The Kinsley graphic. [volume] (Kinsley, Kan.) 1890-1940, 1904-06-17
THE MISSISSIPPI
= BUBBLE
By EMERSON HOUGH
Author of "The Story of the Cowboy"
3 "The Girl at the halfway House. /" Etc.
Copyright, 1902. by Emerson HouGh.,
CHAPTER xxx.
THE NEWS.

Lady Kitty! Lady Kitty! Have
Sou heard the news?"
Thus, breathless, the countess of
Warrington, Lady Catharine's English
neighbor in exile, who burst into the
drawinC-room early in the morning,
not waiting for announcement of her
presence
Nay, not yet, my DEAR said Lady
Ca.harine., 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?'
1.-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"
mo, 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 woman!"
Yes, it 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 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 your
cried Lady Catharine, her own face
blanching behind her protecting fan.
The blood swept back upon her heart,
leaving her cold as statue.
Why" continued the caller, in her
! own excitement to tell the news scarce
| noting what went on before her, 1T
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 upbraids her, taunts
her, reviles her. demanding that she
fall ON her knees before him, as il
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
j Graves pardon of the woman and of the
regent, and so stalks on and leaves
i the roomi And now then the poor
creature walks to the table, swould lift
a glass of wine, and sso+tis over!
/ Twas like a play! Indeed all Paris is
like play nowadays. OF course You
/ know the rest"
j :: A gesture of negative came from the
hand that lay in Lady Cathariness lap.
The busy gossip went on
The regent, be sure. was angry
enough at this cheapening of his OWE
wares before all. and perhaps it's true
he had fancy for the woman; At any
rate, tits 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. lis stated on the Quinquem-
polk that another must take Mr.. Law
place. But If Mr.. Law goes, what viii
become of the system? And what
WouIdG the system be-H ithout Mr. Law
And what would Paris be without the
pystem? Why. listen, Lady Catharine.
gained $4,000 livres yesterday. and