The Saint Paul globe., 1899-02-12
ir of good breeding.

ANooiii hIioW IL is a stupid SOrI OIL tHlHS W
said.
A little CLEAN of Irish humor flashed into
oheHa violet eyes, she said demurey
enough
When has one to be stupid? When one
thinks it will suit ones hearer?"
NO. dld not mean that in the very least,
ne SAID, laughing; 'but at the beginning of
an acquaintance there are things that seem
as inevitable an introduction
And suppose the answers inevita-
Die TOO! Well, liked the Drawing-Room aw-
fully. shall never never forget it all my
life
Why, you speak as if it were highly prob
able that you would shortly be retiring from
the world and its pomps and vanities'
And so l shall. I cannot stay here for
ever I shall go home, and very likely shall
not see London again for years." and Sheila
gave an unfeigned sigh.
why. is home at the North Pole or the
Great Desert?" said the young man, anus
edly.
"It is nearly as inaccessible. Did not Aunt
Agnes tell you caroe from Ireland?''
But | seem to have heard that there are
steamers running daily and trains to match?"
There are two trains aday to our neaest
station, but you can only travel by one,
because the other does not get there till the
next day-I mean it gets there in the middle
of the night. OH you may laugh if you like;
know l made bull, but I am sure it ex-
planned the thing far more clearly than long
Speech" said Sheila, with charming defiant
please, ma'am, I was not laughing" said
Lord Fanshawe, with untrustworthy humil
Iity. Il am only deeply interested in your
account of this unexplored spot Surely one
might achieve fame by fitting out an expe-
dition to discover it. May / ask it's name?"
"Rathclare; but am sure you are no wiser
now 1t is right away to the extreme west Of
Mayo and even tourists do not come there"
Then Rathclare has much to be thankful
for"
ooh, like seeing people, even if they are
only tourists. You talk like Rod-like
friend of mine. He is always afraid they
will take to coming to Rathclare.''
Does he-your friend-ive at this happy
place, too?"
We'll, he lives a little way outside; but
it nearly all belongs to him.
And he prefers to keep his belongings to
himself? Wise man, and happy man-if he
cam" said Lord Fanshawe, deliberately.
Sheila looked at him, a trif1e puzzled by
his tone.
well, Miss Irwin, as your stay here may
be so final, you ought to see all you can in
the time. 1 wonder whether you would care
to go to the Derby if L could persuade Mrs.
Harding to let take you all down on my
COACH he went on.
You would drive us down to see the
Derby?' said Sheila, in tone of incredulous
delight. .Oh, 1 sure She will 60 | am
desperately fond of races, though I have
never been to any good ones. But the Derby.
never dreamt l should really go there, and
Oh coach, too"
himself on being by no means an impression
able young man, and many We're the matri-
monial snareS he had avoided till mothers
and chaperons were beginning to despair of
him; but, when the little Irish girl, on whom
he had never set eyes till that afternoon,
looked al him, her eyes darkening and deep
ening with excitement, the wild-rose color
coming and going, he would have offered to
drive her to EPSON in a gingerbread carriage,
drawn by ostriches. if she had expressed a
wish for them.
II only hope you will not be disappointed
with it. Its chief features seem, generally,
dust and noise,' he said.
oh! like noise and I do not mind DUST
said Sheila, cheerfully.
Then 1 am sure you will thoroughly enjoy
the Derby he retor. ed, laughing.
To him, man of the world, the girls
freshness and perfect Inconsistencies were
charming.
She had none of the small affectations of
most pretty women, but stood there, quite at
her ease, with a ready smile and word for
everyone, and, by the tmc he took his leave
he had made up his mind that, if she would
she should be Lady Fanshawe, and reign over
the stately old Manor House, in pleasant
Hampshire, that had SO long wanted chate-
lalne.
CHAPTER Ill
1t was delightful morning, about a fort
The fashionable world was astir early, as it
counted time.
The Park was thronged by pedestrians, who
bowed and smiled incessantly as they met
each other.
Iof expensive simplicity, bewidering to mascu-
line ideas, sat gosSiping, flirting, observing,
as their tastes dictated.
Sheia's gown of pale green muslin, sprgged
l.