The Batesburg advocate. [volume] (Batesburg, S.C.) 1901-1911, 1904-08-25

seen that spoils the best laid plan:
the runner that leaps the highest
hedge trips over the hidden root. Next
day came bolt from the blue.
Macnulty refused the invitation Of
the duchess. He was in town. and
gave no reason. But there was no
trace of indecision in his reply. He
would not come.
why not? What's the matter with
the man?" said the duchess to me.
when she announced the news. Hes
been here before"
That could not be. ] suppose"
IL fed him well. What more does
4 man want?"
There was certainly truth in that.
"You mus get him for me. 1t was
your plan
Il shall have to go to town." I
sighed.
There's a train at o'clock to
morrow morning. You shall be called
at g."
! murmurcd my thanks.
BE back to dnner-but you shan't
have any unless you bring him with
you"
Next morning. to my Indignation
(the gallant knight being sleepy l
was awakened at an unearthly hour
and my hostess herself saw me driving
off to the station to catch the train
she had selected
When | arrived in London | went
directly to Macnulty's chambers. and
was sufficiently fortunate TO find him
at home. He greeted me warmly.
Il thought you were. rusticating-
picking daisies and drinking milk,
you know" he said, when two glasses
stood between us.
81 have been. Not milk, though" |
answered. "I've been with the South.
boroughs.'
II had an invitation"
We'll go back together this even.
ing"
But ] refused it. | think of run
ming over to Paris the end of the
week.
From the frying pan to the fire.
London's hot enough-besides. the
duchess wants you at Eccleston."
It's very flattering."
You're a charming young man
when you're nicely dressed She is
very fond OF you"
Macnulty reused the sugar in the
bottom OF his glass to sense OF It's
duty.
Isis Lady Marion there?" he in,
Quired presently.
thought moment. There was
npR1ninD IN hat h,t
explain his mysterious refusal. 1t had
not occurred To me before.
whats that got to do"
"Oh, nothing-nothing, said Mac.
nulty. jumping up from his seat,
Come out and lunch with me-
With my dinner trembling in the
balance, | thought the suggestion ex-
cellent
There is no doubt that good meal
undermines a mans moral character.
He feels comfortable and peaceful. He
wants to know why he shouldn't do
the thing he ought not, and finds he
has forgotten the many reasons that
had suggested themselves before
luncheon. Probably, II no one stops
him, he does it.
IL was SO Win refer Macnulty. We
caught an afternoon train to EcclcstoB,
The duchess had evidently deter.
mined 10 act promptly. Macnulty was
carefully fed U had no reason TO COM
plain myself, and when the moon
climbed over the trectops. she saw US
all assembled in the great drawing
room that looked out on the stone ter
race where in olden days many women
had waved adiou with dainty kerchiefs
TO their knights riding in the war.
there TO do great deeds for their love
The duchess displayed considerable
skill in arranging her tahleau. Winter
ton and Marion were lured on to the
terrace (by a suggestion that the park
was we'll worth looking at in the
moonlighD. Macnulty was cajoled TO
the piano and the duchess herself
took seat by my side.
But then matters went awry. After
playing a few soft lol chords and
letting his fingers run gently over the
keys for a minute Macnulty broke
suddenly into one of the wild. grand
melodies of his native land. There
80 the skirl OF the pipes. the shout