Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1904-05-06
CHAPTER Nj.

CHAPTER ri.
= THOUGH Sir Percy had cheer
"a fully foretOld for Kennaston
"a the roseate picture Of Lady
Dianas Yes browning the
young poets somewhat diftident suit
with untold happiness, the fact was
quite other. Her ladyship on the
day of Mr.. Brummels party to Ivy
Dene, having overheard the Hon. Dolly
Tarleton in the library laying six to
four to Lady Biddy O'Toole that their
hosts daughter was 'only waiting for
the beautiful young poets asking to
jump into his arms Immediately" did
with such sudden change Of demeanOr
from sweets to sours, languishing eyes
to averted looks, smiles to pOuts, cor
ner chats to open flouts, put her lover
lie presently described as only he
could in a copy Of verses, which the
next night at Whites were pronounced
to be, indeed, "the masterpiece Of one
whose heart pants, whose whole beings
but ut the beck and call Of her who
wears a shocked petticoat. ogles with
witching eye and should be vain that
so much genius lays itself at her feet
to wit. Lady D-a WI"
For, taking immediate fright at his
lady's GOODNESS, Kennaston had ordered
post chaise from the BrookwoOd
Arms and without q word Of farewell
to Lady Diana, save that embodied in
an ode, ITO Chloe When Unkind."
which her woman found pinned to her
ladyship's cloak when she was putting
it on her shoulders the following morn
ing, had gone to town and just In time
at the White Horse to be hailed into
Mr.. Brummel's party for breakfast and
to learn of the adventure with Tom
Kidde, the valor Of Sir Robin McTart
and the absence Of that young gentle
man. as also Sir Percy. from the board.
When Lady Diana's woman hooked
her mistress cloak about her twas at
8 o'clock in the morning, and Of the
party at the castle every lady's woman
was performing the same Office, adding
hood over curls and puffs. and sticking
the finest of cambria pocket napkins
into their mistress hands by the half
dozens, for twas easily seen that such
early rising could be for no other cause
than to 60 forth to battle their lady.
ships faces in the May deW-the
which, when gathered from little
c0pses and shadowy hooks before the
sun had yet shone upon't, was war
ranted to enhance the beauty which
was already evident and to create those
charms which, alas, are occasionally
lacking.
Lady Diana spelled out her lovers
verses as best she could, tripping from
door to door and calling her young
companions from their mirrors, sending
a footman and a page to summon the
gallants who were to accompany them
in their expedition, and laughing heart
lily as she made out, more from a foot
man than from Kennaston's muse, that
he had betaken himself to town rather
than longer incur her displeasure and
her frowns.
"Bless me. but my sutton is in a fine
pickle! Lud. though, I'm not disposed
to have these hussies a-laying six to
four on my being ready to jump at his
offer. Still, I'd rather he'd stopped
over or else that some one most anus
ing were here-for instance, Sir Robin
McTart, which is not to be!'
Then rapping at the doors and
laughter from girlish lips, pattering Of
heels down the hall and staircase, out
to meet the gentlemen, bowling and
complimenting on the terrace, over the
lawns and through the flower gardens
and past the Offices and stables, where
Lord BroOkwood, even thus early, was
summing himself in the yard and talk
ing over county matters with Mr.. Biggs,
]. p.
"Where to? Where tor sings out
his lordship cheerily, with hat in hand,
and Mr.. Biggs down to the ground be-
fore so much beauty, fashion and rank.
ION to the copse, father" calls back
Diana. ito gather the May dew and
wash our faces. When we come back,
you must tell US all how much more
beautiful We are today than We were
yesterday"
With which lively sally Lady Diana
and the rest Of 'em are crossing the hill
and laughing as they pass out Of sight
on their two miles away walk to Arms
leigh copse.
Lord Brookwood is about to resume
his conversation with Biggs, while the
half dozen grinning stable boys behind
his lordship's back are rubbing their
fists in the wet turf of q paddock and
smearing their red faces with the dew,
the head groom touching them up with
a lash, when a whinny that sets every
animal in the stalls and out Of 'em
a-replying, sets all the cocks Growing,
hens cackling, chicks peeping, dogs
barking, geese sQuawking, smites their
startled ears. and yonder, hilly-o-hO,
sirs, in a cloud of upturned soil, in q
shower Of splash from the river, with
a thud on the wooden bridge, a bound
over the stone wall of the kitchen gar
den, comes a black with nigh every
tooth in its mouth barred. foaming,
smoking, bloody, rider bent double to
saddles bow, clinging with legs and
arms.
"Homing Nell and the highwayman!
Tom Kidde! Tom Kiddew
"HOming Nellv' The shout goes ND
from every throat there, from his lord