The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-09-23
THE SPEN D F. r S
By Harry Leon Wilson
Copyright Publishing
CHAPTER NIX.
AN AFTERNOON STROLL AND AN EV
ENING CATASTROPHE.
T THE Third ENEMA

AN AFTERNOON STROLL AND AN EV-
ENING CATASTROPHE.
Miss Milbrey. the next morning, faced
with becoming resignation what she felt
would be her last day of entire freedom
She was down and out philosophically to
play nine holes with her host before break
fast.
Her brother, awakening less happily,
made series of discoveries regarding his
bodily nsations that caused him TO view
life with disaffection. Noting that the hour
was early. however, ne took cheer, and
after long. strong, cold drink, which he
rang for, and pricking icy shower, which
he nerved himself TO, he was ready to ignore
his aching head and get the start of Maui
burn.
The Englishman, he seemed to recall, had
drunk even more than he. and, as ii was
barely o'clock. would probably not come to
life for a couple of hours yet. He made his
way to the breakfast room The thought of
food was not pleasant. but another brandy
and soda, beading vivaciously in its tall
glass, would enable him to watch with for
titude the spectacle OF others who might
chance to be eating And he would have at
least two hours of Miss Bines before Maui
burns head should ache him back to con-
sciousness
He opened the door OF the spacious break
fast room. Through the broad windows from
the southeast came the glorious shine of the
morning sun to make him blink; and seated
where 1t flooded him as a calcium was Maui
burn, resplendent in his myriad freckles.
trim, alive and obviously hungry. Around
his plate were cold mutton, a game pie,
eggs, bacon, tarts, toast and sodden-looking
marmalade. Mauburn was eating of these
with voracity that published his single
ness of mind to all who might observe.
Milbrey steadied himself with one hand
upon the doorpost, and with the other he
sought to brush this monstrous illusion
from his tickle eyes. But Mauburn and the
details of his deadly British breakfast be-
came only more distinct. The appalled, OBJ
server groaned and rushed fer the sideboard.
whence a decanter. bowl OF cracked ice
and a siphon beckoned.
Between two gulps of coffee Mauburn
grinned affably.
'Mornin old chap, Feelin a bit seedy?
By Jove! don't wonder. I'm not so fit my
self. I fancy. you know, it must have been
that beastly anchovy paste we had on the
biscuits.
Milbreys burning eyes beheld him reach
out for another slice of the cold, terrible
mutton.
Life" said Milbrey, as he inflated his
brandy from the siphon, lis an empty dream
this morning"
Wake up then, old chap!' Mauburn cor
daily urged. engaging the game pie in
deadly conflict: try a rasher; nothing like
it; better'n peggin' ii so early. Never drink
till dinner time old chap, and you'll be able
to eat in the morning like-like blooming
baby" And he proceeded to crown this no
ton of infancy's breakfast with jam tart
Of majestic proportions.
where are the pcople?" inquired Mil
brey, eking out his own moist breakfast
with a cigarette.
"An down and out except some of the
women. Miss Bines just drove off a four-in-
| hand with the two Angsteads-held the
reins like an old whip, too, by Jove; but
they'll be back for luncheon-and directly
after luncheon she's promised to ride with
me- fancy we'll have little practice over
the sticks
"And fancy I'm going straight back to
| bed-that is, if it's all right to fancy a
thing you're certain about"
Outside most of the others had scattered
for life in the open, each to his taste. Some
| were on the links. Some had gone with the
| coach. A few had ridden early to the meet
of the Essex hounds near Easthampton,
where a stiff run was expected. Others had
gone to follow the hunt in traps. A lively
group came back now to read the morning
| papers by the log fire in the big CHEEKY hall.
Among these were Percval and Miss Mil
| brey. When they had dawdled over the pa
pers for an hour Miss Milbrey grew slightly
! FESTIVE.
'Why doesn't he have it over?" she asked
| herself, with some impatence. And she deli
| cately gave Percival, not an opportunity,
| but opportunities to make an opportunity
| which is a vastly different form of proceed
ure.
| But the luncheon hour came and people
| struggled back, and the afternoon began,
| and the request for Miss Mibrey's heart and
| hand was still unaccountably deferred. Nor
could she feel any Of those subtle Fremont
| tons that usually warn a woman when the
| event is preparing in a lovers secret heart.
| Reminding herself of his letters. she be-
| gan to suspect that. while he could write
| unreservedly, he might be shy and reluctant
| of speech; and that shyness now deferred
! him. So much being clear. she determined
to force the issue and end the strain for
| both.
| Percival had shown not a little interest in
| pretty Mrs. Akemt. and was now talking
| with that fascinating creature she lolled
| OH low seat before the fire i'm her lacy
| blue homegrown. At the moment she was
| adrotly posing one foot and then the other
| before the warmth Of the CRATE. 1t may be
| disclosed without damage to this tale tina [
| the feet of Mrs. Akemit were not cold; but
| that they were trifies most daintily shod.
| and, her slender silken ankles curved
| them toward the blaze from her froth of a
| petticoat, they were worth looking at
Miss Milbrey disunited the chatting couple
/ with swiftness and aplomb.
| Come, Mr.. Bines. if I'm to take that
| tramp you made me promise you, it's time
| we were off,
! Outside she laughed deliciously "You
| know you did make me promise it mentally,
| because I knew you'd want to come and
| Akemit mightn't understand about tele-
| pathy, L pretended we'd arranged it all
| in words"
| "Of course! Great joke wasn't it?' as
| sented the young man, rather awkwardly.
| Down the broad sweep of roadway, run
ming between its granite coping, they strobe
| at a smart pace.
powers on that other walk we took, away
| off there where the sun goes down."
| Yes. of course" he replied absently.
| Now he's beginning" she said to herself
noting his absent and somewhat embar-
| raised manner.
In reality he was thinking how few were
| the days age he would have held this the
dearest of all privileges. and how strange
| that he should now prize it so lightly al
most prefer indeed. not to have it; that he
should regard her. of all women 1.-The fair
est of all flesh on earth" with nervous dis
trust.
She was dressed in tan corduroy: elation