The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1904-06-23
CHAPTER XXXIX.
THE NEWS.

| ll1lI M ..
Lady Kitty! Lady Kitty! Have
you heard the news?"
Thus, breathless, the countess of
Warrington, Lady Catharine's English
neighbor in exile, who burst into the
drawing-room early in the morning,
not waiting for announcement of her
presence.
May. not yet, my DEAR" said Lady
Catharine. advancing and embracing
her. What is it, pray? Has the
poodle swallowed bone, or the baby
perhaps cut another tooth? And, for
sOOth, how is the little one?"
"The streets are full of It," said she.
Have you not heard, really?"
Il must say, not yet. But what Is
| it,"
Why. the quarrel between the re-
gent and his director general, Mr..
Law"
NO l have not heard of It," Lady
Catharine sought refuge behind her
own fan. But tell me-" she continued
But that is not all. Twas the rea-
son for the quarrel Paris is all agog
Twas about a woman!"
You mean-there Was-a woman?"
Yes, 1t all happened last night at
the Palais Royal. The woman is dead
died last night. 'Tis said she fell in
a fit at the very table-'twas at a lit
tie supper given by the regent-and
that when they came to her she was
quite dead"
But Mr. Law"
"'Twas he that killed her"
Good God! What mean you?"
cried Lady Catharine, her own face
blanching behind her protecting fan.
The blood swept back upon her heart,
leaving her cold as a statue.
why" continued the caller, in her
own excitement to tell the news scarce
noting what went on before her, lit
seems that this mysterious beauty of
the regents Of whom there has been
so much talk, proved to be none other
than a former mistress of this same
Mr.. Law, who is reputed to have been
somewhat given to that sort of thing.
though OF late monstrous virtuous, for
some cause or other. Mr.. Law came
suddenly upon her at the table of the
regent, arrayed in some kind of saw
age finery-for twas in fashion a
mask that evening. as you must know.
And what doth my director general
do. so high and mighty? Why, in
spite of the regent and in spite of all
those present. he upbrads her. taunts
her, reviles her, demanding that she
fall on her knees before him, as it
seems indeed she would have done
as, forsooth half the danes of Paris
would do to-day! Then, all of sud-
den, my lord director changes, and he
Graves pardon of the woman and of the
regent, and so stalks off and leaves
the room! And now then the poor
creature walks to the table, would lift
glass of wine, and so-'tis over!
Twas like play! Indeed all Paris is
like play nowadays. OF course you
know the rest"
A gesture of negative came from the
hand that lay In Lady Catharine's lap
The busy gossip went on.
1.-THE regent, be sure was angry
enough at this cheapening of his own
wares before all, and perhaps it's true
he had fancy for the woman. At any
rate, it's said that this very morning
he quarreled holly with Mr.. Law. The
latter gave back words hot as he re-
ceived, and so they had It violent
enough 'Tis stated on the Quinquem-
polk that another must take Mr.. Laws
place But II Mr. Law goes, what will
become of the system? And what
would the system be without Mr.. Law?
And what would Paris he without the
system? Why, listen. Lady Catharine!
| gained $4,000 livres yesterday, and
/ my coachman. the rascal in some man
ner seems to have done quite as we'll
for himself l doubt not he will yet
build a mansion of his own, and per-
haps my husband may drive for him!
These be strange days indeed. | only
hope they may continue, in spite Of
what my husband says"
And what says hep" asked Lady
Catharine, her own voice sounding to
her unfamiliar and far away.
why. that the city is mad, and that
this soon must end-this Mississippi
bubble, as my Lord Etair calls it at the
embassy"
''You did not tell me. Lady Emily"
said she, with a woman's feigned indif-
ference, what was the name of this
poor woman of the other evening"
"Why, so | had forgot-and It's said
that Mr.. Law, after all, comported
himself something of the gentleman
No one knows how far back the affair
runs, nor how serious ii was. And in
deed / have seen no one who ever
heard of the woman before"
"And the name?"
"'Twas said Mr. Law called her
Mary Connynge."
The big fly, deep down in the crystal
cage. buzzed on audibly; and to one
who heard 1t, the drone of the lazy
wings seemed like the roars of a thou
sand tempests
CHAPTER XII
MASTER AND MAN