The Hope pioneer. [volume] (Hope, N.D.) 1882-1964, 1901-05-30

season to earth at st. PaulS Knights
bridge, let's hope you won't offend
him and that the morituri will salute
you satisfactorily"
SO, Dick won't mind" said his
young wife, confidently; "hell know
I'm only practicing to keep my hand
in for his sake. I'm sure he wouldn't
like me to get rusty. But now,
Madge, we must run off and dress, as
Dick always likes me to dress early
and talk 10 him, if he has been away
from ME in the afternoon"
Sweet simple little SOUL" thought
her friend, as she made her way to
her room, chow deliciously innocent
she is, and how delighted Dickll be at
her desertion! 1 wonder how he'll
take it? I never saw two decently
bred people so devoted before-not to
say 'spoony.'"
And thus unused Madge, mindful of
her W conventional ties of wedlock
and the ever-complacent Charles
Westoby. .
"Whiteways" the following week
was the scene of a very gay and fes-
tive party under the tutelage of the
marchioness of Mulholland, proud,
plethoric and portly, and her wizened
consort, the marquis, who lived for
everybody and everything except his
domestic necessity as he termed his
weighty wife.
Owing to his influence and tastes,
and her ladyship's excessive inability
to do much but doze, their house
parties were always very lively, the
guests pairing off in suitable couples.
except at such times when a common
cause, such as the solemn
of baccarat, called upon them to unite
their forces.
Somehow from the first moment of
her appearance about tea-time, Lady
Fec, fresh in furs and f%urbelows, and
Lord Magnac, an amatory will-o'-the-
wisp, seemed inseparable; and, de-
spite her reputation for adoring her
husband, the other men, including the
merry marquis, envied her cavaliere
servente his luck. But, being of a
kindly turn of mind, that gentleman
arranged that they should go into din
ner together. Dick found himself
told off to take in the dull daughter
of a dreary duchess of Scotch origin,
but was more o. less recompensed to
find on his other side Mrs. Silas p.
M~assingham, the handsome and witty
American widow, whose charms were
in ratio to her dollars.
But, though conscious of her at
fractions and for self-respect's sake
playing up to her lead. Dick could not
help constantly glancing across the
table with puzzled eyes at his dainty
little wife, who seemed to be on the
high road to a furious filtration with
her old admirer, forgetful of her mat
rimonial devotion. And after dinner,
when he found her the %honey-pot of
the masculine flies, with no more than
a little nod and a flicker of a smile
for him, he left the drawing-room and
walked up and down the hall irrita-
bly,, chewing his moustache as though
it were biltong. At last; summoning
philosophy to his aid, he strolled out
on to the terrace to smoke a lonely
cigar for the sake of his nerves.; and,
the night being fine and warm, de-
spite the time of year, tired of his
aimless pacing, he threw himself on
a seat near the conservatory.
A moment or two afterward he was
disturbed by voices through an open
window somewhere near.
Here's a comfy corner, Lady
Feo,' said Magnac's voice.
"Oh, this is lovely" replied his
wife's voice. "Let's sit down here.
It's awfully nice to get back into the
world again after negotiating like a
respectable cabbage; but one wants .
little quiet sometimes"
"Oh," asked Magnac, lightly (an'i
Dick could feel him raise his eyebrows
by instinct), shave you found your
solitude a deux a trife boring then?
We all thought you never gave any
thing a thought. except de Sales"
"Oh, Dicks a DEAR" broke in Lady
Fec, with a sharp ping of conscience,
like a moral Mauser. Then, remem-
bering her self-appointed role, she
went on, "but you want a little va
riety sometimes"
Dick muttered under his breath.
81 thought you'd soon find the mat
rimonial chains chafe a bit," mur-
INJURED Magnac, leaning forward a lit
tie; they're an awful, bore if you
don't arrange not to see more than's
necessary of each other"
"Ye'es," assented the devoted bride,
dubious as to the limits of her part.
doesn't this remind you of that
night in the conservatory at Mrs.
Melville's d~ance?" went on Magnac,
feeling his way tentatively.
Hang it," muttered Dick, deciding
to eavesdrop no more, honor van
gushing curiosity, 81 wonder what
the deuce Feo's up to?"
And he strobe off angrily to the
drawing-room and plunged headlony
into a violent Irritation with the re-
| sponsive relict of the Chicago con-
tractor.
Didn't you hear some one ont
side?" exclaimed Lady Fec, starting
up guilty and ignoring Magnac's
leading question. 81 thought 1 heard
some n moving behind u.s."
"Not T." answered her companion,
carelessly. "No one would be hang
ing about outside at this time of
year"
Now A. loo. L. 1-