The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1903-01-29

II
knows nothing Of these shameful pas
sions You are so good, Harry, and 50
kind! You, at least, can be Woman's
friend. And, do you know, / think you
make max the Others more ugly by COM
parison.'' ..s
1T is you,' said Harry CALAMITY,
who are SO kind to me. You treat me
like u
Like mother" interposed Lady
Vandeleura Il try to be mother to
you, or at least" she corrected herself,
with smile, almost mother. l am
afraid am too young to be your moth
er really. Let us say friend-a dear
friend" a. ~,
She paused long enough to let her
words take effect in Harrys sentimen-
tai quarters, but not long enough to al
low him reply. =, 49,. -. ,z..,...>-ss
But all this is beside our purpose"
she resumed "You will find band
box in the left hand side Of the oak
wardrobe. 1t is underneath the pink
slip that l wore on Wednesday with
my mechlin. You will take it imme-
diately to this address," and she gave
him a 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 l must ask you to pay
some attention" 49,, ..'
Harry pacified her by repeating her
instructions perfectly, and she was Just
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.
"Will you look at this, madame?"
cried he. "Will you have the goodness
to look at this document? I know we'll
enough you married me for my money,
and l hope can make as great al.
lowances as any other man in the serv-
ice; but, as sure as God made me, l
mean to put period to this disreputa-
BILE prodigalityv'
"Mr. Hartley" said Lady Vandeleur,
II think you understand what you have
to do. May 1 ask you to see to it at
once?"
"Stop," said the general, addressing
Harry. Zone word before you CO."
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 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-
ceiye me in my present state of temper.
You certainly spoke about an Grand"
IF you insist on making your serv-
ants privy to our humiliating dissen-
sions," replied Lady Vandeleur, ''per-
haps had better ask Mr.. Hartley to
sit down. Mop" she continued. "Then
you may go Mr.. Hartley. trust you
may remember all that. yo,s, have taRat,;s1
In this room. 1t may be useful to you"
Harry at once made his escape from
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 eff
frontery she repeated her instructions
under the very guns of the enemy!
And, on the other hand, how he detest.
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 milli-
merry. There was skeleton in the
house, as he we'll knew. The bottom
less extravaganza and the unknown
liabilities of the wife had long 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
dbs and paying small advances on the
gross amount until another term was
tided over, and the lady and her faith
full secretary breathed again. For
Harry, in a double capacity, was heart
and soul upon that side of the war.
Not only did he adore Lady Vandeleur
and fear and dislike her husband. but
he naturally sympathized with the
love of finery, and his own single ex-
travagance was at the tailor's.
He found the bandbox where it had
been described, arranged his toilet with
care and left the house. The sun shone
brightly. The distance he had to travel
was considerable, and he remembered
with dismay that the generals sudden
Eruption had prevented Lady Vande-
leur from giving him money for a cab.
On this sultry day there was every