The Richmond palladium. (Richmond, Ind.) 1906-1907, 1906-10-11


Lord Verney sprang to his feet The
words, the impatient raps, penetrated
to his dizzy brain with sudden convic
tion.
Heavens cried he, and glanced a,
the clock and made leap for the door
And will you CO. said the stranger
without having seen my face?"
He ran back to her and then back to
the door again, distracted as you may
see puppy dog between two calls
Finally he came back to the lady with
new and manly dignity upon him.
Il must co. he said. Would you
show yourself as kind as you seem
madam, remove your mask that may
see you before / co.
Outside Captain Spicer was dancing
a sort OF hornpipe of impotent impa-
thence and filling the air with shrill,
strange oaths.
Mistress Bellairs put the lean,
swarthy boy very composedly on one
side By the merest touch of her hand
then she went over to the door, unlock
ed it and admitted Captain Spicer,
green and sweating.
Il am coming, Spicer." cried Lord
Verney desperately. and made plunge
for his hat and cloak. murmuring as he
passed the lady, ''Oh, cruel.'
Kitty Bellairs nibbled her little finger
and looked at the clock.
1T will not take you, you know"
said she, more than five minutes t
drive down to the Bathwick ferry !:
therefore if you start in three you will
still have twenty-six to spare. My
Lord yerney, viii you give me those
three minutes:''
Lord Verney flung aside hat and
dark flush.
"Oh,' cried he, like schoolboy,
t'Spicer, wait outsider
NAY" said Mistress Kitty, smiling
to herself under her mask; may, have
need of Captain Spicer."
Lord Verney's face fell
"Come hither," said she, and took him
crestfallen by the hand and brought
him to the table where lay the writing
materials he had been using but a little
while ago. Here said she, ''is a
sheet of paper. Sit down. my lord, and
write, write she said, and tapped his
shoulder. Write, sir, thus:
Lord verney begs TO inform Sir Jasper
Standish that he understands the grounds
of the quarrel between them to lie in a
gross misconception of Lord Verneys
feelings for Lady Standish
write write" she leaned over him,
debating
Half spHlIse,:nd. yet protesting. in
coherent. 4 to cover the page
with his scrawl
Quick, -. Child, how do
you spell |. e.: Never mind; on
with you
Lord Verney begs to assure Sir Jasper
that, so far from presurning to entertain
any unlawful sentiments for Lady Stand
ish. he has never addressed more than
three words to her may glances d
her in his life-that his whole heart is
given to another lady. the only woman he
has ever loved and ever will love-
The pen nearly dropped from Lord
Nerney's fingers. He started and turn
ed round on his chair to gaze in rap
ture into the countenance of his mys-
terious visitor and again was at once
attracted and foiled by her mask.
Surely you would not contradict
Lady," she whispered in his ear
Haste, we have but one minute more
Here, give me the pen: 1 will finish.'
She snapped the quill from his hand,
her curls touched his cheek as she bent
forward over him to the page. Swiftly
her little hand few:
If upon this explanation Sir Jasper does
not see his way to retract all the offensive
observations he made to Lord Verney,
Lord Verney Will be ready to meet him
as arranged without instant's delay.
The truth Of all these statements is guar
anteed by the woman Lord Verney loves.
She seized the sheet and folded it,
Now, Captain Spicer," said she.
take your coach and HE you to Sir
Jasper's house, and if you bring back
an answer before the clock strikes,
will let you take off my mask, and that
will save you from dying of curiosity
and also give you something to tattle
about for the next month. Oh, you will
find Sir Jasper she said. He is
seasoned hand and does not, like your
virgin duelist, make it a point of honor
to bring his high valor to the rendez-
vous twenty minutes before the time"
Within his meager body Captain
Spicer carried the soul of a Turnkey
He would have given worlds to rebel, |
but co.ld not
So long as it is not a put-off," said |
ne. Not even for a fair ones smile |
could l barter a friends honor"
Kitty held the letter aloft tantaliz- |
ngly and looked at the clock
If you won't be the bearer" said |
she. Il will send it by the chairman.
md then You will never know what is
u 1t. Moreover said she. and smiled |
archly. IF Sir Jasper apologies &c
Lord Nerney. which. upon receipt OF
his letter | make no doubt he will Il
Tou can take his place you know, an6 Il
viii not be done out of gallant meet
n.y."
"'Of course--ha. Of courser' CRIED III
'pieer. with yellow smile.
Laughing. Mistress Kitty closed ths
loor behind his retreating figure.
Now Sid she
'Oh. what have you done. what have