Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1904-05-26

glass. Leaning upon her left arm, she
half rose as though to put it to her
lips. Her head moved, as though she
would follow the retreating figure of
the man who had thus scornfully used
her. All at once, slowly, and then
with a sudden crash, she sank down
upon her seat and fell forward across
the table. The fragile glass snapped
in her fingers. The amber wine rushed
in swift food across the linen In the
broadening stain there fell and lay
blazing the great gem of france.
CHAPTER xxx.
TIsK NEWS.
LAZY Kitty Lady Kitty! Have
you heard the news?''
Thus, GREATNESS, 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
Nay, not yet, my dear said Lady
Catharine, advancing and embracing
her. What is it. pray? Has the
poodle swallowed a 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-g general, Mr..
Law
No. i 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 there was-a woman?"
eyes, it all happened last night, at
the Palais Royal The woman is dead
died last night. It's 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 heri'
Good God! What mean your"
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, st
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 fnery-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 rpbraids 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 a sud-
den, my lord director changes, and he
Graves pardon of the woman and of the
regent, end so stalks off and leaves
the rooml And now then the poor
creature walks to the table, would lift
a glass of wine, and so-tis overi
Twas like a play Indeed ali Paris is
like a 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
s.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, aud so they had it violent
enough. 'Tis stated on the Quinquem-
polk that another must take Mr.. Laws
place. But if Mr.. Law goes, what will
become Of the system? And what
would the system be without MI. Law!
And what would Paris be without the
system? Why, listen. Lady Catharine!
/ gained 10000 livres yesterday, and
my coachman. the rascal, in some man
ner seems to have done quite as well
for himself. | doubt not he will vet
build mansion of his own, and per-
haps my husband NAV drive for himl
These be strange dass indeed. | only
hope they may continue, in spite of
what my husband says.
'sAnd what says he2' asked Lady
Catharine, her own voice sounding to
her unfamiliar and far eway.
Why, that the city is mad, and that
this soon must end-this Mississippi
bubble, as my Lord Etair calls it at the
embassy
r - ~