Mexico Missouri message., 1906-06-14
ACupbOard Skeleton
eHRTIB PIE :. WEBSTER
Ccopyright, BY Joseph B. B0wleg.)

| Lazy FarJOyce (tanCy-dresBed to libel
B6ulogne fsh-wife) tripped past
with a amoke-colored Persian kitten,
which she was energetically trying to
raffle on behalf Of the Ready Ambu-
lance society. It was to help along the
r. A. s. funds that tho fancy dress
bazaar and fete had been organized.
Yes, there was no doubt about the
radiance of Lady Farjoyce, and l, who
had been her intimate girl friend
ever since John F'arjoyce brought her
from country parsonage to a kings
court, often marveled at her unflag-
ging scintillation.
Presently camo across her again.
Got rid of the Persian smoke-balI?'
asked
yes, the duchess has got It. She's
80 sweet to cats--I wanted the Ouch
ess to get II" she answered, with her
charming rapid utterance.
and the duchess got it," / replied,
with terrible significance and con-
demnation in my tones. Come and
SIT down with me while consume
some pink cakes and tea"
The Boulogne fshwifs and I sat
down at one of the many small tables,
and two minutes later John Farjoyce
and his son Joined us.
It was an irritating fact that a per-
son could never secure ten minutes
with this pretty person who certainly
helped to keep London alive, without
the intrusion of Lord Farjoyce and
the boy.
A husband who remains still foun-
deringly in love when his heir has
passed the velvet suit and long curls
era, is always more or less of a bore
to his wife's women friends.
Tired, darling?" he whispered,
looking into her extraordinarily bril-
liant dark eyes with a devotion that
70 be well-bred should cease with the
honeymoon.
"Yes, and no." she replied. phys
ically I'm stiff-Jnentally Pm enjoy
ing myself, and-oh! do look at Mrs.
Woodbee's bonnetl-and-what was I
saying?"
May stop with you for half an
hour, mother?" asked the boy-a
blue-eyed son of his father.
Della Farjoyce's voice neither soft
ened nor slackened as she answered
her child. Affection and camaraderle
were there, but the mother note was
absent.
mot unless You want TO be raf1ed,
my son." she replied. I'm raining
everything l get hold of to-day-I
know l shall be asking some one to
take half-guinea chance on your IA
Their, and-yes, Mr.. Wingate. Cafe
chantant-my turn? What now2
No time for another pink cake? How
barbarous! &. 49,. Come along with me,
Louise, you can sit in the front row."
Five minutes later Lady Farjoyce's
hooking red lips were cooling out the
quaint refrain of en- old French patois
song, while her audacious scarlet
stockings and shoes Ut was always a
mystery how such feet came from
country parsonage) skillfully broke
into action leaving an impression of
intricate step-danclng behind.
That same evening sat alone with
her in her boudoir.
81 should think you must be about
the happiest woman in London!"
calculated, involuntarily.
Force of contrast drew the observa-
ton from me. ct was my birthday,
and had been thinking about my
self and looking in the mirror a good
deal)
would you? Why?"
was still so busy drawing con-
trasts, that / did not observe that
Della had laid down her Russian Gig
arctic, and was resting her white chin
on a white hand decorated by, one
single carbochon emerald ring.
''Why?" l replied, gazing vaguely
round the shell-shaped room with its
silken ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS walls painted
by Gender why? Because of every
thing! You have youth, wealth, beau
ty, talent, love, position, health and
everything every woman wants. You
must be the happiest woman in Lon
don, and, besides that, you seem the
happiest woman in LOndon!"
Before Della Farjoyce answered she
rose from the empire sofa and walked
about the room, the frothy frills of
her silken pink skirts trickling buoy
antly after her across the pearl velvet
carpet.
Suddenly she stopped directly In
front OF my chair
You are a woman to be trusted,
Louli, aren't your" she said, scanning
my features. though she must have
known their unchiseled angles by
heart.
did not reply, but suppose the
features and our seven years inter
mittent intimacy must have answered
for me, because, without further hesi-
tation, the radiant Lady Farjoyce con-
tinued;
Meet me at $3.50 tomorrow morn
ing by the Terminus book ofilce. I