The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1912-10-21

hail where the house-party were met
together for their tea. ] am by ma
ture shy of strangers, taken In large
doses, and It was with relief that I
recognized Jack Talman, the grizzled
cylic of an Academician, sitting In
q corner seat well out OF reach Of
draughts and female conversation.
Hello, Phillips" he welcomed me.
"And what financial gale brings you
here?"
What do you mean?"
Don't put on frills with me. I've
come to paint old Stems picture, IL
he will give me the fifteen hundred
that I'm asking for it. Lord Tommy
Retford yonder is here to unload
some Of his old furniture-you know
Tommy's rooms in Piccadilly, don't
you? Furnished by dealer In Bond
street, and 25 per cent commission to
Tommy on everything he can sell out
of them. That's Mrs. Talbot slfngsly
talking to him. Pretty woman. got
into trouble in New York, was cut by
all America, and captured Slingsfy
and London society at one blow.
Scandal never does cross the Atlantic
somehow-all the dirty linen gets
washed in the herring-pond. That's
old Lord Blame by the fire; very re-
spectacle, and lends money on the
sly. Private gentleman will make
advances ON note of hand'-you know.
Fine woman, Mrs. Billy Blades-that's
she on the sofa. She's been making
desperate love to Steen, but no go.
The gay old dogs too clever for her.
That long chaps her husband. Watch
him pro ing round. looking to see II
he can pouch silver ashtray or
something, expect. By Jove, Phil
lips, but It's as good as a play, ain't
itr
~And this is London society,"" ex-
claimed.
NO" he cackled, shaking with
vast amusement mo, man: no.
It's the Smart Set, that advertised.
criticized, glorious, needy brigade of
rogues and vagabonds-the Smart Set.
Bless 'em all, say I; they're the best
of company, but it's as well to lock
up your valuables before you be
come too intimate with them"
finished Off my tea while old Tal-
man sucked at his cigarette in great
entertainment.
You'd like to see the house." he
commenced again. ~Come along, I'll
show you round-I want q walk be.
fore dinner"
1t was a most Interesting ramble.
We passed from room to room admir-.
ing the carved oak, the splendid pic,
lures, the Sheraton furniture, the
cabinets OF old china, the armour. and
the tapestry. For the manor was
filled with the heirlooms of the de
Launes, from whom Baron Steen
rented It. And though the present
peer, broken-down old drunkard
was living in a little villa at East
bourne on eight hundred pounds .
year, the family had been great and
glorious one, finding mention on
many page in English history.
At the end of the great dining room
set In the blackjack wainscot above
the fire, was the portrait of boy II
was Reynolds, and q worthy effort
OF that master hand The lad could
have been no more than fifteen years
of aga but in his eyes was that
grave, distracted expression thai
usually comes with the painful wis
dom Of later years. In more closely
examining the picture, I noticed that
large portion of It at the bottom
right-hand corner had been re
paired or painted out / called Tai
mans attention to this misfortune
asking II he knew the cause.
'sT'hey painted out the wolf" he
said, "and with good enough reason
too.
"A wolf?' I said
"If old de Laune were to hear
me gossiping about 1t he'd kicB
me out of the place-he would, BY
Jovei But with Steen In possession
it's safe enough. Mind you, though
you mustn't mention it to the ladies
ON your word, now"
Yes, yes" / said eagerly: ego on
"Such things brighten the women
ne explained. well. 1t was in this
way. Phillip, and he was the sixth
earl, was our ambassador at st
Petersburg somewhere about the
year 1890. Once when he was oui
hunting he shot an old she-wolf that
was peering from the mouth of 8
cave, and inside they found thriv
ing family of four cubs. One OF
them was white. an albino, suspect
He saved It from the dogs and tool
it home. When he came back to
Cloudsham the next year, he brought
it along with his wife and his boy
an only con. They say 1t was a
great pet at first, but 1t grew su1ky
with age, and finally was kept chained
IN the stables
zone Christmas eve, Just as dusl
was closing in, de Laune was trot
ting down the drfve-he had been
hunting at q distant meeting-wher
he heard fearful screaming from the
lower gardens towards the cliff. He
put spurs to his horse, and In two
minutes was galloping through the
shadows of the FIR avenue towards