Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1906-08-11
Lady Newdigate's
Finger
By EDGAR FAWCETT
Copyright. by Joseph B. Bowles.)

time, naQ ceased 10 De QlSCuSSod at
ALL Nobody ever said, nowadays,
Does he care?" "Is he bothered?"
Everybody realized that, even if he
hated the whole proceeding, he was
quite too emOtionless a person (out-
wardly) to give sign.
Proigne did nothing" and did it
with conspicuous luxury. Had not his
parents died genteel paupers? Who
gave him his sumptuous fiat in De
We're Gardens? 1t was his aunt, the
wealthy Mrs. Clavering. And evident
ly this lady didn't mind about Lady
Newdigate any more than Sir Ralph
minded about PrOigne.
But Mrs. Caverley did mind. She
had been a London belle in her day,
and had cherished the man whom she
married.
In her Curzon street drawing-room
we find her slipping tea and talking
with the daughter of dear dead
friend
NOW, Amelia" she was saying, 81
know that / can confide to you that
/ detest the whole thing terribly.
want it to end. 1t must end"
81 think there might be way"
Lady Wheatsheaf unused aloud
Then she told Proigne's aunt what
the way" was.
Mrs. Caverley was nOdding sOmber-
" when she finished. mot at all bad,
my dear; not at all bad. You're the
sort Of woman who could bring them
together. Adela Stanford; of course;
yes; your step-sister, and just ready
to appear in the world. Only IS, too;
and Flora Newdigate is 30, if a day
Is the resemblance so striking?"
tits really wonderful; though Flora,
you know, is much more beautiful"
Lady Wheatsheaf rose to go.
Bring her here to tea on Friday;
don't fall" pleaded Mrs. Caverley.
"Ill have Cyril. l positively promise
him. And you must positively prom
Use me Adela."
Adela STAFFORD met Proigne at
many places besides his aunt's house
in the near future. Lady Wheatsheaf
had all the resources of a gay, rich
woman. She sometimes contrived that
meetings which in reality had been
artfully arranged shouI~. seem prod
ucts of mere coincidence and accident
One day, at a Belgravian afternoon
crush, Lady Wheatsheaf drew Mrs
Caverley aside.
my treasured young sister has tall-
en- in love-" she said
What! With Cyril? SO quickly?"
'tIt isn't so quickly, after all. It's
been several weeks, you know"
She was sorrier when she went home
man square.
you didn't go anywhere to-day,
then, Adela?"
The girl turned from window
through which she had been gazing
down at the feet-driven cabs and vic
torias. Her eyes were woe-begone,
but her gaze looked brave, though
harshly panied.
Mrs. Pomfret has been here, Anne
liza. We have had quite long talk
"Merciless little scandal-monger,"
thought Lady WheatsheaI.
"She has told me everything" Adela
went on.
"What-what?"
THAT Mrs. Caverley and you are
conspiring to steal from Lady Newdi-
gate her adorer, her vassal. That you
have been using my so-called 'resem-
blance' to her as a lure. That Lady
Newdigate laughs at the whole affair,
and has made it plain that she need
only lift finger to have him repent
antly back at her side.'
Here Adela's wrath blazed out. Il. S
all true!" she cried 81 don't blame
you, or Mrs. Caverley either. You
both had your motives. You, Amelia,
have always wanted me to marry what
you call we'll Besides, IL love you
too much to blame you for anything. /"
The girl paused, and drew in a long
breath. But Cyril Proigne! | shoulu
like to meet him once more, and /
SHALL"
"Adela! Why-why?"
''To tell him how infinitely | despise
him for having dared to use me as his
makeshift, his cats paw!' She gave a
Ac1dSA VI pAOI G11S OlIISluSSS. AS III
the finger of his idol couldn't have
been lifted without employing a poor.
young country girl like myself as the
lever force!" She echoed her own
laugh again, and caught up a mantle
and hat which had evidently lain in
readiness near by
"Adela!" painted her sister, where
on earth are you going? Surely not
to him!"
NO. shot the logged reply, "as If
would! I'm going to her"
Zone moment, Adela," threw out
Lady Wheatsheaf.
But the girl darted away.
To Grosvenor square from Portman
was only short drive.
Il think, Miss Stanford" said the
butler, who had a long tried memory
and recognized Adela as having called
one day with her sister, the ultra
smart marchioness of Wheatsheaf
that Lady Newdigate is just at pres
ont in the library ;"