Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1899-05-04

the beauties OF the day. Husband
ard children both felt in awe OF the
beautiful woman. with her Queenlv
grace and bearing,
Lucia" said the earl, Il thought Of
running up to town this afternoon. |
shall return tomorrow"
Indeed" said my lady, slowly,
why this sudden resolution, Ross"
There is some little business tina;
no one can attend to but myself" he
said Il shall not be long absent"
business Of what nanre"" asked
my lady, her fine eyes fixed on his
face.
why, dear, it is surely not needful
for me to explain my business to YOU?
have none of which you would not
approve, want to call on my bankers
i want to sell some shares. | have
several little reasons for running up
to town"
You remember, of course, that the
Beauvoirs dine here today" said my
lady.
Yes, I have not forgotten, but With
your usual tact YOU can apologize Tor
me. Lucia"
The compliment pleased her
"Certainly, can, if your absence IS
really needful, Ross" said my lady,
at is needful | assure you, | can
tell YOU all l have done when | return;
Just now must hurry off, or | shall
not catch the train"
As the earl quilted Cowdor, he re-
GREETED deeply that his son should
have complicated the situation by en-
forcing silence rs regarded his mother,
He pondered great deal on what
he should say when he returned
above all, If the boys trouble was, as
he imagined the loss of money.
Il must uot let his mother know,
Thought the carl Boys are boys;
she would think he was lost altogether
If she knew that he had betting and
gambling debts. Whatever he owes,
no matter what 1t is, | will give him 4
check for it, and make him promise
me that it shall be the last time,
lie never thought of any other dan
ger; that his son had fallen in love
or wanted to marry never occurred TO
him. He was glad when he reached
Dunmore House; the old housckeeper
met him in the hall.
Il have dinner ready. my lord" she
said. Lord Chandos toli me you were
coming"
He looked round eXpectantly.
is not Lord Chandos herc?" he
asked
1t occurred to him that the house
keeper looked troubled and distressed.
NO" she replied, "he is not staying
hcre-they are staying in the Queens
hotel, in Piccadilly."
"They,' he cried, "whom do you
mean by they? Has Lord Chandos
friends with him?"
The woman's face grew pale. She
shrunk perceptibly from the keen, gray
eyes.
II understood his lordship that he
was not alone" she replied u may
him also that he should be with you
by eight this evening, when you had
finished dinner"
why could he not dine with me?"
he thought. "Sends a telegram for me,
and then leaves me to dine alone 1t
is not like Lance"
But thinking over it would not solve
the mystery; the earl went to his room
and dressed for dinner. He had or
dered bottle of his favorite Madeira
of which wonderful tales were told.
Then he sat thinking about his son,
and his heart softened toward him
He thought of the handsome, curly
headed young boy whose grand spirit
no one but my lady could subdue. He
laughed aloud as he remembered the
struggles between himself and his heir
they had always ended in his defeat,
but when my lady came on the scene
1t was quite another thing, the defeat
was on the other side then, and my
Lord Chandos was usually carried off
defeated and conquered,
He thought Of the handsome strip
ling who used to wander about the
grounds at Cawdor, trying to conceal
from my lady the fact that he smoked
cigars. He dil not fear his father and
smoked boldly before him, but at the
first sound Of my ladys rnstling silk
he flew rather than ran. Lord Lans-
well laughed aloud as he thought Of It
all.
"He is just as frightened at my lady
now" he SAID to himself Il cannot
help feeling touched and hattered that
he has sent for me in his trouble.
will help him and my lady shall never
know"
His heart warmed to his son and
heir-no one knew how dearly he loved
him, nor how completely his life was
wrapped up in him. Then he heard a
cab drive up to the door. Surely that
must be Lance.
He listened in impatient surprise
he heard whispering in the outer hall
as though some consultation were be-