Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1906-10-24
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| temper. When angry-and even ne
had beens angry at some periods OF
his polished existence-his voice usu.
ally grew softer and his smile sweeter.
| Once, when a young man, a woman
had struck him across the face-with
or without cause, probably with-and
in the presence of others. They had
| waited to see what he would do, and
were moved to admiration when he
caught the hand that had struck him
and, raising it to his lips, murmured
with a smile: Rather a blow from
you than a kiss from another" and il
| their admiration the onlookers prob
ably considered that his exquisite
manners had more than atoned.
As a young man the noble earl had
been wild and reckless, with society
polished wildness; but of late years
he had subsidized into the middle aged
but ever youthful man Of retired
habits and studious tastes.
And he was stin the model to which
parents pointed when they wished 10
! impress upon their sons a type Of
what a man should be who was made
by manners.
1t is true that there were ribald in.
dividuals who had been known to ieeI
at him and even to go so far as TO
call him the Superfne Earl; but if he
was aware of these--and it was very
little that he was not aware of-Lord
| Arrowdale went on his way serene,
smiling and unmoved.
On the evening Of the day after that
on which Mr. Petherick had paid his
visit to Cliff Cottage, Norton, the earl
had a small dinner party.
He had asked the guests before he
had received the letter from Catherine
Hayes. and, Notwithstanding it was
the day upon which he was to receive
the daughter he had not yet seen, he
had not postponed his little party.
Never put off a dinner. however
unimportant, unless there be death
in the family or smallpox in the
house, was one Of his maxims.
And exactly at quarter to eight
O'Clock he left the hands Of his valet,
exquisitely dressed, upright as a dart,
with every white hair in place. with
out a crease in his shirt front or
scarcely a wrinkle in his face, AMI
with the clean-cut lips just curved
with the smile which. il he had label
ed his smiles, would probably have
been numbered NO, 2, Smile fNr ene
reception of ones guests"
Santleigh Court was as old and as
unimpeachable in the way of ancestry
as its owner Originally the residence
Of Norman baron-of course an Ar
rowdale-it had been transformed by
successive owners into one of the
most magnificent of English palace
mansions.
It would have been a show place
like Chatworth or Eaton Hall it the
noble earl could have brought himself
to endure the thought Of the presence
Of plebeian tourists in the lofty CORR
doris and stately hall; But the mere
idea caused him to shuddel, and the
guide books always put to their de-
| scrlptions Of the place a footnote.
Strangers are not permitted to pass
! the park gates"
The earl made his way down the
broad stairs-up which one might
have driven a coach and four with
ease, so far as breadth goes-with
the slow and stately grace peculiar to
him, and was passing into the DRAWN {
room when the footman appro9 caed
and in subdued tones said:
Mr.. Petherick has arrived, my
lord
Thank you. In the library?"
In the library, my lord"
The earl tu ned aside and entered
! the oak-paneled library and held out
his white and delicately shaped hand.
"Ah. Petherick, a safe journey, I
trust. You will be in time for dinner.
We do not dine until a quarter past,
and | have few friends. The heat
has subsidized a little. has 1t not? /
fear you must have suffered much In
convenience from It,"
Thank you, my lord; yes, it has
been hot. have returned, my lord,
and-Lady Norah has accompanied
me.
'Norah. Do you spell it with the
h or Without" he asked blandly.
Err the H. believe, my
lord"
An, yes rs musical name;
lrish--or Celt.,. at any rate"
Il 10 not think we have had the
name in the family before. Norah.
Yes, it is unmusical. l am infinitely
obliged to you for all the trouble you
have taken. Petherick, and, believe
me, quite realize how excessive it
must have been"
Not at all, my lord" said Mr.. Peth-
erick. Il may say that it has AFFORDED
me much pleasure. Lady Norah---"
Pardon me" he said, interrupting
him. Would you kindly ring the
1 bell"
Mr.. Petherick did so and footman
entered.
My compliments to Lady Norah
( and shall be gratifed II she will dine
with NE at a quarter past eight"
'Eh-ahem-I beg thousand par