Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1902-08-09
Tff}fE HE LADY
OF TNN.
BY SIR WALTER BESANT.

reasons l may nave 10 pay NiSll " d
country town. q town Of tarpaulins and
traders, not a town Of fashion" Sir
Harry shuddered. Patience, my
friend. | know not how long l shall
endure the barbaric company. But l
must 20. There are reasons lie me
whisper. reasons Of state, important
secrets-w which call me there" Sir Har-
ry smiled and looked incredulous. Il
want on the spot friend"-Sir Harry
smiled again, as one who began to un-
derstand "a friend who would ap-
pear to be a stranger. Would you,
therefore, play the part Of such a
friend?"
81 will do whatever your lordship
commands. Yet to leave town at this
season"-it was then the month Of
April 1.-The assembly. the park. the
card table, the society Of the ladies' 1t
is possible that the Lady Anastasia
may 60 there. She will, as usual, keep
the bank if she does CO."
The old beau's face cleared, whether
in anticipation Of Lady Anastasia's So
ciety or her card table know not.
"My character. Sir Harry, will be in
your hands. I leave 1t there confident
ly. For reasons-reasons Of state-it
should be character off,
81 understand. Your lordship is q
model Of all the virtues
$50 we understand. My secretary
will converse with thee further on the
point Of expenditure"
Sir Harry retired. bowling and twist
ing his body something like an ape.
Then a gentleman in scarlet present
ed himself.
Your lordship's most obedient." he
said. with scant courtesy. 81 come In
obedience to your letter Of command
Colonel. you will hold yourself In
readiness to 20 into the country. There
will be play You may lose as much as
you please to Sir Harry Malyus or to
any one else whom my secretary will
point out to you. Perhaps you may
have to receive a remonstrance from
me. We are strangers, remember. and
| am no gambler, though I sometimes
take Il card" And he. too. retired.
There remained one suitor He was a
clergyman dressed in fine silk cas-
sock with bands of the whitest and q
noble wig Of the order ecclesiastic. I
doubt If the archbishop himself had a
finer.
Good. my lord" he said. II am, as
usual. a suppliant. The rectory of St.
Leonard L. Size. Jewry. in the City, is
now vacant With my small benefces
In the country it would suit me hugely.
A word from your lordship to the lord
mayor the rcctory is in the gift Of the
corporation would. am sure, suffice"
"You are living. as usual. suppose.
at great expense"
AT small expense considering my
abilities. but still at greater expense
than my slender income will allow.
Am not your lordship's domestic
chaplain? Must | not keep up the dig
nifty due to the positions"
Your dignity is costly. must get a
bishopric or deanery for you. Mean
time | have q small service to ask OF
YOU"
Small? My lord. let 1t be great; 1t
cannct he too great"
1T is that you 60 into the country
for me-"
"Not to Bath or to Oxford?
Not to either: to another place,
where they know not thy name or thy
fame. Very good. | thought | could
depend upon your loyalty. AS for ar
rangements and time. you will hear
from my secretary" So my lord turned
on his heel and his chaplain was dis
| missed.
When the levee was finished and
everybody gone. Lord Fylingdale sank
into a chair | know not the nature OF
his thoughts save that they were not
pleasant. for his face grew darker ev-
cry moment Finally he sprang to his
feet and rang the bell. "Tell Mr.. SEM
pie that | would speak with him." he
, ordered.
Mr.. Semple, the same Samuel whom
YOU have seen under baSting from the
captain. was now changed and for the
better He wore the dress of poet.
At this time he also called himself Sec
retary to his lordship.
"Semple," said his lordship, crossing
his legs and playing with the tassel of
his sword knot, 81 have read thy let
ter
Your lordship will impute"-
First. what Is the meaning Of the
prcamble?"
II have been your lordship's secre-
tary for six months. l have therefore
perused all your lordships letters.
have also in my zeal for your lordship' s
interests looked about me. and l dis
covered what l ventured to state In
that preamble"
We'll, SIR"
"Namcly, that the Fylingdale estates
are gone so far as your lordShip's life Is
concerned, but in Il word all is gone
and lhat-your lordship will pardon the
plain truth-your lOrdship's credit can
not last long and that-I now touch q
most delicate point to man or your
lordship's nice sense Of honor-the on
ly resource left is precarious."
"You mean
81 mean certain lady and certain
bank"
| "IIoU sir2 DO Won dare? What has
put this suspicion into your head:'
Nay, my lord; have no thought but
| for vour lordship's interests, believe me