The Wisconsin tobacco reporter. (Edgerton, Wis.) 1877-1950, 1909-09-17
WHEATLEY'S
PLAY
BY Barbara Carus- Wilson

back to her.
She impulsively threw her arms
around his neck and raised her face to
his. Their lips met
She hurriedly extricated herself
from his embrace
What utter folly! / must marry
the duke"
You shan't''
He slipped his arms around her
again, but she moved resolutely away.
Il must. | shall be sorry for ever
and ever afterwards if / don't. It's
been the dream of my life to wear a
ducal coronet."
NONSENSE" he said sternly.
Lady Joan threw herself petulantly
down on the sofa.
ooh, you don't know a woman's
mind" she moaned.
yes, | do / know your mind is
weighing love against social ambi-
ton and | know love will weigh down
the scales
you don't know how weak we
sometimes are" she went on, unheed-
ing. Its foolish and horrid and
wicked, but if / marry any one but
the duke now / shall make him
wretched."
81 will chance it..
Four hours later Lady Joan, exquis-
itely gowned, went up the staircase at
Mrs. Tattersley- Smythe's. She had
only been a widow for year, and al
ways wore white or mauve still be-
cause she knew it suited her better
than anything else. Her beautiful
i. face was flushed with triumph, dia-
monds sparkled in her hair, and at her
breast.
1t took long time to get up the
staircase, but she did not mind, be-
cause the duke was at her side.
When they reached the top he was
obliged to leave her, because of an
important debate in the house of
lords.
He said something to her in low
tone, which no one else could hear,
and fingered reluctantly, but he was
a man who always prided himself on
doing his duty to his country.
When he had gone, Wheatley ap-
peared.
Don't come near me-" she cried,
petulantIy. Hes coming tomorrow
morning at IL o'clock for my answer;
1 can never forgive you for this after
noon"
Wheatley raised his eyebrows in
credulouSly, which increased her an
noyance.
81 hate you,' she said, vehemently.
What time do you leave this
crush?' he asked her carelessly.
81 ordered my brougham for 1O:3O.
l want to get to the opera for the last
act and then go on to the countess
ball. Now go and talk to some one
else. A dear friend has just told me
our names begin to be bracketed, and
one can't be too careful.
They seemed a long while getting
to Covent Garden.
She looked out of the window. Ev
erything was strangely dark outside,
and they seemed to be travelling with
unusual speed
Where are you going?" she asked,
but no answer came to her repeated
summons
Lady Joan became suddenly uneasy.
Horrid stories about people going sud-
denly mad flashed through her mind.
"Stop!" she cried stop at once
Do you not hear?"
The man looked round, drew UP the
car and sprang down. Under the
chauffeur's cap she recognized Wheat
ley's face.
"You!" she cried with sudden glad
relief. ooh, was so frightened.
feel safe now you're here. But why
are you driving my brougham? Where
are you taking me? Surely it is some
trick
Lady JOAN" he answered quietly,
'I told you this afternoon you should
not marry the duke"
What do you mean?" she asked
"Are you running away with me?"
Something rather like it,
How dare you;" she cried passion
ately. How dare youi'
"a man dares anything when he
loves as / do. l love you with my
whole SOUL he went on boldly. II
would do or dare anything to win YOU
| hoped if | could get you away alone
somewhere you might listen to me be-
fore you promised the duke
''Iow dare you, she said again.
Lady JOAN he answered coolly, Il
dare anything, as | have told you"
You are very cruel.'' and there was
a sob in her voice. you think you
will compromise me and the duke will
hear and won't marry me-
Upon my soul ] had no such
thought he said hoarsely. Shall
take you home or to the countess
ball?'' he asked in a low tone.
Home at once" she answered.
He closed the window, mounted
the drivers seat, turned the car round
and drove back to town.
OF ~,