Perth Amboy evening news., 1906-01-22

wondered how soon help would arrive.
1t came sooner than she expected.
John opened the door, and Lord Bobby
entered with a rush and a happy smile.
The colonel glared at him and gave
Eva a glance which was to make her
understand that he felt the infiiction
as much as she did. Lord Bobby sat
down, and having come prepared with
only one subject of conversation, said
nothing for some time.
John soon admitted In quick success
sion the Hon. Percy Fitzpearce, Mr..
Archie Pawling and Mr.. Philip Bart
ram
me conversation that afternoon was
interesting, not SO much by reason of
the things said as by reason of the
things thought and choked down in
silence. The colonel's few remarks on
"Gladstonian Fallacies" developed, as
they were apt to do, into a set speech.
while Eva murmured at intervals her
entire agreement.
Then Mrs. -3owen came in; she was
generally late at her own tea parties.
There was some exciting m~anuevering
by each to drive the other four over
10 her and get a few words quietly
with Eva; it was as interesting as the
ten minutes before the gun fires in d
yacht race.
AS five o'clock approached each
watched furtively for signs of the de-
parture Of the others. No gentleman
who is a gentleman should make a call
of more than an hour. Lord Bobby
mentioned exciting things that were
going on elsewhere, and Archie Paw.
ling asked why he wasn't there. Lord
Bobby remarked casually that he didn't
care for such things. Mr.. ~titzpearce
remembered an engagement that Mr..
Bartram had; but Mr.. Bartram
thanked him kindly, and said it had
been postponed. The colonel was oc-
cupied in annihilating only the third
fallacy Of Mr.. Gladstone, and there
were seven still to be dealt with, three
of which were most outrageously fall
lacious. And Eva wondered more and
more.
At about half-past five Mr.. Pawling,
with many "ha, has," and earnest as
surance that he had never laughed SO
much in his life, told a story, but re-
membered in the middle that it might
not 40 in a drawing-room, and had to
switch off into something with a moral
but no meaning. Eva laughed very
much; in fact she felt that on the
slightest pr%ovocation she would
scream. She wondered IL her parting
from BERTHE was known, and this was
the penalty for being disengaged.
Poor Berthe! There was a halo around
him already. She had never realized
so fully before how dull were the gen
tlemen of her acquaintance. Poor
Bertie! How different the afternoon
would have been had he beer there.
1t was getting on toward G:30 when
John entered and announced Mr..
BERTHE Pilkinghame. Her heart leaped,
and she rose and went toward him.
BERTHE looked around with a grave
face. Then he shook hands first with
Eva, then with Mrs. Rowen, then with
the heroic five. He had a pleasant
word for each. Then he returned TO
Eva, sat down on a chair by her size,
and, without saying anything, looked
solemnly at the colonel. The aston
ishment on five faces changed to wrath
and disgust, and that in turn gave way
to pleasant, though grim, smiles.
"Er-ah--ahem," said the colonel,
feeling his position acutely. BLESS my
soul, how late it is! Dear, dear! How
one forgets time when one is really in
terested. II am afraid l must be 60
ing now, really!"
Must you really?" said Mrs. Rowen.
"Er-I really must. Er-good after
noon"
The same process was repeated four
times.
There was a council of wal on the
Sidewalk.
Let's thrash him!" said Pawling,
savagely.
Yes" said Bartram, gripping his
stick.
And have it all made public, and
look bigger fools than we are?" said
F~itzpearce.
IF possible" said Lord Bobby, and
in woeful silence they dispersed.
Il didn't hear o come" said Eva,
when the room was cleared.
Didn't you?" said BERTHE. AS a
matter of fact, he had arrived at four,
and sat in the library while John re-
ported how things were going. 81
came because | had heard that you
were about to accept the first proposal
you got. In case I'm not too late" he
continued, going down gracefully on
one knee, 81 have the honor to lay at
your feet the heart and hand of a most
humble, repentant and devoted slave"
Did you tell all those people to
come here?"
Il told them our engagement was
over" said BERTHE, cheerfully.
Eva looked at him steadily. Disdain.
anger, amusement. apprehension
seemed to struggle for expression in
her face. BERTHE waited breathlessly
for an outburst.