The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1905-05-28

own opinion about the Major, and
looked at and spoke OF "the ladies"
with certain air and tone he would
i not have used towards the women Of his
own "set."
Deverll could stand II no longer. Co
Ing sharply up to the Major, who would
have avoided him II he could, he drew
him out of the group formed by the two
ladies and old Sir Wilfred and insisted
on attacking the one subject Major
Brown was anxious to avoid.
YOU told me" said he, that your.
daughters were never Mt the flat. that
you never introduced them to gamblers"
i The Major turned all colors.
"'Pon my soul It's true. my boy"
said he earnestly, and almost plaIntive-
~. as he writhed under the younger
mans grip. Maggie came this after
go away. You remember what hap
pened yesterday-at Catfish"
Yes, yes
"well she wanted explanations. and
all that. And, OF course. IL had moth
ing to explain said he ferventy, 'and
4 could only tell her that 1 was over
come, not having known anything about
your feelings towards her. by surprise
at finding her dining out with man
i without letting me know anything about
(. 1t. Look here, Deverill, / don't pretend
I to be over-over what shall say7--over
4 -sanctlinonious, but I've always adored
my daughters. and always-always--. -
/ He was on the point Of breaking
down again and Deverill slapped him on
the back reassuringly.
I I'm sure OF it," said he. But
don't think you ought to have let her
stay Tonight" 5
let her!'' echoed the Major, step
ping back "a little, to look pathetically
into the young mans face Let her!
( My boy, It's not what I'd let her do, It
4 was what she would let mo! BY Jove.
A she's a little vixen when she's made up
I her mind, and nothing would drive her
out Of the flat. Goodness knows what
y she'd got into her head, but stay she
q would So her mother rugged her up
In one Of her own frocks. which, as you
Z see. is too short for her by two inches.
B and she had to stay
DeverIll breathed deep sign Of re-
3 lief.
THANK heavenl. said he under his
breath, as a glance at the pink tea-gown
Il showed him that 1t was indeed, as the
4 Major had said. scarcely long enough
T Ffor Maggie who was two or three inches
Z taller than her mother,
z The Major gave him q grateful look.
a sim not sorry he said, in, a tenta-
\ tive sort Of tone. that She happened to
be here tonight. though when your UNI
3 Gle, Sir Wilired Deverill, did us the
Il honor OF VISIT III.
B Deyerill threw at him a glance which
a perhaps made him wonder whether he
Z was really so glad as he pretended TO
x be.
6 In the meantime, Nfaggie's bright laugh
s rang out as she chatted to the baronet,
and Deverll wondered whether 1t was
his fancy that 1t did not sound as fresh.
L, as light hearted, Us usual.
Il On the other hand. he noted with sat
q isfaction that his uncle WAS evidently as
much attracted by the beauty and charm
+ the fresh face and dainty grace OF Mag.
J gle as he could possibly.haye wished
And he said to himself that, after having
! seen her, the baronet was not likely to
persist In denying that Maggie's beauty
was of that degree which he himself de-
IA clared gave rank to q woman.
Mrs. Carey Brown, too. noted the effect
8 her pretty daughters charms had upon
( the distinguished guest, and she was care
s full to leave to Maggie the lions share
:. of the talk 4 IA ssiI. II
Sir Wilfred; nothing 10th, devoted him
self to Maggie with great assiduity, laugh.
ed at her lively sallies. and did his best
q to entertain her with stories Of his
travels.
& She was sitting now in q low easy chair
a without arms by the plano Sir sWilfred
was standing, with his coffee-cupain his
hand. leaning upon the instrument; and
Il Mrs. Carey Brown, sitting at the key
. board, put in word from time to time,
a while she played waltzes very softly VIII
q a light and musicianly touch
z Deveril thought what an odd contrast
Il they made, the fresh young girl with
her rounded cheeks and sparkling eyes
u and the carefully preserved man OF the
q world with his dyed hair and moustache.
q his wrinkled face and sunken eyes. And
Is for the first time 1t occurred to him 70
! wonder whether his uncle was IN the
habit of taking O few years OFF his age
since under careful inspection he looked.
! in spite or perhaps because OF dye and
careful grooming. nearer seventy tha11
sixty. Z,
4 The baronet, pleased as he was with the
! society he found at tho flat, did not fail
to keep his eyes open; and he glanced
more than once at q table at tho side OF
the room before he said:
y "You have roulette table here. see.
Are YOU deyotees of the game
Oh. no." cried Mrs. Brown. laugh
1 ing, 1--WE certainly are not that. But We
& play when any OF our lively young friends
net tired Of amusing themselves N any
other way 8
And she laughed lightly. and ran her
little fingers lightly up the piano But
Deverlll saw an exchange OF chances pc
tween Granger and LORD @W!lHuln, ttHu nt
saw also that thisNwas noted. not only
:. by Sir V'ilfred. but by Maggie,
The baronet looked at the table again
Games OF chance haven't much attrac.
: ton for me-, went on Mrs. Brown. with
a little shrug OF the shoulders. IN us1e
Z is my passion. and II have another. y
!. Is f,owers. What is your favorlte diver
, sion Sir Wilfred?"
"Well, I'm afraid music and flowers
are only secondary pleasures to me now
; chiefly appreciated because one asso-
cintes them with charming women" said
Sir Wilfred. gallantly "I'ye played rou.
!, lette at Monte Carlo, OF course. but at
home think the more sedate whist has
a greater attraction for me-, "a
"Oh, I love whist" said Mrs. Brown,
enthusiastically. though ! cant say I'm
/. n good player. My husband calls me 9
9 'murf,' but then no thoroughly under
stands the game
While this short coloquy was going
! on, the young men OF tho party had oil