The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-05-15

She was, as Lady Dolly said, a strange GIRL
half child and half saint. and her ways were
not altogether the ways OF Lacy Doly's
How hot it is" said Lady Dolly. paus-
ing in her passage through the crowded
room a dainty Dresden chinalike figure in
a simmer of satin and diamonds. Il wish
Mrs. Talbot-Browne wouldn't ask so many
people. It's positive cruelty. Mr.: Hamilton,
90 you feel inclined to play the part OF
Good Samaritan to the extent OF getting me
an ice?"
"of course, do" answered Godfrey
Hamilton, as in duty bound: and If you
VIII trust yourself to me think can find
you quiet place to eat in"
1t sounds too good to be true, laughed
Lady Dolly; May put him to the test,
Mrs Hamilton? Can you spare him for
five minuteS?'
There was a challenge in her eyes, but
Ursula Hamilton did not see it.
'Ohi yes she answered ind1nerently.
Lady Dolly looked curiously at her as she
stood there in her tall, cold, serene beauty,
Geoffrey Hamilton's side. He piloted her
skiIfully through the fashionable crowd TO
a deep, cushioned window seat that by good
luck happened to be vacant just then.
rs this better?" he asked. If YOU don't
mind waiting moment, I'll do my best for
you in the way of an ice, but don't expect
great things"
Lady Dolly sank down on the soft cush-
ions with a sigh of relief
oh! this is too nice" she, said, Get an
apricot ice, if you can, and please be quick.
The heat has made me feel quite faint"
I'm sorry" said Godfrey, and he hurried
away.
In few minutes he returned triumphant.
Here you are" he said; Il got the best 1
could. hope you feel better now"
Yes, thank you," said Lady Dolly de-
He sat down beside her and took up the
large feather s fan that b: lay in her knee
'Yes-no-I don't care" Lady Dolly an
swered, rather incoherently. Look here,
quietly. before ~" we're re dis disturb ed " N
A slight expression of surprise crossed his
face.
grave and distant politeness. What can /
do for you, Lady Dolly?"
She laughed little and shrugged her
shoulders at the formal address, but she
made no remark
'Oh, it's nothing very special" she said;
II heard a little story about you yester-
and you may thank your stars that he
chose me for his confidante. You know
spreading a tale all over London, but-but 1
am not like that, and Teddy can be awfully
discreet when he chooses Resides
She paused, and her eyes filled the silence
eloquently
Godfrey frowned and his face grew white
and stern.
returned led CURLY ni what What h has Brooke been
telling you about me"'
GU needn't be SO-SO-er-DruSQue,
Lady Dolly retorted with a pout. YOU
you never used 70 speak to me like that"
He frowned again and squared his broad
shoulders with an I'M. tient movement
more gently. Let sleeping dogs lie. It's
better than waking them up, 1 assure you.
What did Brooke tell your
She smiled at him mischevously over her
last spoonful of ice.
sSuch a funny little tale" she answered.
Put my plate down and I'll tell you all
So Geoffrey put her plate down and then
she told him all about 1t, and he listened
dark eyes-a look that she had never seen
there before. When she had finished he did
not fly into rage, as she had half ex-
pectcd he would; he did not even make
remark but sat staring into space with
as absent and preoccupied an air as Il he
had forgotten her existence. Lady Dolly
felt puzzled and angry.
WELL" she said at last, haven't you
word to say for yourself? What does 1t all
He reused himself then and turned to her
gravely, so gravely that she was quite
startled.
ct means" he said, "a great deal-a
great deal more than it appears to-
Lady Dolly smiled vaguely at her fan.
"Ah, yes" she said, things often do"
He paused for a moment, then leaned for
ward with a quick. sudden movement and
looked keenly and searchingly into her face
I'VE used to be good friends once. he said.
She raised her eyebrows quiZZically.
MEN are so inconsistent" she remarked.
"a few minutes ago.. when reminded you
of that fact you told me to let sleeping
dogs lie
He made an impatient movement.
BE serious he said, please be serious.
This is no laughing matter. It'S-it's a mat
ter almost of life and DEATH"
+. Lady Dolly looked up quickly. The situa-
ton was becoming interesting.
II am quite serious she said, ''and if
can help you will. You may depend on
me-"
TT isn't matter that concerns me-"
Geofrey went on. IF 1t were you and
the world, and to put what construction
you pleased on 1t. shouldn't care. But it
concerns my wife,
"Ah!" said Lady Dolly softly.
1T concerns my Wife Geoffrey said
again. and for her. sake hope you will
keep quiet, and make Brooke keep quiet,
too. She-she has never done you any
harm"
Lady Dolly smiled her sweetest and most
innocent smile.
marked equally; 81 never let them"
Godfrey would have smiled, too, if he had
not been in such deadly desperate earnest.
woman who made 1t.
Il believe you" he said and then he went
quiet. won't you?'
Lady Dolly looked at him refectively over
the edge of her fan.
You haven't told me the story yet" she
said. What did it all mean?'
He frowned uneasily
Il can't tell you," he answered. Its
dead secret. Even Ursula doesn't know 1t,
although it concerns her own brother-and
1 hope to heaven she never may"
Lady Dolly was silent.
II can't tell you" Godfrey said again. 81
darent tell you, and that's the honest
truth But 1 give you my word of honor,
said before, you would be welcome to tell
the tale to all the world. But-but-well, it's
like this. My wife has only one brother,
and he is a great deal more to her than
most brothers are to their sisters. She posi-
lively idoliZes him, and thinks there is no.
mess. and it is devil of mess; not an or
binary affair by any means L can assure
you.
How he could do what he did / can't
think-he must be mad as well as bad For
tunately he came to me to help him, and I
customed to being mixed up in things of
that sort. Everything is squared up and
settled now, and If it hadn't been for that
unlucky meeting with Brooke yesterday, no
one would have ever got wind of it,
The lady lost her head, you see," Lady
critical attention. IF she had kept cool
Teddy would have been no wiser"
Keep cool! Godfrey echoed, with q
short laugh Good heavens! You don't
know all that depended on my getting that
wire at certain time or you wouldn't talk
about keeping COOL
Il know nothing" said Lady Dolly.
You know all that you ever will know
from me-" Godfrey returned CURLY. You
know more than my wife knows. Poor
child If she knew all that know it would
break her heart"
did you ever meet any one with a
broken hearth" asked Lady Dolly, still
studying her fan.