The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1902-09-11
"Ankle?" pct IN Mrs. Ventry inno-


we're glance. 80, her whole person
atty was charming"
And it was the beginning of an
attachment? Do tell me how it pro-
gressed!"
1T didn't progress" l said gloom
lily. in the excitement of the af-
fair l forgot to give them my card,
after thanking me and asking me to
call, they drove off without leaving
me their address. L spent an en-
tire week searching but without sue
cess, l had fallen in love with a di-
vinity, but only to lose her the next
moment"
Poor old Hugh" said Mrs. Ven
try. sympathetically
Her victoria drew up close to the
curb and she moved toward it.
.: lave to go on to those tiresome
Brabazons now" she said with a
sigh. She got in, and I lifted the
French poodle up on the seat beside
her.
l continued my stroll, and had not
gone very far when l caught sight of
a tall, handsome, bronzed young man
hurrying toward me.
''Ah, here you are Skeff, old mani"
he cried, shaking me warmly by the
hand. 81 heard you were back, got
round to your rooms, and your man
told me l might find you in the park,
so came along at once"
Lord Dennis Gorison was nice
young Irishman, lieutenant in a regi-
ment lately returned from South
Africa. He was another of my old
est friends.
80, I'm in such a mess, Shetland
l want your help" he exclaimed
despondently.
go ahead-let's hear the latest"
[ said, with a sigh.
well, before l went to the front
two years ago, was younger man, -
he began, hesitatingly.
"The argument seems sound" l
said, thoughtfully.
80, you know what l mean, Skeff!
| was much younger-a silly young
fool" He paused. "WeI, to cut the
story short, 1 fell in love with an
actress-O, not the popular idea,
Sketf! She was pretty and refined,
and taking a small part in comedy
| was very much in love, and if l
hadn't been sent out at the time l
should have married her"
Il have always held that even the
war office occasionally betrays in
telligence," 1 murmured.
1T saved me Just in time. A mar
riage of that type is altogether i'm
possible for me. You know the state
of our family finances"
But if the war office saved YOU.
where's the trouble?" | asked.
"On my return the mater picked
out wealthy American girl for me.
was on the point of proposing, when
suddenly L am threatened with the
consequences of my early indis-
cretion."
THE little actress?"
"She wrote to me when returned,
but | could not see my way to an
swer, so didn't. This seems to have
made her very angry, and she says
she is goirg to bring a breach-of-
promise action. And she'll win
hands down." he added with a groan.
"She has simply packets of my let
ters, and all as loving as you can
make EN-!
You're a man of the world, Skeff,
and-pardon my way of putting it
you've got the gift of CAB. l want
you to go to her and talk her out of
it. Draw a picture of my beng
forced against my will into a hateful
marriage, tell her that l only con-
scented so that the honor of the
Southbrook name may be saved. You
can do it, Skeff-you will do it?" he
finished. imploringly.
The Southbrook carriage had
drawn up near us, and her ladyship
was leaning forward.
How do you do, Mr.. Skeffington? 2"
she said, distantly. a proper recog-
milton of my sterling worth had never
been feature of her ladyship's atti-
tude toward me.
Dennis, L want you particularly.
| will drive you back" she added in
a tone that admitted of no denial.
The young scamp turned to me for
second and slipped a hand into the
inner pocket of his frock coat. The
next moment he had struggled me a
crumpled envelope.
Her address, rely on you'll" he
whispered. And, with a final, appeal
ing glance, he sprang in beside his
mother, and the carriage drove away.
| smoothed out the envelope and
glanced at the address. l read:
Miss Effie Brennan, Westbury Man
sions, Hyde Park, W."
Another quarter of an hour, and l
was standing before the door of No.
5 Westbury Mansions. A trim SER
want appeared on the threshold.
rs Miss Brennan disengaged?" 1
asked, handing her my card. I've
called on matter of business, and,
if she could spare me a few minutes
conversation, l should feel grateful"
The door opened and a young lady
entered.
| rose to my feet, and, as my eyes
fell on her face, l dropped back a
pace, in amazemeft. She was the
lady of La Turbie-my lost divinity!