The farmer and mechanic., 1911-04-11
PEG WOFFINGTON
Continued From Page Thirteen,

with Darby and .Joan-the two Ola
horses-to think Of their drawing you
~, his wav' ..Oh. the stupid Old
coach broke down at Islington. James,
and so | came on by myself How Is
Ernest-Mr. Eane, l mean-he is Well
and happy, Of course want 10
surprise him" III sitting down and
crying would help her I'd do it,
thought James.
BY this time they had reached the
banquet room, and Mabel saw the pre-
parations for the feast on, ne mas
invited some friends to make my
acauaintance!' she cried with pleas
ure Then. looking with some trepl-
dation at her travelling dress, she ask
ed James to show her to a room
where there was looking glass and
water Master is in the garden with
a power of fine friends said James;
and he showed Mrs. Vane TO her hus-
bands room where she began to eff
face the marks of travel as best she
Icould. Sir Charles'S servant hurried-
lily brought thin word that Mrs. Nane
was when the haunch of venison was
on the table and the party in the
garden walked into the banquet hall.
happier than the serpent when he
saw Ewes white teeth really strike
the apple. Mrs. Woftington sat beside
jollity and merriment when. sudden
", the door opened and Mrs. Fane
walked in. Nobody's back was toward
her but Mr.. Vanes; every. eye but his
Twas spellbound upon her; a sudden
silence fell upon the company.
Seeing the direction of all eyes.
Nane turned himself around and saw
his wife. She put her arms around
his neck and kissed him. Mrs. Wof-
fington. too astonshed for her emo
ton to take a definite shape-said
in what seemed an ordinary tone,
Who is the LADY," Il am his wife,
madam" replied Mabel, in a skylark
upon the questioner. 1T is my wife, .
said Vane. in a voice of talking ma
chine. In a twnkling servant placed
la chair and q plate for Mrs. Nane at
her husbands right Sir Charles wore
IA de.nure look. belied by his glitter
ing eyes: the others were simply aston
ished. But soon significant looks
passed between the guests. You are
angry with me- said Mabel for this
silly trick. but | am only two hours
before my time. / wrote you that
I should be here at four, dearest.
|. Some Of US did not look for you at
Ian.' said Peggy, her heart filled with
both Vane and Mabel. What, Ernest
did not tell you?'' No; he told us
that this dinner was in honor OF
lady's first visit to this house-but
none Of us imagined the lady to be
his Wife Fane underwent tortures
for the sarcasm and cruel wit Of his
guests, especially from the shafts
aimed at him by Peggy. But all that
was said conveyed no intimation of
the true state Of affairs to Mabel
she was little puzzled, that was all.
Let US Introduce ourselves to you,
pertn cbo
pointed out each guest, giving each
some name out of a play and calling
herself Lady Betty Moodish. until she
came to Sir Charles, whom she called
by his rightful appellation. "Oh,.
cried Mrs. Vane, 'he is the good
gentleman who helped me out Of the
|slought near Huntingdon
soon Mr. Nane pressed his guests to
IA little music in the garden. Mrs.
Vane, however, was told by her hus-
band that she had better not join
| hem. as she must sbe fatgued after
her journey. Left alone in the de-
serted banquet hall, Mabel Vane sat
trying to collect her thoughts and
puzzle out things. Som eth5ng. was
wrong she could not guess what. AS
she sat there in deep thought there
came to the door one Triplet. a writer
|of bad plays and worse poetry.
painter OF pictures as bad-a poverty
stricken wretch with a large family.
Master is not at home,' said the
servant who answered the knock at
the door
But Mabel in her country way ran
'nto the hall and said How can
you? II the gentleman wants to see
Mr.. Vane. show him in. Mr.. Vane is
in the garden with some friends and
I will send for him. Walk in, SIR"
And she ushered the poor scribbler
into the deserted banquet hall and
bade the servant tell his master that
a gentleman wished to see him. The
servant, being a London one and de-
voted to the cause Of sin. besides
having a hearty contempt for poets
and ''sich pussons,'' went his way
oblivious to the order.
Poor Triplet sat down and began to
vaunt the goodness OF Mrs. Woffington