The Richmond palladium. (Richmond, Ind.) 1906-1907, 1906-10-11
CHAPTER VIII.
y ten minutes a fair lady /,

II ness. Az AiStTcSS
- took last look at her mirror,
while Lydia hustled out to call hired
chair, she bestowed upon her ref1ec-
ton a smile of approval which indeed
so charming an image could not fail
to call forth. Then she huddled her
self in mysterious and all developing
cloak, caught up a little velvet mask
from the table and sped upon her err
rand She sailed forth as the gallant
soldier might to battle, with a beating
heart, yet a high one.
Lord yerney and Captain Spicer had
Just finished breakfast at the formers
lodgings in Pierrepoint street, near
North Parade. Captain Spicer. cab
bling ineptly OF his own experience as
a duelist. of his scorn of Sir Jasper's
lunacy, yet of his full determination
to slay the vile mailman. had done
ample justice to his young principals
table But Lord yerney, his cheek
now darkly flushed, now spread with
an unwhoIesome pallor, found it hard
to swallow even mouthful of bread.
and restlessly passed from the con-
temptation of the clock and the setting
of his watch to the handling of his pis-
tolls, or the hasty addition Of yet an
other postscript to the ill spelt, blotted
farewell epistle he had spent half the
night in inditing to the dowager, his
mother: "In case, you know"-he had
said to his friend, with a CULVER in his
voice.
Captain Spicer had earnestly prom
Used to carry out his patrons last
wishes in the most scrupulous manner.
my dear lord,'' he had said, grasping
him by the hand, rely upon me. Sir
Jasper is a devil of shot, hear, and
of course we all know the saying
the strength. of q mailman. But no
I vow, upon my honor, I shall hold
him at my swords point. l will re-
venge thee, Harry, never fear of that.
Twill be mighty genteel story, and
the world will ring with it. Egad, he
will not be the first have spitted as
easy as your cook would spit a turkey
Have / not learned Of the great An
gelo Malevolti himself? He, he, a
womau's hand he would say, and the
devils headp"
Here Captain Spicer shook out his
bony fingers from the fncumbering
ruffles and contemplated them with
much satisfaction
"Oh, hang you, Spicer, be quiet, caff't
youw cried Lord Verney petulantly
The captain leaned back on his chair
and began to pick his teeth with sill
yer toothpick.
Pooh, these novicesv said he, as if
to himself rl"Keep your nerves steady,
m " Sfah
order the mourning coach before we
start He, he. 'Tis well, indeed. you
have a friend to stand by youv'
A discreet tap was heard at the door
and Lord Verney's impressive new sery-
ant especially engaged on his behalf
by the captain, who, indeed, some i'll
natured wag had it, shared his wages
and perquisites) stood in the doorway.
There is a lady downstairs, my
lord" he said in his mechanical voice.
'She particularly requests to see your
lordship and will take no denial, al
though I informed her that your lord
ship was like to be engaged until late
in the morning"
Lord Verney merely stared in amaze |
ment; but Captain Spicer sprang up
from his chair, his pale eyes starting
with curiosity.
"A lady, yerney, you dog, what is
this? lady, Ned? Stay! Is she tall |
and fair and slight?''
mo. sir; she Is undersized and
seems plump. though she is wrapped in
SO great a cloak could hardly tell"
Pretty, MANI"
Cannot say. sir; she wears mask"
"A mask? He! yerney, verney, this
IL vastly interesting! And she won't |
go away; eh. Ned?"
NO. sir; she must see his lordship,
she said. il only for five minutes"
Plump. understood. masked" ejac-
ulated Captain Spicer in burning per-
plexity. 1--WE have ten minutes vet.
We will have her up; eh, yerney?
Show her up, Ned"
The servant withdrew, unheedins
Lord verney's stammered protest.
Really. Captain Spicer," said he, Il
would have liked to have kept these
last ten minutes for something serious.
would have liked" said the lad with
catch In his voice and a hot color on
his cheek. Ito have read page of my
Bible before starting were it only for
my mothers sake, afterward."
The captain threw up hand and eve
In unfeigned horror.
"A page of your Bible, POUNDS, II
It gets out. we are the laughingstock of
Bath. page of your Bible! IT'S well
no one heard you but l."
'Hush" said Lord verneysseS in the
doorway stood their visitor. S'Twas
indeed little figure. wrapped in great
cloak, and except for the white hand
that held the folds and the glimpse of
round chin and cherry lip that was
trembling beneath the curve of the
mask there was naught else to betray
Ter identity, to tell whether she We're
voung or old. well favored or disinher-
ted. But it was charming little hand
md an engaging little chin.
Lord Verney merely stood and stared
Ike the boy he was. But Captain
spicer leaped forward with a spring
ike a grasshopper, and, crossing his
can shanks. he presented chair with
he killing grace of which he alone
vas master. The lady entered the
DOM, put her hand on the back of the
hair and turned upon Captain Spicer.