Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1901-05-23

her friend, as she made her way to
her room, chow dehciously innocent
she is, and how delighted Dick'll be at
her desertion. / wonder how he'll
take 1T? / 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
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
Eco. fresh in furs and furbelows, and
Lord Niagnac, an amaToTy will-o-the-
wisp, seemed i~nseparable: and, de-
spite her reputation for adoring her
husband, the other men. including the
merry marquis, enyied her cavaliere
s~ervente his luck. But, being of a
kindly turn OF mind. that gentleman
arranged that they should go into dim
ner together. Dick found himself
told off to take in the dull daughter
of a dreary duchess of Scotch origin,
but was mor or less recompensed 20
find on his other side Mrs. Silas r.
Massingham. 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 Irritation 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 10 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 m~oustache as though
it we're biltong. At last, summoning
philosophy t his aid, ne 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
said Magnac's voice.
ooh, this is lovely" replied his
voice. Lets sit down here.
It's awfully nice to get back into the
world again after negotiating like Il
respectable cabbage; but one wants a
quiet sometimes"
oh asked Magnac, lightly (ani
Dick could feel him raise his eyebrows
by instinct), shave you found your
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-
her seIf-appointed role, she
went on. 'but you want a little va
sometimes"
Dick muttered under his breath.
"J thought you'd soon find the mat
rimonial chains chafe a bit," MUIR
INJURED Magnac, leaning forward a lit
tie; they're an awful bore if you
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
in the conservatory at Mrs.
Melville's dance?" went on Magnac, |
his way tentatively.
Hang it," muttered Dick, deciding |
to e~avesdrop 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 headlong
into a violent Irritation with the re-
sponsive relict of the Chicago con-
Didn't you hear some one out
exclaimed Lady Fec, starting
up guilty and ignoring Magnac's
question. Il thought 1 heard
some one moving behind u.s."
mot l." answered her companion,
carelessly. "No one would be hang
ing about outside at this time of
None the less, unnerved by her i'm
lgination, and finding her lapse into
past customs falling fat, Lady Fec
afterwards insisted upon re-
turning to the drawing-room, just
time to see the beginning of Dicks
assault on the willing widow,
who had espied no eligible" in the
house party TO suit her book.
She felt chagrined that he did not
to notice her presence all the
but was kept busy warding
,ff Magnac's attacks, he being only
ready to meet her far more than