The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1909-09-04

ny IL.
The only woman with whom the
great singer was at all intimate was
the Countess Leven. Lord Creedmore's
daughter, generally called Lady
Maud" whose husband had been in
the diplomacy. and. after vainly try
Ing to divorce her. had been killed in
st. Petersburg by bomb meant for
minister. The explosion had been
80 terrific that the dead mans identity
had only been established by means
of his pocket-book, which somehow es-
capped destruction. So Lady Maud
was childless widow Of eight-and.
twenty. Her father. when he had no
prospect of ever succeeding to the
title, had been successful barrister.
and then a Woodworking member of
parliament, and he had been from boy.
hood the close friend Of Margaret's
father. Hence the intimacy that grew
up quickly between the two women
when they at last met. though they
had not known each other as children,
because the lawyer had lived in town
and his friend in Oxford.
so you're going to try 1t, my
dear!" said Lady Maud, when she
heard the news.
She had a sweet low voice, and
when she spoke now 1t was little
sad; for she had tried It," and 1t had
failed miserably. But she knew that
the trial had not been a fair one; the
only man she had ever cared for had
been killed in South Africa, and as
she had not even the excuse of having
been engaged to him. she had married
with Indifference the first handsome
man with good name and fair for.
tine who offered himself. He CHANGED
to be Russian diplomatist. and he
turned out spendthrift and an un-
faithful husband. She was too kind
hearted to be glad that he had been
blown to atoms by dynamite. but she
was much too natural not to enjoy the
liberty restored to her by his destruc-
ton; and she had not the least intcn-
tion Of ever trying 1t" again.
"You don't sound very enthusiastic"
laughed Margaret, who had no mis-
givings to speak Of, and was generally
cheerful person. III you don't en-.
courage me I may not go on
There are two kinds of ruined gam.
blers." answered Lady Maud; there
are those that still like to watch other
people play, and those who cannot
bear the sight of roulette table. I'm
one Of the second kind, but I'll come
to the wedding all the same, and
cheer like mad, II you ask me-"
That's nice of you. really think
mean to marry him, and I wish you
would help me with my wedding gown.
dear. 1t would be dreadful If I looked
! like Juliet, or Elsa, or Lucia! Every
body would laugh. especially as Kon.
stantin is rather of the Romeo type,
with his almonAshaped eyes and his
little black mustache! suppose he
really is. isn't he?"
"Perhaps-just little. But he is
a very handsome fellow"
Lady Maud's lips quivered, but Mar.
garet did not see.
"Oh, l know" she cried. laughing
and shaking her head. You once
called him exotic and he is-but I'm
awfully fond of him all the same.
Isn't that enough to marry on when
there's everything else? You really
will help me with my gown, won't
you? You're such an ANGEL"
"Oh, yes, I'll do anything you like.
Are you going to have regular
knock-down-and-drag-o smash at St.
Georges? The usual thing?"
Lady Maud did not despse slang,
but she made it sound like music.
NO" answered Margaret, rather re-
gretfully. "We cannot possibly be
married till the seasons quite over, or
perhaps in the autumn, and then there
will be nobody here. I'm not sure
when I shall feel like It! Besides,
Konstantin hates that sort Of thing"
do you mean to say that you would
like show wedding in Hanover
Square," inquired Lady Maud.
1--WE never done anything in q
church." said the prima donna, rather
enigmati--H, but as If she would
like to.
"Anything in church," repeated
her friend, vaguely thoughtful, and
with the slightest possible interroga.
ton. That's a funny way of looking
1T it,"
Margaret was a little ashamed of
what she had said so naturally.
II think Konstantin would like to
have It in chapel-of-ease in the Old
Kent Road" she said, laughing. "He
sometimes talks Of being married in
tweeds and driving of in hanson!
Then he suggests going to Constan.
tinople and getting it done by the
patriarch. who is his uncle. Really,
that would be rather smart, wouldn't
IT,"
Distinctly" assented Lady Maud
"But II you do that. I'm afraid I can.
not help you with the wedding gown
I don't know anything about the dress
Of Fanariote BRIDE"
"Konstantin says they dress very
WE'LL" Margaret said But OF course
It Ia out Of the question to do any.
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