The citizen. (Honesdale, Pa.) 1908-1914, 1910-09-30
Lady Burning
hams Diplomacy

back impatently as she spoke, an
ugly frown dsfiguring her usually
pretty face.
Her sister-in-law smiled. Don't be
so painfully superlative, Miriam" she
said languidly; there is no hurry,
surely. | must think It over first"
"There is every hurry" retorted
Mrs. Stevenson; land you must do 1t,
you simply must"
my dear child" said Lady Burn
in~ham, settling herself more COM
fortably in her chair, tell me eX-
actly what 1t Is you want me to do
you are so very incoherent." She
leaned back and sighed.
ITS all very well for you to look
like that. Lola" she said, irately, "but,
after all, he's your own brother, and
think you might do it for him. at
any rate"
Lady birmingham smiled patiently.
Il might do what?"
81 have told you twenty times. l
want, or rather. we want you to go to
Lord Brentwood and make him give
Fred this appointment"
How can l make him?" asked
Lady Birmingham, speaking even more
languidly than hitherto 81 hardly
know the man" She yawned slightly.
Nonsense! You know him quite
well; at any rate you have met him
and even dined him. haven't you?
That's quite enough; besides, every
one knows what an old fool he is
about women, and the dozens of Jobs
he has done already. So 1t will be
perfectly easy--for you"
"And my reward?" Lady Burning
ham spoke half laughingly.
81 will release you from the pay
ment of the two thousand pounds l
got from papa nearly a year ago."
Lady Birmingham drew a deep
breath. and her face flushed. To tell
the truth, she had done her best to
forget the obligation.
I'VE simply must have 1t, Lola. 1t
will whitewash Fred as nothing else
will, and it will give me the position
want. Why only last week that
hateful Mrs. Brunton-Burnett nearly
| cut me, and made some insulting re-
marks to Miss Alymer about Fred's
company-promoting, but If he gets
this appointment he will be all right
It's so awfully respectable to be in
government office, and, of course, I
shall make him give up speculating
and"
What's the pay?"
"Oh, very little, about five hun
dred pounds, l think; but papa has
promised to double my allowance II
we get it, and Fred has a little he
has saved from the wreck" She lean
ed forward suddenly, and laid her
hand caressingly on her sister-in-law's
arm. ''Do go and see Lord Brentwood
and make him give it to Fred; do,
Lola, dear"
"I'm awfully hard up just now,"
said Lady Birmingham, meditatively.
"Tll ask papa to help you again,
Lola. I'm sure he will If he thinks
you have helped us; you don't know
how awfully good he is"
Yes, | know how generous Jews
are to their own" said Lady Burning.
ham, with more truth than good taste.
She rose as she spoke and drew on
her gloves. We'll, I'll see what can
do" she said, condescendingly, "but
it'll be a great bore. However, I'll Go
my best. Good-by, dear. I'll let you
know if get it,"
"Good-by, darling; thanks so much
you are duck. I'll try to lend you
a bit more if we get It,"
Lady Birmingham trailed her deli
cate skirts slowly down her sister
in-law's staircase, and, stepping wear
lily into her brougham, leaned back
and shuddered slightly. What a ter
rible little vulgarian," she said to her
self, "and why did Fred marry her?
| suppose | must do It; I'm so awfully
hard up, and l daren't ask Burning
ham to help me again. l had better
do 1t now" She laughed rather grimly
and lowered the front window. Go
to 1O1 Grosvenor Square, Barnes, and
be quick" she said, and leaned back
again, making rapid plans of attack,
while Mrs. Stevenson, left to herself.
muttered, angrily:
what cat she isl-always sneer-
ing at papa; how dare she say that!
But gave her a dig over the two
thousand pounds; believe she
thought had forgotten all about It"
Lord Brentwood looked at Lady
Birmingham with a deprecating smile.
He was at all times keenly suscepti-
BILE to the influence of women, and
Lola Birmingham was an especial fav-
orite of his.
"My dear lady, I'm afraid it's i'm
possible, absolutely impossible" he
said, apologetically. 1T really can't
be done, fear. even for you"
"Why not?" asked Lady Burning
ham, looking pleadingly up at him. II
thought all these things depended on
YOU"
$50 they do, TO some extent" re-
piled Lord Brentwood; but, you
know. he really isn't very capable
at least, not from what I've heard"
"On the contrary, he is exceeding
ly clever, indeed" said Lady Burning
o