Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1904-05-27

from the shade of the trees and more
III the flare of the tWinkliug globe
lamps Nay, larry here but a moment.
There are tie same reasons for your
not accompanying me now that have
prevailed upon me Ia keep our matters
secret hitherto. l pray you. stir not
from the n2ighhorhood of this wooden
iion-See? until return. which l viii
IL presently
Faith" cries the baronct. III not
l'id-r, my divine Peggy. until You axe
rrce more ut my side" And with
rorrid lccr through his peepholes L.
essays to take Lady Biddy's land once
more. but she's off. baking him.
Quick as thought she scampcred
across to the edge of the orchestra,
where she discovered group of masks
and anon" 'cm enc whom by the rose
pinned to her bloom colorcd bodice she
knew 10 be Lady Diana. and she made
certain that two Of the three blood;
rear her, canes dangling ut their buzz
Innhoics, must be Sir Percy and Lord
tAcnnastoD.
"IIist." eXclaims Lady Eddy. pant
,n: partly from speed, partly from III"
ft,.ht a lady alone might experience in
running the gauntlet of SO many maca-
ronis and tops not 10 speak of thieves
and pickpockets, as perforce was the
case in progressing about NauXhall.
What is't, Biddy, for know you by
your silver hecls?" answers Lady ID.
mischief, I'll dare be sworn. or it's not
you. Speak your mind. There's none
here but what can keep a secret, and
the whole Of us have been a-watchinS
you with some one. fie, at the entrance
to the Dark alleys
rs Sir Percy here? Is this he"
whispers Biddy.
Sir Percy Lows, for he is there.
while the other two gentlemen. in
ferring from her tone that she seeks
private ear, instantly withdraw to one
Of the boxes for glass of Burgundy
to refresh their spirits.
"I've news for you Of one you're
a-dying for, of Lady Peggy Burgoyne!
exclaims she triumphantly.
what! Whatw comes simultane-
ously from behind each Of the masks
she addresses.
AYE, I'm after learning from whom.
think you?
Proceed, madam" says Percy. very
low.
"Trom him that's supposed to be her
husband, Sir Robin McTart, that mis-
o., tiftnrs. 'fhcf
she's here tonight by an appointment
with him, made by a trusted servant
of hers called Mr.. IncognitO;' sent to
meet Sir Robin before the shop OF Nj.
Jabot in Holborn, and he's not seen her
ladyship-I mean Sir Robins not seen
her since they were sojourning in Kent
together, and there's mystery for you.
And l made excuses and left him
a-standing by the lion, for I could no
| longer contain the news, but must run
back to him now to extract the rest OF
it. Pray heaven Lady Peggy herself
comes not by and lets out that l was
not she at all, at air.
Heavens" murmurs Percy under
his breath as Biddy rattles on. "Can
this thing be? And what does 1t all
| mean"
Restraining Lady Biddy. both he and
Lady Diana endeavor to quiet her
Astounding spirits and to gain from
her the detailed account Of her en-
| counter with Sir Robin, Percy, in the
| midst of her voluble tongue and her
giggling, striving to form some plan
Of action which shall this night bring
matters to the touch between himself
and the baronet and leave one OF
t'Other of 'em stiff and stark.
Meantime Sir Robin. with greedy
eyes fixed on Lady Biddy SO long as
he can see her and until she and hel
companions withdraw into a box
stands as If at one with the wOOder
lion. Presently, however. his gaze Is
diverted hither and yon, not only by
the playful and engaging remarks Of
various young ladies who challenge
his mask in the most direct and oblig
ing fashion, but by a certain figure
which he beholds moving about aim
lessly. it would seem, and alone be
meath the dark shadows of the trees
toward the river.
There is something in this figure.
motions. although cloaked and masked
therefore. the baronet notes, one o.
Mr.. Brummers party-which strikes
him as familiar, and when present.,
the unknown lifts mask and reveals tn,
countenance behind it Sir Robin sidle
, up, one eye on the wooden lion Of hi
tryst. however. and. plucking Lad!
Peggy by the arm. says:
"Ho, Mr.. Incognitov'
| Peggy turns, and betwixt disgust
dismay, horror and amusement remain
silent.
"'Tis I, sir. Robin Mozart" liftini
his own mask a trifle to assure hi
companion of his identity.
49," returns she, II do perceive"
"Oh, Mr.. Incognito. what do I no
owe to your being in my lady's employ
She is indeed here"
Her ladyship, taking this for a ques
ton, answers thus, with emphasis
Eyes: she's here. indeed"
II have seen her." signs the littl
O1IOuCt, lcdulllS ulS Atdu, Juot CAdStl.
the height Of her ladyship's own, dow
on Peggy's shoulder in an excess o
sensibility.
"Have you?" exclaims she, not daI
, ing to stir in the embarrassment of be
. lieving it possible that the scoundre
, has discovered her identity.
"Oh, yes" signs Sir Robin; II hav
t received a pressure-nay, two of 'em-
from her hand. I've kissed her fingers
I await her return to meet me at tn
= wooden lion yOnder."
, do your says Lady Peggy, mysti
fed beyond everything. did she loo
, as you expected her toY'
, "Ah," gasps Sir Robin, ''she has no
: yet lifted her mask for me to behol
, her countenance, but when she return
7 I shall beseech her for one glimpse"
: "Ah!' returns Peggy, now fully pei
, suaded that some one has been making
Jest Of her companion, but none til
? less disQuieted on her own score.
, "Hark, We. Sir Robin" says she. 'yo,
, have ever found my counsels wise. B