The Worthington advance., 1900-10-19


took no notice 81 his foolish re-
marks, or Of the laugh from the group
of men around him. It ii better to ig-
more vulgarity when you have no rep.
artee. ss.s
crossed the room 70 speak 10 Lady
Marten. The room was crowded. Az /
was speaking to her Lady Ockington,
arose from her seat u and camesto her.
She was followed by q girl, whom l req
ognized (though how she had charged
and how beautiful she had grown!) as
Alice. .$ l,..s# ..= .$
While Lady Ockington WAS saying
her adieus ] turned to Alice. I saw she
recognized me.
"Alice, my deari" Isaid. u feltrather
than saw Lady lexington wheel about.
Alice put out her hand and smiled.
I took her hand. -
"What an immense girl you have
grown!" went on. "You've grown too
big to. kiss!" n Z fs97sft
She looked surprised, but I bent for
ward and kissed her lightly on the
cheek. .
"Mr. Meriva!e!" she said, but I
thought she did not look offended
Il. "Oh, you must still call me- Jerry
I said, hastily. S':1 suppose you will Be
leaving school soon:"
Lady lexington, who had been re-,
garding me as if 7 were an intrepid
froA interfered. d "a y 81
Miss Mansell has left school some
years." she said, in an awful tone.
"Oh, she has q governess, I suppose.
Well, Alice" i said, Il hope sou are
a better girl than you usedto Be-" q
"Alice, We must co." said Lady Ock-
ington. 4 '~s..
"Good-by,"TI said. I still held her
hand. II will call some day and take
You to the waxworks."
She smiled as she left me and fol-
lowed Lady lexington from the room
was glad she smiled. I should not
have acted as did.
During this incident the stiffness in
the room was terrible. Conversation
began again. I turned to Lady Marten
and began to speak of Pinero's coming
play. But she was laughing con-
vulsively.
"You wicked, dreadful young man."
she said. "Mr. burden told me what
you intended to do, but couldn't have
believed you would have dared. Not
even you. And Lady Ockington there!"
I protested that Miss Mansell and I
were old friends. Nothing could shake
her conviction that we had never met
before; that I had kissed girl who
was an entire stranger. This was the
general impression, thanks to Bobby's
foolish talk.
But I am not as bad as all that.
The next day I called at Lady Oc-
kingdoms house. I did not expect to
be admitted, but 1 felt it would only
be kind to call.
The door was opened by an unin-
telligent page boy. Lady lexington
was out. Miss Mansell was in. JOY!
On the stairs encountered the but
Ter, who knew me. He directed a kill
ing glance toward the lad. But it
was too late.
Alice was alone i'm the room. She
came to me with the prettiest air of
confusion. I took her hand.
/ "Alice-Miss Mansell," 1. said, "for
the last "a hours my friends have
been telling me that I have made a
mistake. Did I make mistake?'
'Mr. Merivale," she said, 'for the
last "a hours Lady lexington has been
telling me you didn't make a mistake.
Did you make mistaken"
1t was all right, she was smiling.
"Alice-Miss Mansell; I cannot tell
lie unnecessarily; it was not a mis-
take-it was intentional"
She shook her head.
II don't think it was quite nice of
you," she said. r r. d.
I responded eagerly. II {.
"You are quite right; it was hor-
rid. But have an explanation"
"Explain," she said, majestically.
At the moment we heard ring.
1T is Lady Ockington!" exclaimed
Alice.
'Shall hide?" I asked.
I'VE are going to the Pinkerton's to-
night" she said, looking out of the
window as Lady Ockington entered.
CHAPTER III. Z
The general election was on. had
to make four speeches every night, be-
SIDES scanyassing during the day. I
should have preferred not to. But I
had an agent. He said he was nv
agent, otherwise I should !. have
thought our positions. were reversed:
T. AmOngtpther thingsihe made me 90
to church on Sundays. 1t wis nee
essary, he said; to- conciKate the
church people. I'VE also went to the
MethodistF chapel to- conciliate tho
dissenters: The result was we an
noyed both ~ - }gas.sse-;E3stfs..t ;Esf.ts, -.
I. At 'the5chdrch I recognized i lady
with Alice's back hair. She: also had
Alice's profile. In fact,Sit turned out
to be'Alice herself. ~ shel was visiting
her uncle, Cox Western, with whom
she had lived in her younger days.
T I~told my agent that our great de-
feet was aswant Of LADY canvassers.
He4profered his wife. l accepted her.
but said you'd cali on Col. Western
and, see y I couldn't pick out a few
more. H E4
| "But Col. Western is opposed to
u.s." wi g., TsS;llE - FL
He is most good natured," I re-
Piled. y am sure he will lend rs a
few k sg@., y 4 m
Ny agent sighed. He wasSa consci-
entious man, and had scurpies as to
whether was a fit person for the
house Of commons. "If he were only
as sensible as some Of his speeches!" :"
he said to my mother once.
| Nevertheless, I sent nv mother over