New-York tribune., 1903-01-08

quite knew except that it began at Eton.
where there was consensus of opinion that his
real OF PercivaI manifest1y unsuited to
popular and easy going individual. At any
rate. 1t Peter that he was always spoken
of by the many PEOPLE who were attached to him.
among whom. I may well explain at once. was
his lawful wife Mary.
She was. a of fact, discussing him now.
in the falling dusk of a winters afternoon. with
young who had the air Of being thoroughly
home in the little room in which he found him
self
It was somewhat old fashioned apartment
which had evidently not been much changed since
the mid-Victorian epoch. for it had steel en-
cravings of Landseer's pictures the crimson
walls. armchairs in Berlin woodwork and a bust
of Clytie a tall bookshelf. One sees many such
rooms in great country seats. which descend in
strict entail from father TO son. Through the win
dow was revealed z snudged vista of park lands
swathed in white wadding OF which a giant
oak Ioomed here and there bright fire gave
the only light
The man had one foot on the fender. elbow
on the nantelpiece. and cigarette between his
lips. at which he puffed meditstiveIy while he
listened chow often had not Frank Chester listened
to such conhdences0 to the plaint of the young
woman at his side. Bronzed thckset. clean shaven
and trife stolid of aspect he precisely the
kind of person to whom his intimate friends viii
always come with their difficulties. And by the
Judgment of this particular his friends set
great store. They occasionally acted on his
advice.
The woman at his elbow. though she had the
clear eyes and healthy skin of who spends her
summer days yachts and her winter days in
the hunting field. had pretensions to beauty.
She wore her straight brown hair short and af
fected austere collars. Just now she stood fdget-
ing with the Dresden shepherds and japanese fvor-
les on the mantelshelf she made her little con-
fesson.
IF I could only get him away from her for
time" she muttered: eff were that they
d,.Ir for
most men wouldn't remember Venus Anadyomene
herself after few months separation
Eve Mankovich isn't precisely Venus Anadyo-
mene.' remarked Frank. meditativey-
"Oh. you know what l mean Don't pretend TO
be stupid. Frank. She's much more dangerous
than great beauty. And then I always mistrust
those half-foreign women They generally have the
vices OF both countries, and none of the virtues
And they do dress exquisitely," added Lady St
Ambrose gazing down rather ruefully at her own
British gown of blue serge short in the skirt and
somewhat antiquated in regard to cut
Franks eyes followed those of his hostess
you never did do yourself Justice said he.
land woman can make anything of herself now
adays. Touching those boots, now he added
with one of his smiles.
Lady St Ambrose laughed. and the two looked at
each other people look who have a genuine
friendship for each other.
"Oh it's too much bother" she answered Peter
must take the Lord made me, or not at all
Give me a cigarette Frank and better ad-
vice than that
Does he see her often?' inquired Chester. he
struck match for her ladyshp's cigarette.
Not very often-of course-since last season.
when Peter. to my intense surprise, suddenly took
going evening parties You know how much
she out, and what fuss people made about
her. These half-foreign people have SO much more
chance than English girls. Her grandmother was
all right I believe-an Irish woman of good family
but her father Bulgarian or a Rumanian.
or something queer in the East Of Europe. For
myself I thought the thing absurdly overdone-''
so did many people, muttered Frank But is
anything more amazing than these sudden affec-
tions which London takes to young persons from
Heaven knows where?'
LADY ST Ambrose shifted. IF they we'll
bred English girls London wouldn't look at them,
she said. DO you think my jamie will ever be
made a fuss of when she comes out2 shall be
lucky if I marry her to one OF those dull noys OF
Lord Ciravesend's
'Janie being Of the mature age Of seven we will
return. for the present to Peter said Chester
How often has he seen her since July?
.I don't know exactly. but all this autumn he's
developed a curious fondness for running up TO
TOWN and doing a theatre. Some saw him in
a box with her at the ST James's OF course she
had a chaperon with her.
Frank Chester pondered awhile. and then, SEEM
inglv intent on kicking back into it's place burn
ing log which threatened to fall on to the domestic
hearth, he said. quietly:
IF were in your place Mary. should ask her
down here
Down herei" cried his hostess. aghast. Have
her here at Mount St Ambrose, where they will
see each other every day and all day long?
Just So said Frank. that's the cure for these
cases-slight cases of infatuation, not dangerous
to life but very tiresome awhile they last Let
Peter see Mile. Mankovich every day That's all
the advice I've got to give he added little curt
" seeing an obstinate refusal in Lady St Am
brose's face You can take it or leave it, I'm
sure it's the only way.
Tea and lamps interrupted any further discus
sion and the entrance of jamie, which partook OF
the nature of a wnirlwind. stopped Mary'S thoughts
from dwelling on her conjugal misfortunes FOR
while Mullins were a forbidden article OF food
for the Hon. Miss st. Ambrose vet mufhns' II
seemed that young lady was determined to nave
Her father made his appearance in the midst OF
the hubbub raised, and Immediately handed the
dish to his child. Lord St Ambrose was long,
loose-limbed man. with handsome blue eyes ana an
fn ~ danv himself or any one else anything
He looked the pink of good nature. ana wore an
ancient shooting coat and very dirty BOOTS.
His wife. who watched the little scene with a de,
tafed ant If s ssin Charming Mie Mankovich
down for Christmas and hope shell stay t on re LOT
We really want some one fresh and smart ana
amusing don't we?' -, , ..o,
yes certainly. if you wish it, he said, trying 70
appear indifferent To further this this Illusion h aned ne
and finding it empty. essayed pantomi@me @ OF Dis
gus gus 70 afh fhe o6S most extravagant hiarity
I've drunk it ALL father! An shall De SO oreI5
fully ILL., an I'm perfectly sure youH nave TO sehd
for DR.. Potts. ,-o.z
name" said Frank sternly. and no more shall
Won he goddaughter of mine and amid the
soIIeaIs and protestantions of jamie. who was now
formally condemned to the nursery these three
people were all intensely conscious that new
phase of the little drama had, by Lady St Am
brose's sudden decision. definitely begun
II.
The night of the ball Mount St. Ambrose
brought about the crisis which every one some
how felt in the air.
NJ. LA Il Il