Morgan County republican. (Versailles, Mo.) 1906-1914, 1909-08-05
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when I found myself in the presence
OF my Lady Hawkshaw, In her Chinese
drawing room, with her great black
eyes glazing at me, and her huge
black plume OF feathers nodding at
me, as she sat, enveloped in a vast
black robe like a pail, l said to myself:
After all, she Is but a woman" So
I stared back at her with all the cool
ness in the woodland | was a seeker
after favor, too-and but IA years OF
age, and had only seven and sixpence
in my pocket. The tall footman who
stood behind Lady Hawkshaw's chair
made a grimace at me; and | respond
ed by a fierce look, as If I was about to
run him through the body.
"Jeames," said her ladyship, go and
make my compliments to Sir Peter
H~awkshaw, and say to him that his
roistering kept me awake half the
night, and consequently | feel very Ill
this morning; and that his great
nephew, Master Richard Glyn from
America, Is come after a midshipman's
warrant in his majesty's navy--and |
desire Sir Peter to attend me in my
bowdwor Immediately"
Her ladyship's French was the
rueerest imaginable-yet in her youth
she had the French tutor who had
taught the daughters of the regent of
France.
There was a silence after the tall
footman left, during which my lady
and eyed each other closely. | re-
member having heard that she had de-
fed her father. Lord Bosanquet, and
n OF the greatest family connections
IN the kingdom, in order to marry Sir
Peter, who was then a pcnniless lieu.
tenant In his majesty's navy and the
son Of a drysalter in the city. This
same drysalter was my great-grand-
father; but ! had an infusion of an.
other blood through my mother. God
bless her!-who vas of a high family
and n baronet's daughter. The dry
saltcr strain was honest. but plebeian,
while the baronet strain was rather
more lofty than honest, l fancy.
Having heard. as l say, of the des.
perate struggle it cost Lady Hawk
shaw to marry her lieutenant, | some.
what expected to find her and Admiral
Sir Peter Hawkshaw living like doves
In a cage, and was disconnected at the
message her ladyship sent her lord.
But | was still more disconnected when
Sir Peter, a short, stout man. with n
choleric eye, presently bounced into
the room.
Sir Peter" said her ladyship, here
is your nephew Toms brat, who wants
q midshipman's warrant"
Sir Peter stopped short, looked me
over was tall for my age-and
grinned savagely. thought 1t was all
up with me and was almost ready to
haul down my flag.
And Sir Peter" screamed her lady.
ship. "he must have it,"
Hang me, my LADY," n pped Sir
Peter. but when did you take such
an interest in my nephew TOMS brat?'
This very hour" replied Lady
Hawkshaw. tartly, and tossing her
black plumes %haughtily. you behaved
like a wretch to the boy after the
death OF his father and mother in
America; and God has given you the
chance to make amends, and l say he
shall have his warrant"
POUNDS, madam" bawled Sill
Peter; "since you take the liberty o.
aisposing Of my warrants, I presume
you are the holder of my commission
as vice.admiral Of the White in hi.
majesty's service. Let me know 1t 4
you are-let me know it, | say!"
Stuff" responded my lady, I,
which Sir Peter answered something
that sounded like "Damme!" and thcr
my attention was distracted from ,hi
matrimonial engagement by the silcn
entrance Of two young girls. One o
them was about 12 years of age. Sh,
had dOve-liKe eyes. and her darl
lashes kissed her cheek. She cam
and stood Familiarity by Lady Hawk
shaw's chair: and the gentle affec
tionateness Of her tanner towar,
that redOubtable person amazed m,
ut the time. This was my first sigh
IF Daphne Carmichael; and when sh
hxed her soft, childish glance upo,
me. 1t was like the sight Of stars on
cloudy night. But the other one,
tall girl OF 16 or whereabouts, dazzle,
me 80 that | am obliged to confess
had no more eyes for Daphne. Thi
older girl was the Lady Arabella Stol
mont, and was then and always b
far the h~andsomest creature | eve
beheld. l shall not attempt to describ
her. ! will only say that her brillian
faco, with such a complexion as
never saw before or since, showed
naughty Indifference toward the shall
by boy over whom Sir Peter and Lad