Audubon County journal. (Exira, Iowa) 1884-1993, 1899-07-27
iRE EXPOSURE OF LORD STANSFORD.
By ROBERT BARR.
1Continued.l

tdln amount OF lnnuence and be able
to pass examinations. can't pass an
examinationin anything. have quar-
relied with all my people, and have no
influence To tell you the truth, am
saving up money now in the hope of
being able to buy an outfit to go to the
Cape !"
"You would much rather be in Lon
don, though. | suppose?"
Eyes, if had reasonably good in
come. .
"Are You open to fair offer?''
what dc you mean by fair offer?'
II mean, would you entertain pro-
posal in your present line of business
for remuneration p
The young man sat silent for a few
moments and did not look at his COM
panion. When he spoke there was a
shade of resentment in his voice
81 thought you saw, Miss Under
ham, that | was not very proud of my
present occupation.
sNo; but, as you said. man will do
anything for money
II beg your pardon for again con-
thing of the sort.
81 thought you did when you were
speaking of the crossing sweeping But
never mind. | know a lady who has
plenty of money. She is an artist-at
least che thinks she is one and wishes
to devote her life to art. She is contin-
ually pestered by offers of marriage,
and she knows those offers come to her
largely because of her money. Now,
this lady wishes to marry man, and
will settle upon him $4,000 a year.
Would you be willing to accept that
offer if got you an introduction
cit would depend very much on the
lady, said Stansford
ooh. no, it wouldn't for you would
have nothing whatever to do with her
except that you would be her hired
husband She wants to devote herself
to painting, not to you, don't you un-
derstand? And so long as you did not
trouble her you could enjoy your e.
600 year. You perhaps might have to
appear at some of the receptions she
would give. and l have no doubt she
would add guineas an evening for
your presence That would be an ex-
ira, you know.
There was long silence between
them after Maggie Linderham ceased
speaking. The young man kicked the
gravel with his toes, and his eyes were
bent upon the path before him. "He is
thinking it over, said Miss Linderham
to herself. At last Lord Stansford looked
up, with sigh.
"Did you see the late scuff1e between
the unfortunate Heckle and myself?"
''Did l see it?' she asked. Glow
could help seeing it2"
'tAh. then, did you notice that when
he was down I helped him up?"
eyes, and threatened to break his
wrists when you got him up .
"Quite So l should have done it,
too, if he had not promised But what
wanted to call your attention to was
the fact that he was standing up when
Istruck him, and want also to i'm
press upon you the other fact-that
did not hit him when he was down.
Did you notice that? p
"Of course l noticed it, No man
would hit another when he was down.
81 am very glad Miss Linderham,
that you recognize it as code of honor
with us men, brutes as we are Don't
you think a woman should be equally
generous
Certainly. but don t see what you
mean.
~ mean this, Miss Linderham-tha
your offer is hitting me when I'm
down.
"Oh!' exclaimed Miss Linderham,
in dismay 'I'm sure beg your par
don. | did not look at it in that light.
"Oh, it doesn't matter very much!
said Stansford, rising. "It's all included
in the 5 guineas. but I'm pleased to
think have some self respect left and
that | can refuse your lady and will
not become hired husband at e2, 900
year. May | see you back to the
house, Miss Linderham? AS you are
well aware. have duties toward other
guests who are not hired, and it is
point of honor with me to earn my
money. wouldn't like a complaint to
reach the ears of Sphinx & Co.
MISS Lluuernau rose ana placed ner
hand within his arm
''Telephone-what number?' she
asked.
Telephone 100, sO3, " he answered
II am sorry the firm did not provide
me with some of their cards when l
was at the Office this afternoon.
1t doesn't matter, said Miss Lin
derham. II will remember. And they
entered the house together.
Next day, at a large studio in Ken
sington, none of the friends who had
met Miss Linderham at the ball the
evening before would have recognized
the girl; not but that she was as pretty
as ever, perhaps little prettier, with
her long white pinafore and her pretty
fingers discolored by the crayons she
was using. She was trying to sketch
out on the canvas before her the figure
of man, striking out from the shout
der, and she did not seem to have much
success with her drawing, perhaps be-
cause her mind was preoccupied She
would sit for long time staring at the