Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1901-02-17


meanwhile wish me success in a little
undertaking | have on hand Please
tell Lady Mary | am sorry for the
trouble have put her to this evening,
as well as for all other disappoint-
ments l may have caused her. Yours,
while this machine is to him NJ"
How very extraordinary! ejacu-
lated Lady Mary, when she had read
the epistle slowly TO the end. What
do you make of it?"
ITO tell you the truth, I can't help
thinkixE that he meant this from the
first"
eff that be true" said Lady Mary
angrily cit is shameful conduct To
foist these men upon me and then run
off about his own amusements. l shall
never forgive it-never!"
Don't judge him till tomorrow,
Savernake pleaded. thoughtfully
There's something queer under it all
Whatever he is doing ne is not anus
ing himself. Perhaps it would have
been wiser to try and force his conf
dence. But he's a difficult fellow to
manage, and there's nothing to do
now but watch-and wait"
He's actually gone, them"
ooh, yes. His valet brought the note
to my room. He's then been out of the
house, it seems, for about half an
hour"
Leaving no word as to where he
was going?"
So far as could get out of the fellow
none whatever"
AS they spoke the old-fashioned
folding-doors were flung wide, and the
voice Of the footman was heard.
'1Mr. Palgrave and Mr. Blandon Pal
grave"
The two came forward smiling, look
ing like modern portraits OF Napoleon
taken in youth and declining middle
age. Lady Mary froze visibly, and
stood with hands suggestively fasten-
ed to her sides, towering to her full
height. But Savernake made up in
cordiality for what the hostess lacked
He was too used to helping Lady Mary
do the honours, since the long past
days when the old Duke had given
dinner parties, it was like second ma
ture to him.
He was actually ELUSIVE, and so ex-
tremely sorry that most urgent bust
ness had Unexpectedly carried the Duke
away, quite at the last moment. But
there was hope that he would come
back again during the evening-per-
haps in time to smoke cigar with his
cousins after dinner.
And the Palgraves made polite and
regretful answers, and continued to
smile, and looked for a hidden sting
or concealed dagger under every
lightest word.
They had rather hoped that, not
withstanding the informality OF the
affair, one or two other people might
have been present-intimate friends,
who would have set the bali of gossip
rolling in new direction. But even
as it was, they did not in the least re-
greet having come. They would drop
in at the club next day before return
ing to the Moated Grange (Which they
never left for long now), and casually
mention to one or two men who would
talk that they had to run up to town
for the sake of dining and sleeping at
their cousins, the Duke of Leicester's,
in Cleveland-square.
Besides, the dinner was good. and
the wines of the best. And the money
| lent by Maurice the First was running
so low that since the departure of their
| guests dinner was not the elaborate
function it had been at the Moated
| Grange
The meal passed with less friction
than might have been expected, for
though Lady Mary spoke only when
she had been directly addressed, Saver
make was both fluent and witty.
For some reason or other. Maynard
had particularly requested that the
| dinner should be long one Tell the
housekeeper they're to pile up as many
courses as they can." he had said,
vaguely, and his odd wish had been
| obeyed.
At hah-past ten o'clock Lady Mary
was but just leaving the table when
the distant bell Of the front door was
heard to ring. with violent clatter-
ing upon the great knocker TO follow.
| The noise echoed disturbingly
| through the luxurious silence of the
house. and moment later an envelope
and bit of paper were handed on a
silver tray to Randall Palgrave.
Brought by messenger, sir" I'M
obtrusiyely murmured footman. III