The Meeker herald., 1907-01-26


undertaken to protect the girl"
Who is coming here?"
THE Burts. the Langfords. Colonel
Wicks. Lord Nashville and ono or two
other men,
ut would certainly be Chart, to
any woman to protect her from Lord
Nashville"
so thought Although not to felp
Bob to wife. who might very prcha-
bly, prove his salvation. you are yet
willing to throw yourself chivalrorsly
Into the breach. to protect strange
girl from Lord Rashville?"
Yes. acknowledge that the 'Qutx-
ote' In me Is reused by the very name
of Nashville. 1t tempts me even to.
valiant deeds. BY Jove!" He made
sudden movement.
Lady Hardcastle's attention was
caught by some unusual tone in pis
voice. She saw his eyes stray pAst
the flowers that danced as though
beating time to the breeze. aud rest
on the figure of girl to whom ne
pointed an indicating finger. Sne
was exceedingly well dressed end
wore garden-hat Of strongly twisted
straw, in which nestled violets that
ranged from timid lilac to the imperial
purple in tone. One hand. delicate.
somewhat heavily jewelladen. held
parasol which, from time to time, ene
spun. She had an abundance of vary
lovely hair. soft as smoke and black
in shadow. though, where the light
touched II. even smoke-tinged In col
or. Her eyes were gray. deep. lun.in-
GUS, as gray eyes only can be. and the
lids OF them were tinged with the col.
or that is on the sheath Of the iris
flower before its birth. There WIS
about the girl. altogether. a look of
holiness that put Christopher In mind
of Sunday In the country. when the
worlds trafiic stilied, its cares are laId
aside In honor OF the day.
There was something in her mere
presence that made the sordid discus
sion Of money in connection with hse
seem PROCLAMATION.
He wondered II her mental equip.
ment were in harmony with the beauty
of her exterior. He turned to Lady
Hardcastle.
Il withdraw all my objections" said
he. 1T strikes me that 1t will be q
real pleasure to make her acquaint-
ance. A weeks uninterrupted tete-a-
tete with 70 pretty 'Dulcinea' doesn't
seem n disturbing 4 task ~ 1t did.
I win Inake love to her-by proxy, OF
course talk to her on ali subjects.
will make her my confidante; pour ont
my raptures into her presumably pref
ty ear and extract sympathy from her
presumably tender heart.
A fortnight later. the same two peo-
pie, in exactly the same surroundings,
were again discussing tea.
Yet in the attitude OF both there was
a change. Urbanity beamed upon the
face OF Lady Hardcastle. The ease,
the assurance properly belonging to
Christopher. woven to mantle of
content. seemed to have fallen upon
her shoulders: whilst shamefaced-
ness rested upon the countenance of
Christopher His II am afraid you'll
think I've spoiled 1t. Lydia" was alb
solutely self-conscious.
ION the contrary. you have been
wonderful. Christopher; you have
Swallowed the girl so that nobody could
get near her. / am excessively crate.
full to you. And now" continued the
trustful woman, how glad you must
be that your task is over. for Bob ar
rives tonight"
Does he?" ~ se,.
II fear you have been very much
bored" FL
Not at all. Even At TIL nrst, when
thought .Dulcinea' merely brilliant
abstraction. and fiuttered round as
elegantly as my advancing years
would permit. ! was Interested. Then,
keeping we'll In mind your instructions
to talk to her on all subiects-extract-
ing sympathy from her assuredly ten
der heart7pouring raptures into her
assuredly pretty ear! In word, max
ing love to her by proxy. as you urged
upon me
urged upon you-!!" she inter
ruptingly faltered. &
II should think 3d." Christopher at.
firmed. well. one day-or, to be
more circumstantial. this particular
day-she and got upon the subject
of American literatureAor. at least,
she talked of American literature
and talked of Bob He broke OF.
why didn't you tell me she was SO
well up in it," he asked.
$50 well up in American literature p.
asked Lady Hardcastle.
Yes. Longfellew! He's an Ameri-
cr isn't he?"
"Longfeilow! Yes. suppose So"
said Lady Hardcastle. weighing her
words.
HE appears to have written poem
about man named Miles Stan,.ish."
Ibid he?" Lady Hardcastle raised
her eyebrows until they became notes
Of Interrogation. Il really don't See"
Neither did l. till 'Dulcinea' ex-
planned"