Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1911-10-13
CHAPTER u.
The Duchess Approves,

dls attentions to the Duchess Oh
TeAkwater had not been so conspicu1
puS or 30 absorbing as to prevent the
pager motherS-who, true to her word
Lady Galorey had invited down-fromi
laying siege to Dan Blair. Lady Ca
lorey asked him:
Don't you want to marry any one
p these beauties, DAM" And Blair,
Nth bis beautiful smile and what Lily
Alled his inspired .candor, answered:
Not on your life, Lady Galorey!" !
And she agreed: Il think myself
1ou are too young" =
No." Dan refuted, you are wrong
here. l shall marry as fast as l car" I
His hostess was surprised.
Why, l thought you wanted your
ling first"
And Dan, from his chair, In which,
18th book, he had been sitting when
LADY GalOrey found him, answered
ASerfully:
oh, don't like being alone. l want
20 about with some one. l should
e a fling all right, but l want to-
ing with somebody as I co." !
The lady Of the house was not q
Philosopher nor an analyst. She had
Ttain affairs Of her own and was en-.
1ossed in them and lived in them. AS
n 81 Lady Galorey was concerned
- rest Of the world might go and
ng itself as long as It didn't do ID
her gatepost. But Blair couldn't
sAVe any one Indifferent to him very
OnE not unless one could be indifferI
at to a blaze Of sunlight; one must
ather draw the blinds down or bask
it. brightness.
sne laughed. You're perfectly deli.
oOs! You mean to say you want to
. married at once and let your wife
ing around with your
Gust that"
How sweet Of you, Dan! And you
ont marry one Of these girls here?"
Don't ill the bill, Lady Galorey."
oh, you have q sweetheart at home,
Aenf"
! All on" he assured her blithely,
md rose. tall and straight and slender.
The Duchess Of Breakwater had
pome. ip. indeed she never failed to
when there was any question Of find.
ing Blair. "
Dan stood straightly before the two
women OF an old race, and the Amer
lean didn't suggest any line Of noble
ancestors whatsoever. His features
we're rather conglomerate; his mus
Giles were possibly not the perfect elas-
PC specimens that were those muscles
whose strain and sinew had been
made from the same stock for genera.
lions. He was, nevertheless, very
Bood to look on. Any woman would
eaVe thought so. and he bent his blond
bead as he looked at the Duchess Of
sreakwater with something like be-
evolencs, something Of his fathers
Blindness In bis clear blue eyes.
Neither Of the noble ladies' vaguely IN,
derstood him. HIS, hostess thought
him "a good. sort" not hall bad, q
Splendid catch, and the other woman,
nly a few ysHsS his senior, was In
love with him. The duchess had mar
led at eighteen. tired Of her bargain
y twenty, and found herself q widow
It twenty-five. She held a telegram
b her hand. -
We've got the box for MAndalai to-
night at the Gaiety, and let's motor
h." 49,
Only Lady GeiOrey hesitated, disap.
pointed. \
TOO oad-l had specially arranged
Tor Lady Grandcourt to drive over
with Eileen. =. l thought It would b q
ripping chance for her to see DAN.
When at length the duchess had suc-
ceeded in getting Dan to herself to-
ward the end Of the day in the red
room, after tee. che said:
80 you wont marry a London
beauty"
And rather o01dly Dan had an
swered: !
why, you talt, aR Of you, as II d
had only to ask any girl Of them, and
she would jump down my throat"
Don't try It," the duchess answered.
unless you want to have your mouth
full" !
Dan did not reply for a second, but
he looked at her more seriously con.
scious Of her grace and her good
looks. She was certainly better to
Jock at than the simple girls with
their big hands, small wits, long faces
and, as the boy expressed 1t, utter
Jack Of get-up." The duchess shone;
put to advantage.
why don't you talk to me?" she
asked softly. You know you would
rather talk to me than the Others"
YES" he said frankly; they make
me nervous" |
"And l dont?
NO" he said. Y learn a lot every
pme We are tosss9er." !
Learn" she E(1sated, not particu-
hrly flattered By &is. What sort oil
hings?"
"0h, about the whole business" bel
returned vaguely. you know what II
mean"
Then" she saiAVith a slight laugh