Morgan County republican. (Versailles, Mo.) 1906-1914, 1909-09-30
CHAPTER V.-Continued.

Inc noise OF the ntrOVer was
heard all over town. and 1t was dis
cussed in Berkeley Square as else.
where. Lady Hawkshaw was no Ion.
ger a subscriber to Almack's. Not be-.
ing able to rule 1t, she had retired, the
assembly rooms not being large
enough to hold herself and a certain
other lady.
Giles had told me that on the even.
ing Of the ball he and other gentlemen
interested in the victory for Mrs.
T%renchard would escort her TO the
ball. So at eight o'clock ! proceeded
to the lady's house in Jermyn street.
and saw her set forth In state in her
chair. She was blazing with diamonds.
and looked like a stage duchess. A
long company of gentlemen with their
swords attended her, and Giles and
my Lord Winstanley led the process,
sion. Mrs. Trenchard was the best
imitation Of a lady | ever saw, as she
sat In her chair, smiling and tanning
herself, with the linkboys gaping and
grinning at her; and the gentlemen,
especially such as had had a little
more wine than usual. shouting: way
for Mrs. Trenchard! Make way
there!"
Yet It seemed to me as II she were
only an imitation, after all, and that
Lady Hawkshaw, with her turban and
her o%utlandish French, had much more
the genuine air Of a great lady. Mrs.
Trenchard would go to Almack's on
any terms, but Lady Hawkshaw would
not go, except she ruled the roost, and
fought CALAMITY with the duchesses
and c~ountesses, only retiring from the
field because she was one against
many.
l followed the merry procession un.
til we got to King street, st. James,
where the coaches were four deep, and
footmen, in regiments, ~blockaded the
street. Giles and Lord Winstanley
were to take Mrs. Trenchard in, and
very grand the party looked as they
entered. BY that time, though, | was
very miserable. l remembered that
at the same time the next night |
might not have my friend. l hung
around among the footmen and oilers,
watching the lights and listening to
the crash of the music, quite uncon.
scious Of the flight of time, and was
Rstonished when the ball was over and
the people began pouring out. Then
afraid to be caught by Giles, | ran
home as fast as my legs could car
ry ne.
When I reached Berkeley Square Il
was altogether dark, and l realized
that l was locked out.
looked all over the front OF the
house, and my heart sank. There was
a blind alley at one side. and ! re
membered that in 1t opened the win
dow Of Sir Peters study, as he called
It, although. as l have said, it was
more like the cubby-hole OF the Ala,
than any other place ! can call t
mind. The window was at least q
feet from the ground, but a waterspou
ran up the wall beside 1t, and to /:
midshipman, used to going out on thu
tOpsail-yard, 1t was a trife to get up t
the window. l climbed up, softly triet
the window, and to my JOY found |
open. In another minute | was stand
ing inside the room. | had my fin
and steel In my pocket, and ! gropet
about until | found a candle, which
lighted.
l had often been in the room before
but its grotesque appearance strucl
me afresh, and | could not forbca
laughing, although l was In no laugh
ing mood. There was a regular ship
transom running around the wall. Tn
whole room was full Of the useles
odds aud ends that accumulate o.
board a ship, all arranged with tn
greatest neatness and economy @
space, and there was not n singl
object In the room which could pos
sibly be OF the slightest use on shore
looked around to see how l coul
make myself comfortable for tn
night. and, opening a locker Ia tn
wall. ! found a collection of old boa
cloaks of Sir Peters. in every stage 9
dilapidation. but all laid away wit
the greatest care. Taking n for m
CIlrv and two more for my cOverle