St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1902-10-11
vinity, but only to lose her the next


curb and she moved toward it.
Il have to go on to those tiresome
Brabazons now," she said with a
sigh. She got in, and l lifted the
French poodle up on the seat beside
her.
l continued my stroll, and had not
gone very far when / caught sight of
tall, handsome, bronzed young man
hurrying toward me.
"Ah, here you are Skeff, old mani"
he cried, shaking me warmly by the
hand. II heard you were back, got
round to your rooms, and your man
told me might find you in the park,
SO came along at once.''
Lord Dennis Gorison was q nice
young Irishman, lieutenant in a regi-
ment lately returned from South
Africa. He was another of nv old
est friends. .M.-
20, I'm in such a mess, Shetland
want your help!" he exclaimed
despondently.
sGo ahead-let's hear the latest!"
said, with a sigh.
"Well, before 1 went to the front,
two years ago, was a younger man, v
he began, hesitatingly.
"The argument seems sound"
said, thoughtfully.
20, you know what I mean, Skeff!
was much younger-a silly young
fool" He paused. "Well, to cut the
story short, I fell in love with an
actress-O, not the popular idea,
Skeff! She was pretty and refined,
and taking small part in comedy.
was very much in love, and if 1
hadn't been sent out at the time I
should have married her"
Il have always held that even the
war Office occasionally betrays in
telligence," murmured.
ut 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 a wealthy American girl for me.
l was on the point of proposing, when
suddenly I am threatened with the
consequences of my early indis-
cretion."
'"The little actress?"
"She wrote to me when [ returned,
but l could not see my way to an
swer, so didn't. This seems to have
made her very angry, and she says
she is going to bring breach-of-
promise action. And she'll win
hands down." he added with groan.
"She has simply packets of my let
| tiers, and all as loving as you can
make 'em!
you're a man of the world, Skeff,
and-pardon my way of putting it
you've got the gift of CAB. 1 want
you to 60 to her and talk her out of
it. Draw picture of my being
forced against my will into hateful
marriage, tell her that 1 only con-
scented SO that the honor of the
Southbrook name may be saved. You
can do it, Skef-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?"
she said, distantly. A proper recog-
milton of my sterling worth had never
been feature of her ladyship's atti-
tude toward me.
Dennis, I want you particularly.
I will drive you back" she added in
a tone that admitted of no denial.
The young scamp turned to me for
a second and slipped hand into the
inner pocket of his frock coat. The
next moment he had struggled me q
crumpled envelope.
"Her address, rely on you'll" he
whispered. And, with final, appeal
ing glance, he sprang in beside his
mother, and the carriage drove away.
I smoothed out the envelope and
glanced at the address. I read:
Miss Effie Brenan, 5 Westbury Man
sions, Hyde Park, w."
Another quarter of an hour, and I
was standing before the door of No.
5 Westbury Mansions. A trim SER
want appeared on the threshold.
els Miss Brennan disengaged?" I
asked, handing her my card. 1--WE
called on a matter of business, and,
if she could spare me few minutes
conversation, I should feel grateful"
The door opened and a young lady
entered.
1 rose to my feet, and, as my eyes
fell on her face, l dropped back a
pace, in amazement. She was the
lady of La Turbie-my lost divinity!
$50 you have actually found us
out at last?" she exclaimed. "You
can't think how sorry mother was
that she forgot to give you our ad-
dress. It was objectionable"
! pulled myself together with an
effort.
ITO be perfectly honest, it is q
sheer accident. I had not the
slightest idea that Miss Fife Brennan
was you!" VIZ
saw slightly puzzled look creep
over her face. I hesitated for mo-
ment, then plunged into the object
of my visit.
"It's a rather delicate matter, but
perhaps, I had better begin by ex-
planning that I am the oldest friend
of Lord Dennis Gorison." I paused.
"And came at his request as-well,
shall we say, a MEDIATOR"
"a mediator-is one necessarily"
she said.
eve are hoping so. You see, Dem
mis- has told me everything, poor boy!
How he fell very much in love with
YOU before he went ont to the war"
ssD;d he tell YOU that?" she said,