Lincoln County leader. [volume] (Toledo, Lincoln County, Or.) 1893-1987, 1905-12-15
CHAPTER vi.

yOuieeli ior lhe past week! Wny were
you not at Ascot? 1 hear you threw
over three invitations for the week with
out ever giving a reason. Do you not
know that the whole London world-the
female world. l mean-has been languish-
ing and pining without you? The Park
has been a wilderness and Hurlingham
a desert waste Rumor says you have
been away making love to rustic beauty
among the roses, and all the women have
cried their eyes out for spite and envyw
Yours remain bright enough, at any
rate!' said Desmond, in answer to the
above speech, as he sank down into a
chair by the speakers side, and looked
at her with fattering smile of admira-
ton.
"Ah, you can't tell the state my heart
has been in, though" replied the lady.
She was a handsome woman, with dark
locks arranged in a wonderful shock cSer
her broad brows. To know Mrs. Talbot
was to know a woman of fashion who
was certain to amuse you, who was ready
to hirt or to pick her most familiar
friends characters to pieces, who was
a walking encyclopedia of the sayings
and doings of all the men and women
about whom there was anything worth
knowing; and who had that kind of i'm
pulsive and delightfully."- affectionate man
ner which leads one to suppose that you
are the only person Of her acquaintance
against whom she could never utter a
word of disparagement.
Even as she sits now In the summer
sunshine of the park, with her white lace
parasol tipped well over her head, and
her large, unfaltering eyes turned fully
upon him, she is wondering whether this
absence of his is in any way connected
with the serious part of his life, or bears
upon the secret she is bent upon unrav-
cling.
What have you been doing" she re-
peats.
Eating cherries, principally" he re-
plies, smiling. 81 was assisted by sew
eral thousand birds and one tree elf"
And what was she like? Young and
pretty, l suppose"
"She may have been"
She saw that she had gone far enough,
and adroitly turned the subject
Have you heard" she said, that Fe-
licia Grantley, that good-looking girl who
came out last year, has been whipped off
into the country by her father, who
wants to force her into a marriage with
her cousin, who is younger than herself
Oh, it's quite a tragedy, l assure you!
The poor girl-between you and me,
don't admire her, she Is too scraggy-
came to lunch yesterday with me, and
she cried her eyes out"
What, for meT
"For you, Mr.. Vanity! Not a bit Of it;
for Lord Augustus Wray, a fourth son,
you know, with not a penny, and such
a scamp! Of course, Felicia has money
and doesn't care a farthing about his
character, but her father won't have it,
and will have her marry her cousin be-
cause there's an old place and a baron
etcy; and they say young Roy Grantley
Is In love with some one else, so there
is material enough for three-act drama
for your'
Roy Grantley," repeated Brian,
thoughtfully Where had he heard that
name before? Was 1t not Kitten who
had spoken once of Roy Grantley who
would be odd if it should turn out to be
the same.
He was not in love with Kitten; he
had no symptoms of any jealous feeling
concerning her; but yet he had a curl
GUS feeling of satisfaction at hearing
that some one else was to marry this
unknown youth.
"The best thing Miss Grantley could
do, l am sure" he said. Her father
Is quite right to save her from a black
guard like that"
"Do you think so? But then II wom-
an loves a man madly, desperately, do
you think she cares what he is2
This Mrs. Talbot said softly, under
her voice, and flashed her bold eyes
meaningly into his.
"Oh, well, she ought to care" an
swered Brian, carelessly. Excuse me"
and he jumped suddenly up from his
chair. II see friend l want to speak
to-"
He dashed away down the crowded
path. Gertrude Talbot was red with an
ger; she leaned forward and followed him
eagerly with her eyes. Who had he left
her for? After what woman had he
rushed away so precipitately? 1t was no
woman, only bent, white-haired old
man whom she saw him run after and
arrest.
what, Professor! is this indeed you,
lettering in Hyde Park at I o'clock in
the day? Wonders will never cease.
But, Mr.. Laybourne, you are not looking
WELL"
II am not WELL" he answered, "a
little over tired, think. l am up In
town for this great scientific gathering
of which, no doubt, you know. Would
you like to hear me speak" asked the
Professor suddenly; "have you attended
any of my lectures? Then would you
like to go tonight? 1 am not, of course,
worth listening to In comparison with
Wentley and Shulton and some of our
best men; but have a ticket to give
away, good place close to the platform,
you would hear WELL l have been asked
for 1t, but 1 have it here in my pocket,