Evening star., 1901-03-09

she had turned thoughtful as she sat fing-
! ering the photograph. Presently she be-
| gan to smile and said: Find out about
Merrion Lodge for me, Mr.. Sloyd."
He began to gather up his pictures and
papers.
rs Baron Tristram aiive?' she asked
suddenly.
s!oyd recovered his air of superiority
Her ladyship is peeress in her own
right" he explained.
She's not married, then?'
"A widow, madame.
"And wasn't her husband Baron Iris
tram?"
Her husband would not have been lord
excuse me, madame, We say lord-Tristram
of Blent. Her son will succeed to the title,
of course. The family reside at Blent Hall,
only a few hundred yards from Merrion
Lodge.
Il don't understand the family arrange
| ments," remarked Madame Zabriska, but
1 daresay l shall learn it all if l go. Good
morning, Mr.. Sloyd.''
Sloyd was making his bow when the door
opened and man came in. He was tall,
erect and good looking Both air and man
ner were youthful, although perhaps with
trace of artifice. He would pass for
thirty-five on a casual glance, but not a
longer one.
MY uncle, Major DupIay," said the little
woman. This is Mr.. Sloyd, who's come
about the house, uncle.
Duplay greeted the house agent with
grave courtesy and entered into conversa-
ton with him, while Madame Zabriska re,
lapsed again into an alert silence ana
watched the pair.
The last thing that Nine. Zabrska-the
style sat oddly on the child-like face and
figure, but Nina Zabriska at the age or
| twenty-eight had been widow three years
desired to do was harm; the thing she
best loved to make was mischief. The
essence of mischief lay for her-perhaps for
everybody-in curiosity; it was to put peo-
pie in the situations in which they least
a~l 81 ocol1y md tn
how they comported themselves therein.
AS for hurting their interests, or even their
feelings@no; she was certain that she o!u
not want that; was she not always terrlply
sorry when that happened as 1t sometimes
and quite unaccountably did? She would
weep then-but for their misfortune be II
understood. not for any fault of hers.
1t would be- fun to choose Merrion Lodge
as her summer home, first, because her un-
Gle woul6s wonder why in the world she
took it, and, secondly, because she had
guessed that somebody might be surprised
to see her there. So she laid her plan even as
| she had played her tricks in the days when
| she was an odd little girl, and Mr.. Chold-
erton, not liking her, had with some JUS
| tice christened her the Imp.
Major Duplay bowed Mr.. Sloyd to the
! door, with the understanding that full de-
| tails of Merrion Lodge were to be furnished
| in day or two.
"And now, dear Nina" said he what has
| made you set your mind on what seems dis
| tincty the least desirable of these houses?''
IT'S the cheapest, I expect. and want
| to economze."
"People always do as soon as they've got
any money" reflected Duplay in puzzled
| tone. IF you were on half pay, as I am,
you'd never want to do it,"
| 'Wen, I've another reason" This was
already saying more than she had meant
| to say.
(which you don't mean to tell me?'
Certainly not.''
| With shrug he took out his cigarette
case and handed it to her.
good humoredly. "Really, Nina, I more
than earn my keep by the pleasure I give
you in not telling me things. And then you
| go and do it!'
''Shan't this time" said Mr.. Choldertons
| Imp. seeming not day more than five, In
spite of her smoking cigarette and her
! smart costume.
you to do nothing wrong"
We'll, / suppose So" she agreed, with
| scornful composure Ibid you ever hear
| mother speak of a Mrs. Fitzhubert?"
| The major smiled under his heavy mus
| tache, as he answered, Never"
"Well I have" said Nina, with a world
Of significance. II heard her first through
| 'I was listening
You often were in those days"
"Oh. I am still-Dut In the inside of the
door now. And she told me about It after
ward Of her own accord. But 1t wouldn't
interest you, uncle"
mot In Its present stage Of revelation"
he agreed. with q little yawn.
The funny old Englishman-you never
knew her. He rather admired her, too.
He was there when che rushed in and
never miudi Old Choldertou hated ma