The Marshall republican., 1909-03-05
2SSS>E2'fzW LOWS
| Wh6eh ANP
:.-. by MOLLY ELLIOT SEAWELL
BY MOLLY ELLIOT SEAyVEu

on the road, or even Sir Peter Hawk
shaw himself, who Travelled much be-
tween Portsmouth and the admiralty.
And had we been caught, there is lit.
tie doubt that w should have been
forced to right about face. in spite
OF the leave each n Of us had In his
pocket. So we made ourselves ex-
tremely small in a corner Of the coach,
and only ventured TO peep out once,
when we caught sight of Sir Peter
Hawkshaw's travelling chaise going
London-wards, and Sir Peter himself
lying back In II, reading a newspaper.
After that. you may be sure we we're
very circumspect.
I noticed, however, the same thing
in the coach that I had observed the
fhrst hour | set eyes on Giles Vernon
that every he met was his
? friend. There were some tradesmen's
wives, a French hairdresser, and the
usual assortment Of ome to be
found in a public coach; and In half
an hour Giles Vernon had said a pleas
ant word to every one Of them, and
basked in their smiles.
The day was in April, and was
bright throughout; and the relays OF
horses were SO excellent that we
reached London at four in the after
noon, having left Portsmouth at nine
In the morning. We went straight to
a chophouse, for we were ravenously
hungry.
"And now, Dicky boy" said Giles to
me, keep a bright lookout for any
Of our men; and II o see one, cut
your cable and run for It, and II We are
separated meet me at the White
Horse Cellar at IL o'clock tonight to
take the midnight coach"
By the time we had got our dinner,
IL was time to go to the play. We
marched off, and made our way
through the mob Of footmen, and got
seats for the pit; and when we went
in. and I saw the playhouse lighted up
and the boxes filled with beautiful
creatures, I was near beside myself.
Giles laughed at me, but that ] did not
mind.
I gaped about me until suddenly
Giles gripped my arm. and whispered
to me:
Don't look to the left. There is a
box with Peter Hawkshaw In It, and
Polly. and two girls-one OF them the
greatest beauty ever saw, though but
q slip of a girl. II Peter or Polly sees
us, Lord help us!"
I did not look around Immediately,
but the desire to have a glimpse OF
the adorable Lady Arabella made me
steal a glance that way. She was very
beautifully dressed, and, though but
little more than 16. such a vision OF
loneliness as fairly to rival reigning
beauties of several seasons standing.
l own that / saw little Daphne sitting
by Lady Arabella, but l noted her
scarcely at all.
Nor could Giles keep his eyes OF
Lady Arabella; and l noticed that
even when the divine Sylvia, as he
called her, was on the stage, he was
not strictly attentive to her, but rath-
er sought that fateful box where SO
much beauty vas enthroned.
The divine Sylvia was a delightful
actress, I must admit, and in spite OF
being 40 II she was a day, and though
raddled with paint, she had something
winning in her air and face, and I
could understand her tremendous pop
ularity with the young bloods.
Neither Sir Peter nor Polly, as
Giles called her, showed any signs
whatever of having recognized us in
the large crowd in the pit, and we
began to congratulate ourselves hear
tily. There was a seat next to us held
by a gentleman's servant, and present
Iy he gave way to a remarkably hand
some young man Of six or seven and
A few words passed between master
and man, and then we knew that the
gentleman was Capt. Philip
Overton of the Second Life Guards.
exchanged significant looks
with me.
ly, and. after a careless glance at the
seemed to retire into his own
thoughts, quite unmindful of the stage
and what was going on upon II. I
why a man who seemed so
little In harmony with his surround
lngs should take the trouble to come
10 the play.
But II Capt, overton was indifferent
20 all about him, one person, the
young beauty in Lady Hawkshaw's
box, was far from Indifferent TO him.
Lady AraOella saw his entrance, and
from that moment she was occupied
In trying to obtain his attention. When
attppkst ne recognized her and bowed
Nightly. she fialsed all over with color.
and ave him as good an invitation as
any man might want to come to her
Dor, But overton made no sign Of any
intention to GO to her. and, when she
finally seemed to realize this. she be-
came as Indifferent to all about her as
be was. Other persons came to the
box and went during the play, but
hey got little heed from Lady Ara.
Little Daphne. although but a
hid. not yet In her teens, showed a
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