The Washington herald., 1907-10-13

began to ask him all manner Of questions
about Alicia Vernon Was she a great
beauty. as Mrs. Yereker had heard. and
was she going TO marry somebody else.
now that Guy Vernon was dead? Jane
wished to know how Mrs. Vernon dressed
her hair. Sarah inquired if her sleeves
were large or small, according TO the lat
est London fashion. and complained that,
Tor her part, Americans changed the mode
/ Of their sleeves so often that she could
not keep up with them Isabella yearned
20 &now whether Mrs. Vernon smoked
cigarettes or not Sir Percy almost
laughed at the latter suggestion. He had
never seen any woman in his life so
careful 10 pay the 1.-THE of mint. annis
and cummin to the world as Alicia Yer
non or more ready 70 avoid the Weightier
matters Of the law The slightest aroma
| OF fastness was rigidly foresworn by her.
! ana no CrOmwellian ever kept out of the
| way of the fast set more absolutely than
| DID the lady Of the violet eyes.
In the midst Of this patter of questions
Lord Baudesert entered the drawing
rooH. and the three girls suddenly grew
mute, wh5e Mrs. VcEeker asked Lord
Baudesert, for the fourth time that even
ing. If the east wind hadn't given him a
touch of the gout Having answered this
question three times with much savageTy.
Lord Baudesert let it pass. and demanded
pen and paper directing Isabella, who
WIS the family scribe, to make out the
list for the dinner which was 10 be given
next week IN honor Of Gen. Talbot and
Mrs. Vernon. The first name put down
was Senator March. and then followed
list of eight or ten other representative
men whom Lord Baudesert thought Gen.
Ialbott would ike 10 meet. Tne selection
OF the women was more difficult. BY way
of diseiplining Mrs. Vereker, who did not
need il in the least, Lord Baudesert COM
manded Isabella TO begin the list of ladie
as follows;
Mrs Chantrey"
Mrs. Vereker ventured 20 say feebly:
Mrs Chantrey has already dined here
twice this season.
She may be dining here oftener than
you think, was LORD Baudesert's menac-
ing reply. and Mrs. Vereker, in her minds
eye. saw Mrs ChanTey as the future
Lady Baudesert, presiding with much
majesty over the British Embassy
Some girls were required for the un-
married men who We're asked II was the
OF Mrs Verekers eOvey should appear at
the table-an honor which was always
received with nervous apprehension by the
successful candidate. This time it was
Isabella who was the Jephtha's daugh-
OF the occasion Mrs Vereker sug-
gested several girls. but each one was re-
morse!y thrown out by Lord Baudesert
on various grounds. Presently he asked. !
hat is the name Of that girl who
was here on the afternoon the two South
Americans called, and helped 10 pull us
out Of the hole?"
Miss Armytage, replied Mrs. Vereker.
She struck me as rather an unusual /
sort Of a girl"
Mrs Vereker, with her usual capacity |
Tor Misunderstanding Lord Baudesert's /
meaning, replied family:
Oh yes very unusual She is from a 4
little town called Bardville in Tennessee. /
or Is it Indiana I forget which. OF +
course, she would not do al all, and We .
never thought Of suggesting her"
Put down Miss Armytage," snapped 4
Lord BaudeseTt.
The comedy suddenly became a tragedy /
to Sir Percy CaTly0n. So. then. Alicia
vernon MD Lucy Armytage We're 20 be
brought face 10 face after ali-and IL
filed him with dumb rage. Isabella.
meaning 10 conciiiate her uncle, mur-
INJURED.
T. A lovely girl, Miss Arnytage; so intel
igent SO interesting
A provincial if ever saw one" was
Lord Baudeserts response 10 this. Never
-heless, she has some beauty and a pretty
voice, and We viii have her"
When Lord Baudesert had retired TO his
library, Mrs. Fereker and the three girls
alked In subdued tones for fear the ogre
night hear them They mournfullv
igreed there must be something between
ord Baudesert and Mrs Chantrey. and
SIR Percy was appealed 10 for his opin-
on.
Lord Baudesert wouldn't marry Helen
II Troy If she mad all the virtues of s..
Monica and John D. Rockefeller's wealth
ntO the bargain, was Sir Percy's con
oling answer. He simply talks about
1rs Chantrey TO worry YOU. I wish
hem both JOY if they get each other.
'ut there isn't a shadow Of danger"
Mrs Fereker, however, refused 70 be
0mforted
And what a surprise that he should
ave gone out of his way to ask Miss
Armytage, whom he frankly called
royinciai, Surely, in the language of
he hymn. it might be said of Lord Bau-
esert, He moves in a mysterious way.
lis wonders 10 perform
Sir Percy had promised TO stay all the
vening. but he broke his promise and
eft early. He began TO believe that Fate.
nd not be, would settle when and how
.ucy Armytage would hear the painful
tory Of his youth
During the next week Sir Percy Carlvon
aw Gen. Talbot every day, and for
ours, and il was inevitable that he
mould see much Of Alicia Vernon. He
id the regular sightseeing with them.
rove with them through the park. went
1th them 10 Mount Vernon, and. in =
hort, acted as their cicerone. Nothing !
)uh exceed the grace and compOsure of
licia Nernon's manner. and in her de- !
Eat she was not unlike Gen. Talbot in !
he few rebuffs that he had during his
fe. If Sir Percy Carlyon had been a =
ounger or more sanguine man he would 7
ave felt quite at ease, but he knew =
licia Vernon too well ever TO feel at ease
her neighborhOOd. She was not the :
oman TO lay obvious snares and traps q
} find out things, much less to fan into !.
he Cren vulgarijy of asking questions. !,
et Sir Percy felt that her sharp intelH- =
enCe was al work on every word and l
lrase he uttered, TO find out what he Z
i'd refused TO tell her-the name and
lbitat of the woman he loved
Cards and invitations began to pour in :.
pom Gen. Talbot and his daughter Il
1t the dinner at the embassy was the :
st formal entertainment which they at
nded
Sir Percy's first meeting with Lucy 4
rmytage after Alicia VeTnOn's arrival
as purely accidental He had taken his
te afternoon walk eastward. and as he
Ossed, after sunset, the deserted plaza .