Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1908-01-25


nobleman, threatened with maxillary
dislocation, fairly wrenched himself
loose and came over to Siward, squirt
ing furiously.
"Old assp' he muttered. His chop
whiskers look like the chops of a
Southdown ram, and he's got the wits
of one. Look here, Stephen, 1 hear
you fell into no end of a scrape in
town.
"Tu quoque, Blinky? Oh, read the
newspapers and let it go at that!'
"Just as you like, old chap!' re-
turned his lordship unabashed. "All l
meant was-anything Voucher and
can do-of course
you're very good. I'm not dead.
you know"
"'Not dead, you knowY" repeated
Major Belwether, coming up behind
them with his sprightly step. THAT
reminds me of a good One"- He sat
down and lighted cigar; then, vainly
attempting to control his countenance
as though roguishly anticipating the
treat awaiting them, he began another
endless story.
The Page boys, very callow, very
much delighted and little in awe of
such a celebrated parsonage, laughed
heartily. And altogether there was suf-
ficient attention and sufficient laughter
to make very respectable noise. This
being the majors cue for an exit, he
rose, one sleek hand raised in Spright-
ly protest as though to shield the in
visible ladies, to whose bournes he
was bound, from an uproar too mas
culine and mighty for the ears of such
a sex.
"Assw 'muttered Alderdene, getting
up and pattering about the room in
his big shiny pumps. "Give me a
peg-somebody!
Mortimer swallowed his brandy, lin
gered, lifted the decanter, mechanical
ly considering it's remaining contents
and his own capacity, then:
Bridge, captain?"
Certainly" said Captain Voucher
briskly.
'I'll go and shoe the major into the
gunroom," observed Ferrall-"unlesS =
looking questioningly at Siward.
give a date with your wife," OBJ
served that young man, strOlling to-
ward the hall.
The Page boys, Rena BOnnesdel and
Eileen Shannon were seated at card
table together, very much engaged
with one another, the sealed pack ly-
ing neglected on the green cloth, a
vast pink box of bonbons beside it not
neglected.
O'Hara and Quarter, with Marion
Page and Mrs. Mortimer, were i'm
mersed in the game, already stony
faced and oblivious to outer sounds.
About the rooms were distributed
girls en- tete-tete, girls eating bonbons
and watching the cards, among them
Sylvia Lands, hands loosely clasped
behind her, standing at Quarters ell
bow to observe and profit by an ex-
pert performance.
AS Siward strolled in she raised her
dainty head for an instant. smiled in
silence and resumed a study of her
fiance's game.
A moment later, when Quarter had
emerged brilliantly from the melee,
she looked up again triumphantly, sup
posing Siward was lingering some
| where waiting to join her. And she
was just q trifle surprised and disap-
pointed to find him nowhere in sight.
She had wished him to observe the
brilliancy of Mr.: Quarters game.
But Siward, outside on the veranda,
was saying at that moment to his
hostess. II shall be very glad to read
my mothers letter at any time you
choose
'It must be later, Stephen. I'm to
cut in when Kemp sends for me. He
has lot of letters to attend to- Tell
me, what do you think of Sylvia Ian
dis?''
az like her, of course" he replied
pleasantly.
Grace Ferran stood thinking mo-
ment. THAT sketch you made proved
great success, didn't it," And she
laughed under her breath.
"Did it? 1 thought Mr.. Quarter
seemed annoyed"-
Really? What a muff that cousin
of mine is. He's such a muff, you
know, that the very sight of his point
ed beard and pompadour hair and his
complacency sets me in fdgets to stir
him up"
81 don't think you'd best use me for
the stick next time" said Siward.
He's not my cousin, you know"
Mrs. Ferrall shrugged her boyish
shoulders: by the way" she said Gu
riously, who was that grip"
What grip he asked coolly, look
ing at his hostess, now the very incar-
nation of delicate mockery with her
pretty laughing mouth, her boyish sun
burn and freckleS.
you won't tell me, supposed"
Pm sorry
"Was she pretty, StephenY