The morning times., 1897-02-28


herself her eyes rested on a charcoal sketch
of herself in the character of Sir Henry
Wildair in the Constant Couple" done by
Sir Joshua Reynolds pupil, Northcote
She ran to the door and called out 10 Mrs
Lewis, who had not had time to get 70 the
foot of the stairs.
Tome back for moment, madam, cried
Mrs, Abingdon over the bannisters; and
when Mrs. Lewis returned, she said: Il
called you back to tell you TO be ready
dressed for the gardens on Monday night
i wjllaccompany you thither inmy coach"
You mean that you will
go away now like a good child. Ask
no more questions till Monday night.
On the Monday night she was dressed
To go to Vauxhali, when the room in when
she was waiting was entered by an eX
tremely handsome and splendidly dressed
young gentleman.
II protest, sirl' cried Mrs. Lewis.
starting up. You have made a mistake
l have not the honor of your acquaintance.
Fore Cad, my charmer, you assume
the airs of an innocent miss with amazing
ability smirked her visitor. My name,
madam, is Sir Henry Wildair at your
service, and l would fain hope that YOU
VIII accept my poor escort to the gardens"
puzzled look was oil Mrs Lewis face
as the gallant began to speak, but grad
ually this expression disappeared She
clapped her hands together girlishly and
then threw herself back OH chair roar
ing with laughter
The next day at the playhouse Mrs. Alb
ington met Lee Lewis with reproachful
look. She had written to him on the Sat
urday, expressing her regret that She could
not go with him to the gardens, but assur-
ing him that she would be there. and charg-
ing him to look for her
by heavens. 1 waited for you for an
hour on the lantern walk. but you did not
appear" cried Lewis.
AN hour? Only an hour?'' said the lady.
'And. pray how did you pass the rest of
the timer
"A strange thing happened" said Lewis,
after pause, Il was amazed TO see my
wife Thereon one whom took 10 be my
wife"
'Ah. sir, these mistakes are of common
occurrence" laughed Mrs. Abingdon. Was
she. like her husband, alone?"
No that 5 the worst of it; she was by the
side Of u handsome young fellow in Il
pink coat embroidered with silver"
Mrs. Lewis is a very charming lady, l
know "
You have seen her?'
she was pointed out TO me last night"
Heavens, then it was she whom 1 saw
in the gardens. would not have believed
it,
What. are you SO unreasonable as to
think that It's wife's duty To remain at
home while her husband amuses himself
at Vauxhall?''
Nay, Tut my wife,
rs vastly pretty young creature sir
whom a hundred men, as exacting al her
husband, would think it pleasure to at
tend at the gardens or the pantheon
TWO days afterward Lee Lewis said to
her:''I wonder il it It's true that my wife
has adnirer?'
why should it not be true, sir? Every
thing that is admirable has an admirer,''
said Mrs Abingdon.
''She is not quite the same rs she used TO
be- said ne. Il half suspect that she has
something on her mind Can it be possible
that -
"Pshaw, sir; why not put her to the
test?'' cried Mrs. Arlington.
The test? How?''
Why, sir, give her chance of going
again To the gardens Tell her that you
are going To the playhouse on Thursday
night, and then do as You did before, only
keep better lookout for her, and-well,
you must promise me that if you find her
with that handsome young spark, you will
not run him through the body"
As Mrs Lewis, accompanied by her dash
ing escort, descended from the coach and
walked up the long avenue toward the tea
house manyeyes were focused upon her, for
all the town seemed to be at NauNhall that
night But only the quick eyes of Mrs.
Abingdon perceived the face OF Lee Lewis
at the outskirts of the crowd
Mrs Abingdon smiled She knew perfectly
well that her disguise was so complete as
TO remain impcnetrable, even to her most
familiar friends, and she had voice to suit
the costume of the beau, so that upon
previous occasions she had, when in a
similar dress, escaped all recognition, even
at one of the balls at the little pla yhouse
in the Ha ymarket.
For another hour the actress and her COM
panion renainedin the gardens, and when at
last they returned to the hackney coach the
former did not fail to see that Lewis was
watching them and following them, though