The Ordway new era., 1909-03-19
THELOYES
Of the
LADY
ARABELLA
By
MOLLY ELLIOT SEAWELL
(Copyrlght, 100 Bobba-A Merrill Col
CHAPT ER |.

'Tis not in my nature to be cOwed
by any woman whatever. Therefore.
when | found myself in the presence
of my Lady HawkShaw, in her Chinese
drawing room, with her great black
eyes Glaring at me. and her huge
black plume Of feathers nOddinG At
me. as she sat envclOped in a vast
black robe like pail, | said TO myself
After all, she is but a woman So
stared back at her with all the cool
ness in the worlG-and was seeker
after favor. too-and but II years OF
age. and had only seven and siNpcnce
in my pocket. The tall footman who
stood behind Lady Hawkshaw's chair
made grimace at me: and respond
ed by fierce look. as II | was about to
run him through the body.
'Jeames," said her ladyship. go and
make my compliments to Sir Peter
Hawkshaw, and say to him that his
roistering kept me awake half the
night, and consequently | feel very III
this morning: and that his great
nephew. Master Richard Glyn from
America. is come after a midshipman's
warrant in his majesty's navy-and |
desire Sir Peter to attend me in my
bnwdwor Immediately"
Her ladyship's French was the
queerest imaginablc-yet In her youth
she had the French tutor who had
taught the daughters OF the regent OF
France
There was silence after the tall
InFt 1ulN-
and | eyed each other closely. | re
member having heard that she had de-
fed her father. Lord BosanQuet, and
one of the greatest family connections
IN the kingdom. in order to marry Sir
Peter, who was then a penniless lieu.
tenant in his majesty's navy and the
son OF a drysalter in the city. This
same drysalter was my great.grand-
hther; but | had an infusion OF an
other blood through my mother. God
bless her!-who was of high family
and a baronet's daughter. The dry
salter strain was honest. but pIebeIan,
while the baronet strain was rather
more lofty than honest, fancy.
Having heard, as | say. of the des-
perate struggle II cost Lady Hawk
shaw to marry her lieutenant, some
what expected to find her and Admiral
Sir Peter Hawkshaw living like doves
in cage. and was disconnected at the
message her ladyship sent her lord.
But was still more disconnected when
Sir Peter, a short. stout man, with n
choleric eye, presently bounced into
the room.
Sir Peter" said her ladyshIp, here
is your nephew Toms brat. who wants
a midshIpman's warrant"
Sir Peter stopped short. looked me
over-I was tall for my age-and
grinned savagely. thought It was all
up with me and was almost ready to
haul down my flag.
And Sir Peter" screamed her lady
ship. he must have IT,"
Hang me, my LADY," snapped Sir
Peter, but when did you take such
an interest in my nephew Toms brat?"
This very hour" replied Lady
Hawkshaw, tartly. and tossing her
black plumes haughtily. You behaved
like a wretch to the boy after the
death Of his father and mother in
America; and God has given you the
chance to make amends. and say he
shall have his warrant"
POUNDS. madam" bawled Sir
Peter; since you take the libe>ty of
disposing Of my warrants, presume
you are the holder of my commission
as vice-admiral of the White in his
majesty's service. Let me know 1t II
you are-let me know it, say"
Stuff" responded my lady. to
which Sir Peter answered something
that sounded like 'Damme!" and then
my attention was distracted from this
matrimonial engagement by the silent
entrance Of two young girls. One of
them was about ~ years of age. She
had dove-like eyes. and her dark
lashes kissed her cheek. She came
and stood familiarly by Lady Hawk
shaw's chair; and the gentle affec-
tonateness Of her manner toward
that redoubtable person amazed me
at the time. This was my first sight
OF Daphne Carmichael; and when she
fixed her soft, childish glance upon
me. it was like the sight of stars on a
cloudy night. But the other one, a
tall girl Of 1e or thereabouts, dazzled
me SO that am obliged to confess I
had no more eyes for Daphne. This
older girl was the Lady Arabella Stor-
mont, and was then and always by
far the handsomest creature / ever
beheld. shall not attempt to describe
her. l will only say that her brilliant
face. with such q complexion as
never saw before or since, showed a
naughty Indifference toward the shah.
by boy over whom Sir Peter and Lady
9awkshaw were squabbling. and the