The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1897-09-08

miled a. be answered! ~
t"Is shs ashing agsinf Just now On
the balcony out there she wanted to sug-
gest that it was something about you,
Miss Ora sshay."
Lola laughed soft, low, sweet laugh
that made the men who were at the ia
bles within earshot look up and turn
round and feel suddenly ioerested In
the doings of the group which contain
ed three such pretty women and the
distinguished looking man.
Mrs. Dc Witt and Beryl were both
perplexed by the conduct Of the other
two, and the former glanced quickly up
to the faces Of them both as il to find
there an explanation, but she found
nothing.
I'm here she hinted, as think very
unkindly, that there was some love-
making at the bottom Of it, and that
you were running away either with or
from Mrs. Villyers-I didn't make out
which. suppose that's not sop
Mrs. Do Witt looked up quickly, ex-
pecting to intercept q glance Of under
standing between Lola and Sir Jaffray,
but she was disappointed.
mo, indeed not" returned Sir Jaf-
fray.
lola, think you're one Of the most
daring girls ever knew" said Mrs
De Witt suddenly. you've Balaklava
pluck. You dash right in under the hot
test fire and try to spike the guns which
are Smelling you right and left"
mot left, dear" returned Lola, who
was sitting at one side Of the small ia
BILE alone with Mrs. Do Witt on her
right hand at the bottom and Mrs. Will
yers' empty place between her and Sir
Jaffray. who was at the head. She
pointed to the vacant place with sweep
of tho hand, which included also the
baronet, and laughed.
Mrs. Dc Witt understood her, and, q
fresh course coming at that moment,
Beryl took advantage Of the interruption
to change the conversation and lead it
away to matters which were not charged
with personal references.
When they rose from the table, Mrs.
De Witt purposeiy linked her arm in
Lola's, and, walking with her into the
drawing room, returned to the attack.
"What passed between you and Sir
Jaffray this afternoon, Lola, on the
veranda?" she asked.
my dear. there was nothing passed
between us. There was nothing to pass.
We were alone"
"Your repartee is conveniently active
tonight, dear. You know what mean.
What did he say2 What happened?
What was the result Of the interview"
1.-THE dead ashes of q burned out fire
and-a good deal Of cigar SMOKE" she
answered with mock seriousness and
laughing eyes.
Mrs. De Witt bit her lip.
"You mean you won't tell me, Lo-
la?" she said irritably.
my dear, I'll tell you everything
you ask me. You know I've no secrets
from you, even about our own smoke.
What do you want to known"
ibid Sir Jaffray propose to you this
afternoonl' asked hercompanion point
eddy.
In a moment the girl changed. She
drew her arm ont Of her friends and
with a manner which suggested that
she considered the question had over
stepped the bounds of even the friendly
footing on which they were she an
swered:
Surely you forget. Sir Jaffray, as
you have yourself told me often, is all
but engaged to marry his cousin. Do
you know him so little as to think he
could fool with me under those circum-
stances, or me SO little as to think I
would let him1 You've been wool gath
ering, my dear, tonight. Now under
stand what you meant at dinner. On
my word hope Sir Jaffray didn't, or
should never look him in the face
again. But must 60 to Mrs. Villyers
now. Good night. I sha mt come down
again, and goodby if / DON'T see you
again." And before Mrs. De Witt could
answer Lola had kissed her and slipped
out of the room, leaving her as puzzled
as eter, but yet certain that there was
something in it" and angry because
she could not find it out.
In the early afternoon Of the follow
ing day Sir Jaffray arrived at Walcote.
His mother had been looking forward
with little apprehension to the inter
view with him, knowing as she did his
great tenacity of purpose. She held SO
strong u conviction that marriage
with Lola would mean ultimate disas.
ter, however, that she was resolved to
struggle against 1t to the end.
But she could make no impression on
Sir Jaffray's resolute determination.
II will marry no one else," was the
burden Of his case, and nothing else
she could say or plead would alter him.
Mother, have come not to hold out
any prospect to you that your wishes
can prevail in this" he said, toward
the close Of the interview. II am sorry
that you hold the opinion you do, and
! have listened carefully to all you have
said. but you have not changed me one
jot or little. A man must choose his
wife for himself. So it has been since
she world was young, and SO it always
will be. What have come to you to do
is to toll you that the complication in
regard to my cousin Beryl, which You
and others have caused, however unwit-
tingly, and until now with my unfortu-
nate help, you and others are In duty
bound to remove. Only yesterday with
your letters to Beryl and me you in
creased that complication, though, mind
you, don't believe Beryl does care for
me as you think or would wish"
"You are pledged to her, Jaffray,"
said Lady Walcote.
"No, I am not pledged. have &C.
quiesced in mistaken course while I
did not know my own feelings. That is
all. have never breathed syllable to
her which could suggest that loved her
or that ! wished her to be my wife.
You must see her and explain matterA"
"Why" 4
because Miss Crawshay will not
hear a word from me while other peo-
pie couple my name with Beryl's. She
is acting as an honorable girl, Of course,
In this"