Belding banner. (Belding, Mich.) 1889-1918, 1909-03-18
silks. against the dark wood of the

The squire opened his mouth-and
shut 1t again, as a sob smote upon his
ear, and the look that he cast upon
that down-bent head was one of min
gled wrath and Observation-Disclosures
work. And it's good lad. worth a
hundred fops of Beau Wycherly's kid
ney! And the property! Oh. Lord!
What will they be at next? III TO my
daniel"
AS the heavy footsteps died away,
Mistress Lilias lifted her head. And
that's over. Flung my troth in my
face. Tilted me like barmaid, The
moon calf, glooming and glowering A
pretty lover for a gentlewoman!" but
for all OF her high-fung head, and the
gay little tune that she sung, there
was sore feeling that would not down,
all the unhappy day, for the look in
the blue eyes as they dwelt in hers,
haunted her persistently.
The squire stormed his way into
the still room, where his lady was
dispensing her store of sweet herbs
for the savoring OF my lord of Wycher-
lys bedchamber. Clear out, the pack
OF you.' he Numbered, and the maids
fed. What happened in that short
session is an old story to those who
read as they run. The squire grew
aweary of battling with cobwebs and
ragged helplessly into his den, where
he kept silent counsel with himself
over his Brown George. Dame Mar
garet went serenely about her house
wife cares, making ready for her
guest. She felt grateful to Harry Bel
lairs, who had cleared the decks for
action, albeit the tempest was a
fierce one.
Mistress Lilias came down the stair,
hesitating little, for below, Lord
Wycherly sat in converse with her
mother, and at sight of him through
the open door shyness overcame her
usual sauciness. Witch Lilias, de-
mure as nun, and most daintily fair;
the blue satin of her gown looped
back from the Powered petticoat, the
dark curls, piled high, gold-powdered.
From the heels of her little blue shoes,
to the topmost curl, she was fashioned
complete from London town, and the
consciousness of those gauds strength
ened her wonderfully in that first long
courtesy until she raised her eyes as
the mincing tones heralded the kiss
upon her hand-a little snuff-colored
man, CHASTITY in his plumage of silver
and crimson. So dark the swarthy
cheek, so glazed the lack-luster eyes
that gloated over her fairness. The
bravery of lace and satins about the
shrunken form daZZled Dame Marga-
ret, who basked in the flow of ford
compliment, bubbling mechanically
from the wreck at her side Lilias
grew chill with a nameless sense of
danger as she watched her mothers
face and, in obedience to her frown,
was forced to laugh and chatter while
that wave of repulsion came and went
when Wycherly's glance chung to her
uncovered throat and shoulders. There
was nameless torture in that gaze
and yet, against her will, she listened
eagerly as the magic unfolded and
the gamor of the wickedest court the
Heathlands.
The squire glowered darkly and,
despite Dame Margaret's frowns. he
gave scant courtesy TO Wycherly,
deepening to absolute displeasure
when, at dinner, Wycherly was in
stalled in the place that belonged, of
habit, to Bellairs. If Wycherly noted
aught amiss with his host, ready tact
enabled him to disguise the knowl-
edge. He held the thread of talk, deft-
ly splicing it with well-turned jest and
doubtful story as it rippled along the
uneasy course of the dinner hour.
The morrow brought no change in
the squires mood, save that he left
the field to the foe, faring forth to find
Bellairs-to have it out with him, he
told Dame Margaret. Lilias watched
him, half divining his errand. The
girl was utterly at a loss. She did
not know just what she wanted, being
in that way little different from all of
her kind. The glamor was strong. She
saw much with Dame Margaret's eyes,
forgetting Wycherly in the picture he
set before her; until would come the
remembrance of that fiery gaze and
the kiss upon her hand, that yet
burned as itching poison, and sick
sense of shame dyed her face S.h the
prescience of what lay within that
glance.
My Lord Of Wycherly had come to
see, to WOO, If the sight pleased, and
he was not long in the making Of his
mind. He wanted wife, and, more
| than all, he wanted an heir, lawfully
begotten. This he had foreshadowed
in his letter to Dame Margaret. Lilias
had proved more to his liking than he
had dared TO hope. She would do him
credit, this country beauty. There
were reasons why my Lord of Wycher.
ly might not sue for a lady of the
court, therefore the matter was not
long delayed. Dame Margaret felt no
doubt of her ability to manage the
squire, and before the sun had reached
the noon it was as good as settled
when Lilias rebelled.
Dame Margaret heard her out then
fell to rating her soundly, and laid her
commands upon her, deaf to sobs and