The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1902-05-17
LADY TANKERvILLg's RueENs.

| J
nous salons, but it wasn't fortnight
| after their first meeting til he was her
pTeux cheYalier and had been seen in her
phaeton in the park at least dozen
times Il must have been Captain Merton
who stood for him. because the captain
was reckoned an authority on questions
OF social prestige 81 that time, and MI
: lady left such matters wholly 10 his
judgment
At all events she made quite a pet os
| Tedford. and half the men about town
we're asking one another. who IS the
feliow? Merton said ne was Of q beauti-
1ui Scotch mother Of old family by one
/ Of the Lancashire branch OF the Ted
/ fords; that he was rich as butter, right
as trivet and better for q friend than an
/ enemy.
His home is somewhere in the states. =
explained the lansuid captain, and Ma
/ 1ci Belknap of ours writes me- from
/ New York that he's not IN trade and
that he keeps up town and country
! house, 2 stable 1T for a duke and an
/ encourage that would make the Cecils
butt Ike him"
/ Donald did the rest himself. lie was
/ he ndsomer than most OF his lordiy new
/ friends. brown OF skin. with blue eyes and
curly yellow hair lie had the brusque
galantry OF q soldier and the base air
I OF q beau. He knew a let about every
thing. and the women went wild over
( him. OF course, they couldn't under
stand what he saw in Lady Tanker
vile She was older than he. not over
wealthy, and-yes. she was beautiful and
clever-ever the most envioUs OF her wO-
men friends admitted shat.
Ny, my, Master Donald. What a boy
you are, she was saying one morning
as she pulled on her gauntlets You
fg 10 IL s~ffa %
talk about that Rubens"
But you don't know how I've set my
! heart on il. Lady Tankerville." He was
| standing before the old painting in rapt
admiration. He was a fine figure Of a fel-
low, feet l IN his riding boots, and 1.-THE
as college athlete.
Your heart, pooh." she simpered.
ITO hear you talk one would almost
think you had one"
wen. heart or no heart, I'd give year
Of my life Tor that old yard of faded
paint and canvas lady. Come now,
know you don't want the money, but III
double my offer"
Tut. tut, Donald, Don't bargain with
me ike that. If you ever get that Ru-
bens, it must be-. Come, sir l forbid
you to mention that hateful subject
swept out into the porte-cochere, smiling.
But he was wondering why she did not
finish that sentence. If you ever get
that Rubens, it must be
THAT would be an heroic measure"
he thought, mounting his horse and
cantering away to catch her.
1t wasn't more than three weeks after
this that the burglary happened. 1t was
the occasion of one OF Lady Tankervilie's
famous theater parties. They had risen
from the dinner table and were swaTmins
ii the conservatory. when the servant
handed her q card and said that M de
Cruise of Paris wished TO show madame
an art treasure"
De Cruise? Donald. Colonel Merton?
Who is De Cruse?'
a rich, eccentric amateur" said the
colonel. He paints a lot of impossible
things and is a demon for antiques. I'd
sec him-next week
Tell him to come Monday-or say.
Say ! have gone TO the play and, yes,
I'll see him tomorrow morning at H."
And they forgot all about NJ de Cruise
til the next morning. when Donald Ted
ford called and found lady Tankerviile
in a fearful state of excitement.
My Rubens. Donald" she cried. lead
ing him to the empty frame staring from
the wall that yillainous man who called
last night must have cut it out. What
will 1 do. Donald? Telephone 10 the po-
lice2"
Leave it to me; don't say a word to
the police nor TO anybody" He was
greatly wrought up, seized his hat and
started for his horse. Il think ] can
set il back, I'm sure 1 can. just leave it
TO me. Good-by. III send word the mo
ment L get a clew.'
And he rode out of the place like fury.
She got note from him that night say
ing: Gone 10 Bordeaux. Marseilles. per
. t..raFf
frot." Three weeks afterward, in the
forenoon, while Lady Tankeryine was
taking her late breakfast, Donald was
announced
Fright here" she commanded. bring
him right here 10 breakfast"
He had a roll under his arm and she
saw by his face that he had brought
hack The treasure. She felt ike kissing
him. but she oply ran to his side and put
ting her trembling hand in his, said
God bless you, Donald, you've got it?
I knew you would.
That seemed to fix matters between
them. Lady Tankervilie's friends said
they had never suspected her Of so much
grlish enthusiasm. That she was in love
with Tedford nobody doubted. But he
kept his own counsel Not even Merton
could get a word out OF him. When it
became known that he was going back
To- New York nobody was surprised that
there was to be a glorious farewell party
III Eningham place.
SO you're determined TO go. Donald2'
said Lady Tanker,ille 10 him one foggy
afternoon.
Yes. Catherine" he answered, dream
ily. Il must go Ny affairs at home are
IN a snarl. I'm tired OF everything here
but
But what?" she whispered. sitting be-
side him paler and Prettier than ever.
Her hand lay on the tufted chair arm be-
tween them. tie looked tenderly at Il and
then into her upturned eyes. But
vhat2" she repeated, her lips apart and
q lost look in her Dig. eager eyes
But you-and-" The smile on his
brown face was wistfui and tender
But me and-aud what. DoEalde'
And the Rubens-" he answered. trying
70 laugh
He saw the little spasm Of Jealousy
that passed across her face. and his large.
strong hand fell lightly 5rad earess.agiy
OF hers Come. she said Il am not all
seifshness. You shall see.
she led him Ca where the Rlbers nad
been and. pointing 20 the blank waii,
said "See3 II is zone. mad u sent
down 70 your boar with my-aith MY
your what Catherine"
Commitments. OF course. You don't
mink Ia send a biz. d. youg
Ard she pouted 1ntn he turned his face
toward She light and said;
catherine, I'm clad 70 have tAe PIC
ture, but / want you. too.
The engagement was anreuIce8 - the
farewell dlaaer that night ard The lsners
were also the wedding guests f1T aeth-
-ng would % Donald Tedferd bat q have
Rev Mr Chemist s. fron - Anse-
lens 10 perform the marriage ceremony