Little Falls herald. [volume] (Little Falls, Morrison County, Minn.) 1889-1950, 1903-02-20

she resumed. ''You will find band
box in tue left hand side of the oak
wardrobe. 1t is underneath the pink
Slip that | wore on Wednesday with
my mechlin. You will take it imme-
diately to this address," and she gave
him paper, 'but do not on any ac-
count let it out of your hands until you
have received receipt written by N.Y.
self. Do you understand? Answer, if
you please-answer! This is extremely
important, and | must ask you to pay
some attention"
Harry pacided her by repeating her
instructions perfectly. and she was lust
going to tell him more when General
Vandeleur flung into the apartment,
scarlet with anger and holding long
and elaborate milliners bill in his
hand
evil you look at this. madame?"
cried he. will you have the goodness
to look at this document? know we'll
enough you married me for nv money.
and l hope l can make as great H.
lowances as any other man in the ser1:
ice; but, as sure as God made me.
mean to put u period to this disrept &a-
bic prodigality!' -: Z:
"Mr Hartley,'' sal; Lady Vandelsur,
Il think you underst:!hd what you have
to do. May l ask you. to ses* I'd 81 It at
once?"
'Stop," said the general, addressing
Harry. Zone word before you go"
And then, turning again to Lady Van.
deleur, "What is this precious fellows
errand?' he demanded. II trust him no
further than do yourself, let me tell
you. If he had as much as the rudi-
ments of honesty, he would scorn to
stay in this house, and what he does
for his wages is a mystery to all the
world. What is his errand, madam.
and why are you hurrying him away"
Il supposed you had something to
say to me in private" replied the lady.
"You spoke about an errand," insist
ed the general. do not attempt to de-
ceive me in my present state of temper
You certainly spoke about an erra1d."
IF you insist on making your serv-
ants privy to our humiliating dssen-
sions," replied Lady Vandeleur, per
haps 1 had better ask Mr.. Hartley to
sit down. Mop" she continued "rhen
you may go, Mr.. Hartley. l trust you
may remember all that you have Heard
in this room. 1t may be useful to YOU"
Harry at once made his escape rom
the drawing room, and as he ran up
stairs he could hear the generals voice
appraised in defamation and the thin
tones of Lady Vandeleur planting icy
repartees at every opening. How cor
daily he admired the wife! How skill
fully she could evade an awkward
question! And with what secure ef-
frontery she repeated her instructions
under the very guns Of the emmy!
And, on the other hand, how he de3est-
ed the husband!
There had been nothing unfamiliar
in the mornings events, for he was
continually in the habit OF serving
Lady Vandeleur on secret missions
principally connected with the Mill
merry. There was skeleton in the
house, as he well knew. The bottDm-
less extravaganza and the unknown
liabilities of the wife had bng since
swallowed her own fortune and threat
ened day by day to engulf that of the
husband. Once or twice in every year
exposure and ruin seemed Imminent,
and Harry kept trotting round to all
sorts Of furnishers' shops telling small
flbs and paying small advances on the
gross amount until another term was
tided over. and the lady and her faith
ful secretary breathed aglin. For
Harry, in u double capacity. was heart
and soul upon that side of the war
Not only ( - adore Lady NunGeieur
and fear :siike her husband. but
he nat;:r. sympathized with the
love OF i-i.'':. and his own single ex-
travagance was ut the tailors.
He found>the bandbox whkre It had
been described, arranged his 'oflet with
care and left the house. Thesun shone