period
or other of their existence had expert
cnccd the delights of town and were
therefore civilized and unhappy.
Some barracks were within nm easy
drive, and n crack. extpnNly 90 ahead
cavalry regiment quar;trcd there whose
officers greatly appreciated house
where You could get a frst rate dinner,
do u gamble mt roulotte,or plunge wild
ly ON poker. which was, moreover, pre-
sided over by witty old,womsn assist
ed by the loveliest young one ever seen
in those parts.
Lady Anna. too, wvas n great attrac-
ton when with Wilk she would walk
across to one Of these, giddy festivities,
and sometimes the venue would be
shifted to the castle, and imprunptu
parties got mp mt which. Compton stood
aghast. seeing that his young mistress
and master had nos yet'been respectfully
dincd by or given retarn feeds To- the
county.
Only ono grievance had Lady Lirri-
per. and this was that ont Of Trelawny
all the virtue. otherwise the wicked
ness, had departed. leaving him dull rs
ditch water and without spark of life
left in him.
1T doesn't suit you, my dear, she
said one day, ''tobe moral and pious
and cast down those dangerous eyes of
yours. One Of these days you'll burst
ont worse than ever. and there'll he a
terrific coniiaRration III these parts l
see you look out of the corners If your
eyes at that little fool somctimes--a
mere blink-but there's hell behind.
I'll give those lovelorn idiots two year.
ut tho very outside, and then She
shrugged her shoulders and spread out
her palms significantly. Every woman
wants three husbands, my dear Blake,
the emotional, the intellectual and the
financial-thcre might be some chance
Of happiness between EN-. Iwish Gre
gorias would make up her mind to tax,
Dalrymplc. He is an ugly man, If
course, and his,nosc always locks IS ]
IL wanted saddle aud bride TO finish
it. It's quite naked rs il Is. in fact
Still she might do II great deal verse. /
sometimes think that when Won cast GU:
your devils they be.ouk themselves to
her." added the old lady. ewing him
shrcwdly, and that she's the more
dangerous of the two now. A woman
takes the lead in badness rs in every
thing else when she oncexivos her mind
to it,"
Trclawny shrugged his shoulders.
They were sitting III a,chl-ning little
morning room, of which the walls and
carpets were in faded yellowish neutral
tints. tho mantelpiece and all the wood
work u vivid and peculiar shade of blue
green. and the china in 10 old blue. ,bs
flowers on the table white with r-ron
foliage. the whole effect being delicious
and the result If an artists brains. who
had speut q month here a cnuple of
years ago.
''She can't DO any harm now," he
said indifferently. "She played for Gas.
silis. IT course. us did for He s;op-
ped abruptly. and Lady Lirriper thought
how old he looked for his years, though
the lines Of his features consorted ex-
tremely i'll with the virtuous role he
was now playing.
And tell you she's more mad about
Cassilis than ever" she said tartly,
and he lk . her: there's no question
about that. The least vain man on earth
Knows when he is the sun that lights mp
woman's heaven, and every day I'm
expecting ~ see Mamie Jealous. "
Blake moved res,lessly in his chair.
IT'S the women who are at tie bot
tom of everything. he growled. Gas
silis is all right If she II only let him
alone
"Ma.rimony again." said Lady Lir-
ripper dryly. "A woman is al, angel
when she is out of your reach: very
ordinary woman when she is within il.