Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-09-11

another sprig of nobility had come up to
London from Winchester without leave in
order to attend famous glove contest be-
tween heavyweights, and there had been
wigs on the green before an irate head mas
ter would even deign to fog them. That had
happened twelve years ago, almost to day.
Since then he had fought through great
war, had circled the globe, had sought the
wild places of earth and its monsters in their
lairs He knew men and matters as his faith
er had never known them. A Prime Minis
ter had urged him to adopt political career,
and had virtually promised him colonial
under secretaryship as soon as he entered
parliament He held the ID. S. o. and had
been thanked by the Royal Geographical
Society for paper on kilimanJaro.
The absurdity of a family conclave in
which he should again be treated as small
boy and admonished to apologize and be
f1ogged, while it brought a smile to his lips,
banished any notion of angry remonstrance.
Ply all about it suppose you mean that
= you wish to hear what | have been do
ing since last Wednesday" he said pleasant
ly. We'll, Dad, have obeyed your orders.
You asked me to find wife worthy to reign
at Fairholme. | have succeeded.
You don't mean to say you have married
her!" shouted the Earl.
Il have not even asked the lady yet" he
said quietly. Il hope-I think-that the
idea will not be disagreeable to her; but a
future Countess of Fairholme is not to be
carried by storm in that fashion. We must
get to know her people"
Deuce take her people!" broke in the
older man. Have you taken leave of your
A. IL
internal nonsense?"
STEADY, Dad, steady!" and the quiet
voice grew still more calm, though the fore
head wrinkled little and there was an onli-
nous Tightening of the lips. You must take
that back Peter Vanrenen is quite as great
a man in the United States as you are in
England, may l even say, without disre-
spect, a man who has won more command
ing position?-and his daughter Cynthia IS
better fitted to adorn a coronet than great
many women now entitled to wear one
The Earl laughed, with an immoderate
display of an amusement he was far from
feeling Are these Wiggy Devar's creden-
tials1 BY CAD! that shabby little wretch is
flying high when she tries to bag my son for
her pretty protegee!"
Don't you think it would be wiser, sir,
if you allowed me to tell you exactly what
las taken place SlIlCc VIC ltSl IliCl!
What good purpose will that serve? |
: have heard the whole story from Lady Forth
cawl, from Dale, from that Frenchman-
and Heaven knows have been well coached
in Mrs. Devar's antecedents by your Aunt
Susan! George, am surprised that man
of your sound commonsense should permit
himself to be humbugged SO egregiously!
Yes, yes, am aware that an accident led
you to take Simmonds place in the first in
stance; but can't you see that the Devar
creature must have gone instantly on her
Bonded knees-if she ever does pray, which
| doubt and thanked Providence for the
chance that enabled her to dispose of an
Earldom? At pretty stiff price too, Ill be
bound, if the truth were told. Really,
George, notwithstanding your very extern
sive travels and wide experiences, you are
nothing but kid in the hands Of managing
woman of the Devar variety"
II am not being given in marriage by Mrs
Devar, assure you," said Medenham.
mo. / will take care of that"
But are you treating me quite fairly!
Why should the distorted version of my at
fairs given by Lady Porthcawl, woman
whom Cynthia Vanrenen could not possibly
receive in her house, and by Count Edouard
Marigny, disappointed fortune hunter, be
accepted without cavil, while my own story
is not listened to? | leave Dale out Of it.
am sure he told you the truth"
BY the way, where is he now!'
Somewhere in the neighborhood of Ches-