Tazewell Republican. [volume] (Tazewell, Va.) 1892-1919, 1898-01-13
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HIS LORDSHIP'S y
= THANKSGIVING.
BY CLINTON ROSS.
copyright. 1891
100000
copyright. 1891

been giving thanks.
1t begins with Kilien - my Cousin
Kilien.
Kilien is surely the best-loolling girl
in the town, and the very best fellow
quite as good at sports as any OF the
boys. She can make as good drive
as any man I know, or take as high a
fence, or swim as far. AS for women,
she could once outflirt 'em all; she
could now if she wanted to; perhaps
she does a bit, now and then, but it's
not for me to say. We grew up to-
gethcr, cousins by propinquity; her
aunt married my uncle; the Danbys
and the Westmores have been pseudo
relatives for more than n century.
When we began to go out to functions
in town, I liked to have Kilien along;
she made the rest of the women bit
inferior. But I never fell in love with
her-oh, no! 1 reserved that privilege
for other girls. AS say, we both had
our affairs; 1 think l had abouta score,
and should have had more if my in
come had permitted, and l hadn't been
so busy trying to get on in Buy & Sells
office down in the street. And since
Kilien was one of the handsomest, Jol-
Hest girls in the town, and one of the
richest as well, suitors charged up the
hill and fell like the heroes at Balac-
lava. Some Of those fellows I didn't
like any too well; but there was none l
ever dislilled so much as that little
Englishman, the carl of Stavers.
When I first saw him after dinner at
the Cosmopolitan club, I felt that l
was going to dislike him; knew what
he was over here for, in the tow of his
mamma, the dowager countess - the
restoration Of Fenley house, Mon
mouthshire. And Eilien was obviously
the most important of the young wom-
en- who were to be paraded for the in
spection of Lady Stavers' lorgnette-
for when l saw the earl, [ didn't be-
lieve he would have much to say about
it. He was just little stockily built
red-faced, fair-haired chap, with a
smile that was bound to acknowledge
was agreeable, and easy good manners,
with none of that patronizing manner
that marks your second class Britisher.
Nobody at the club noticed him par
ticularly until Teddy Brooks, who had
him in tow, had made some introduce
tons; then they crowded about him q
bit. for though titles are common
enough here in these days, we don't
object TO being seen with an English
nobleman any more than the great
Thackeray, who confessed to the desire
to promenade Picadilly with lord on
each arm.
"Eh, Charlie" said Teddy, as proud
as a baby with a new rattle, "let me
introduce Lord Stavers-Lord Stavers,
Mr.. Westmore."
"How dye do" said Lord Stavers,
'jolly fine day"
fine"
"You two probably will meet at the
Danbys'. Westmore is always down at
their house at Dale" said Teddy.
"Deuced fine girl, Miss Dandy" Stav-
ers remarked.
eyes, 1 think So" commented, talk
ing his measure.
But the next morning I was to see
his mother the countess down at Dale,
and 1 understood at once that he was
the led, not the leader. This old wom-
an was one of the greatest gossips it
ever has been my fortune to know.
Betty Burton, whom I took in to din
ner, whispered to me: isn't she aw-
full? Yet like Lord Stayers."
Stavers had Kilien, OF course, and
Kittens eyes were dancing for him,
The countess, too, paid my delightful
cousin a lot Of attention.
whats the matter, Charlie?" Betty
Burton asked. you seem nervous"
Then, seeing where my eyes were, her
laughter rippled.
Its Kilien."
ooh, YOU Know" I hastened to say,
"Kilien is toe nice a girl to marry in
England"
II think she can take care Of herself"
Betty said; and I acknowledged that
my cousin usually could But as 1
watched them came to see that STAY
ers, after all, was rather attractive fell
low. know he rose in the estimation
of Philip Dandy; and I know, that be-
cause felt this, liked him the less.
After dinner we men went out TO the
stables, and Stavers strengthened his
position with Philip Dandy by showing
his knowledge of horses points. l
felt tremendously out of it. What was
to Kilisn, or Kiien to me, with all the
advantages this man had to offer?
What was to Kilien, anyway-just q
comrade.
"You are in a muff. Charlie" Kilien
said when we came in "You look as
cross as bear"
81 was never so eood-natured In my
Iife," asserted. "Only wish Eng
lshmen would stay on their own side"
eve certainly DON'T" she replied, de-
murely.
THAT'S true" Then I added, looking
across the room: "Betty Burton and
he make good-looling pair; pity Bet
ty is SO poor"
81 understand Lord Stavers wants to
marry money-or his mother has SO
ordained" remarked Kilien, slyly.
cts you, Kiien-"
"For better or for worse" my incor-
rigible cousin responded, laughing me
in the face.
The morning came fair and fresh.
There was tossing of heads, and
champing of bits, as the grooms held
the horses in FESTIVE outline against
the bare November branches, the pure
cold sky. We had brisk, hard rum
the strong air hit and Frightened our
faces, and the deep baying of the dogs
resounded over the meadow land, now
near, now far away.
But of course Stavers had the best
noopnt