The Wahpeton times. [volume] (Wahpeton, Richland County, Dakota [N.D.]) 1879-1919, 1907-01-31

L
have read all the stories you have
Just told me, even the one about Lord
Ratlington in this week's-you know
the little violet paper called. Gossip
and Stings."
did you really?"'
nodded. Eyes. and told almost in
your very words. You didn't try to
read 1t up in the train?"
well, as matter of fact, did
buy a copy" said Lady Isabel inno-
Gently, "but the stories are perfectly
true all the same, even the one about
Mr.. Blount, that fearfully new man
who made fortune over baby food or
backing or something, and hasn't an
h to his name."
What story was that?'
I'VE went over to his place to q
luncheon party" answered Lady 1sa-
bel. and he was in an awful furry
no end of fuss, and all the funkeys
dressed in sort of imitation Wind
sor uniform and during luncheon he
said to Lord Massingham, Won't you
ave some cold am my lord?' and
Lord Massingham said he thought he
would like little cold ham. SO Mr.
Blount peremptorily called flunkey
in. and said in that funny tone those
sort of people always use when speak
ing to their servants, Get Is lordship
some am, and look sharp The
turnkey was apparently little fur
ried. too, and put the ham down in
front of Mr.. Blount's partner, q man
called Ephraim Banks, who, sup
pose, after all. had sort of right to
be there, and even to eat the ham.
You can't think what fury Mr..
Blount was in at the mistake. He
turned to the turnkey and said in
low voice that we could all hear quite
easily. Ere, you fool, fetch that am
back. and give 1t to is lordship. Can't
you tell the difference between peas.
added Lady Isabel, "he didn't at all
like being called a peasant, and ex-
pect they had a row about it after.
wards"
laughed. What an awful boun.
der Mr.. Blount must be-" began.
land I really think Lord Massing-
HAM" but at this moment Lady
Massingham herself was suddenly an.
nounced. Isabel rose as she came in,
and with an inimitably careless ges.
ture dropped a cushion over my copy
of Gossip and Stings, and went for.
ward to greet her guest.
my dear Isabel said Lady Mas.
singham, whose face looked very red
and hot, ~ am so fearfully annoyed
that was obliged to come straight on
and see you. No, don't go, Marjorie"
she added to me; Its nothing you
may not hear as we'll"
Lady Isabel made way for Lady
Massingham OH the sofa, and leant
herself gracefully against the tell-tale
cushion.
How sweet of you, dear, to come
to me-do let me help you-What is
1t; nothing wrong at home, hopper"
she murmured. rs it anything can
help about? l thought you were up
in Scotland"
mo, I am going tomorrow. The
fact is I am very upset." said Lady
|
herself violently. '"You will hardly
> believe it, Isabel, but just now some
one showed me a paper at the club
"a horrid paper-called Gossip and
! Stings. 1t is sometimes quite anus
ing when it's about Mrs. Darlington
Brown, but to.day-you will hardly
believe it, but they have actually pub
, ! IuI~ nh RI
Even that story is in about Banks and
Blount and the ham, and Henry says
he wouldn't have had it in for all the
world, because Mr.. Blount is one of
his best tenants. was wondering IL
1t was one Of the maids people
brought, and do you think could pos
sibly prosecute the editor?" she add.
ed. almost out of breath with rage.
u Lady Isabel was full Of sympathy.
II don't know whether you could or
? not" she answered gravely, I'm
afraid not. What did you say was
the name of the paper?"
Gossip and Stings," said Lady
Massingham; Its small paper with
a violet cover"
J, | "U0N q AuAAy uSAAASs As@N6ASo
Lady Isabel. Gossip and Stings. 1t
sounds like us and Messrs. Banks and
Blount; but. seriously. dearest. it is
horrid for you. and I'm very. very
sorry"
II knew you would sympathize
darling" answered Lady Massingham.
as she rose to go. land will send you
round the paper-it's horribly put:
but I'd rather you saw 1t now than
have you come upon it at the club"
"Yes. do send it" said Lady Isabel:
I'm $3.50 sorry, dearest" and she
ad dcd as she turned to me, Marjorie.
dear, will you kindly ring the bell?"
Il wonder why you put the paper
away" l said, as Lady Isabel rang
the bell again. this time for tea.
We'll, it's not particularly gooc
color to go with my gown" she an
swered lightly. "is it, Marjorie, dear?"
NO." l answered. Il suppose not:
besides, it's such horrid little ia.