Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1906-10-24

Sir John Meredith was
sitting slightly behind Lady Can.
tourne, leaning toward her with q
somewhat stiffened replica of his for
mer grace. But he was not looking
at her, and she knew it.
They We're both watching a group
at the other side of the great ball
room.
Sir John Meredith on Heart" said
the old lady, with depth Of signifi-
canoe In her voice."
And why not?"
Yes, indeed. why not:''
Sir John smiled with that we'll bred
cynicism which new school has not
yet succeeded in initiating. They both
belonged to the old school, these two,
and their worldliness, their cynicism,
their conversational attitude belonged
to bygone period. 1t was cleaner
period in some ways-a period devoid
of slums. Ours, on the contrary, Is an
age of slums, wherein we all dabble
to the dctrimcnt of our hands-mental,
literary and theological.
| Sir John moved slightly in his chair
leaning one hand OH one knee. His
back was very fiat. his clothes We're
perfect, his hair was not his own, nor
yet his teeth, but his manners We're
entirely his own. His face was eighty
| years old, and yet he smiled his keen
society smile with the best of them.
There was not young man in the
room Of whom he was afraid CONVEX
satlonally.
NO, Lady Cantourne," he replied.
your charming niece is heartless.
She will get on"
| Lady Cantourne smiled and drew the
glove farther up her stout and moth
erly right arm.
"She will get on" she admitted.
"As to the other, it is early to give
an opinion"
"She has had the best of trainings"
he murmured. And Lady Cantourne
turned on him with twinkle amid the
wrinkles.
For which?" she asked.
"Choisissezw he answered, with q
bow.
The object of his attention was the
belle of that ball, Miss Millicent
Chyne, who was hemmed in a corner
by group Of eager dancers anxious
to insert their names In some corner
of her card. She was the fashion ut
that time, and she probably did not
know that ut least half Of the men
crowded round because the other half
We're there. Nothing succeeds like the
success that knows how to draw a
crowd.
She received the ovation self possess
eddy enough, but without that hauteur
affected by bellies of balls-in books.
She seemed to have fresh smile for
each new applicant-a smile which
conveyed to each in turn the fact that
she had been attempting all along to
get her programme safely into his
hands. A halting masculine pen will
not be expected to explain how she
comprised this, beyond a gentle init
nation that masculine vanity had n
good deal to do with her success.
"She is having an excellent time"
said Sir John, weighing on the modern
phrase with subtle sarcasm. He was
addicted to the use Of modern phrase
ology spiced with cynicism Of his
own.
Yes; l cannot help sympathizing
with her-a little" answered the lady.
Nor |. 1t will not last"
AFTER ALL" she said, "she is my sis
ter's child. The sympathy may only
hp n maftar of blood Dn,bo,, 7 100.
like that myself once. Was II You
can tell me.'
He fumbled at his lips, having rea-
sons Of his own for disliking too close
a scrutiny of his face.
'"That is more than probable" he
answered rather indistinctly.
Then" she said, tapping the back
of his gloved hand with her fan, 1--WE
ought to be merciful to the faults of a
succeeding generation. Tell me, who
is that young man with the long stride
who is getting himself introduced
now?"
That" answered Sir John, who
prlded himself upon knowing every
one-knowing who they We're and who
they were not-"is young Oscard"
"Son of the eccentric Oscard?"
"Son of the eccentric Oscard."
"And where did he get that brown
face?"
"He got that in Africa, where he has
been shooting. He forms part of seine
one else's bag at the present moment"
what do you mean?'
"He has been apportioned dance.
Your fair niece has bagged him."
The other young men rather fell back
before Guy Oscard-scared, perhaps,
by his long stride, and afraid that he
might crush their puny toes. This
enabled Miss Chyne to give him the
very next dance, of which the music
was commencing.
II feel rather out of all this" said
Oscard as they moved away together
| You must excuse uncouthness."
II see no signs of It," laughed Mill
cent. "You are behaving very nicely.
You cannot help being larger and
stronger than-the others should cay
1t was an advantage and something to
be proud Of"
"Oh, it is not that" replied Oscaru;
ut is feeling of unkemptness and
want of smartness among these men
who look SO clean and correct. Shall
we dance?"
Yes" she said, .let us dance by all
means"
Here she knew her own proficiency,
and in few seconds she found that
her partner was worthy of her skill.
"Where have you been?" she asked
presently. 81 am sure you have been
away somewhere, exploring or some.
thing"
~ have only been in Africa shoot.
ing"
ooh, how interesting! You must tell
me all about it!'
She was watching the door all the
while.
Presently the music ceased, and they
made their way back to the spot
l