The Wagner post. (Wagner, Charles Mix County, S.D.) 1912-current, 1912-05-31
Continued From Last Week.)

rooms. With strategy worthy
or a better cause they Unanswered to
invite Philip de Mountford and Lord
Radcliffe. and Luke and Louisa-all to
the same dinner party promising
themselves and their other guests a
subtle enjoyment at sight of these pup
pets dancing 10 rousing tunes. beside
which the most moving problem play
would seem III tame entertainment.
But Philip de Mountford-though as
much sought after now as Luke had
been in the paSt-declined to be made
a show of for the d~electation of bored
society m he declined all invita-
lions on his own and Lord Radclyffe's
behalf.
So people had 20 be content to watch
Luke n Louisa.
They were together at the Ducies' at
home. There was a crush, a Hunga-
rian band from Germany, a Russian
singer from ~Bayswater, a great many
diamonds. and incessant gossip.
Luke de Aountford is here-and
Miss Harris. Have you seen them?'
"Oh, yes! WI met on the stairs and
had a long chat"
How do they SEEM"
oh! quite happy
They don't care"
DO they mean to break off the en-
gagement?"
Il have heard nothing. Have your"
Louisa Harris has a nice fortune of
her own
And Lord Radcliffe will provide for
Luke"
Il don't think so. He practically
turned him u of the house, you
know"
Not reallyo'
Il know it for a positive fact. My
sister has Just got a new butler, who
left Lord Radclyffe's service the very
day Philip de Mountford first walked
into the house"
Old Parker. l remember him"
He says Lord Radcliffe turned all
the family out. bag and baggage. They
were so insolent to Philip"
Then it's quite true?"
That this Philip is the late Arthur
de Mountford's SON."
Quite true. | believe. Lord Rad
clyffe openly acknowledges it. He is
satisfied. apparently"
80 are the lawyers, I understand"
oh! how do you do. Miss Harris?
So glad to see you looking so well"
This, very polntedly, as Louisa, per-
fcctly gowned. smiling serenely ascend
ed the broad staircase.
Il nave not been i'll, Lady keogh.'
"Oh, no. of not. And how is
Mr.. de Mountford?"
You can ask him yourself"
And Louisa passed on to make way
" ASdhN IA NA1S IA AZ ho oAAA
the same question were repeated ad
fRfinitum, until a popular waltz played
by h Hungarian gentlemen from Ger
many drew the fashionable crowd
round the musicions' platform.
Then Luke and Louisa contriyed TO
make good their escape. and to reach
the h~alf-landing above the heads of
numerous young couples that adorned
the stairs. The hum of voices. the noise
of shrill laughter, and swish of skirts
and fans masked their own whisper
ings. The couples on the stairs were
absorbed in their own little affairs;
they were sitting u here so that they
might pursue their own f1irtations.
Luke and Louisa could talk undis-
turbed.
They spoke of the fat in Exhibition
road and of the furniture hat Louisa
had helped Edie to select.
There are only a few odds and ends
to get now" Louisa was saying. coal
scuttles and waste-paper baskets: that
sort of thing. l hope you don't think
that we have bee extravaganza. Eide,
/ am afraid. had rather luxurious no
tons
Poor Edie,"
"tOh don't think she minds very
much. Life at Grosver square in the
past month has not been over cheer-
full"
Then as Luke made no she
continued in her own straightforward,
matter-of-fact way-the commonplace
woman facing the ordinary duties of
life:
you can all move in whenever you like
and then, Luke. you must begin to
think of yourself"
"Of you. Lou" he said simply.
oh. there's nothing" h said. ito
think about me-"
There you are wrong, Lou, and you
must not talk like that. Our engagement
must be officially broken off. Colonel
Harris has been too patient as 1t is"
Father" she rejoined, does not
wish the engagement broken of"
"An these people," ne said. nodding
in the direction of the crowd below.
will expect some r of announce
ment"
Let them"
Lou. you must take back your
word"
How does one take back ones word,
Luke? Have you ever done it? I
shouldn't know how to-
She looked at him straight, her eyes
brilliant in the glare OF the electric
lamps, not a tear in them or in his,
her face ~immovable. lest Indifferent
eyes happened 10 be turned up
to where these two interesting
people sat. Only a CULVER round the
lips. a sign that passion palpitated deep
down within her heart, below the Bond
street gown and the diamond collar.
the soul within the puppet.
She held his glance. forcing him into
mute acknowledgment that his philos-
ophy. his worldliness. was only veneer.
and that he had not really enyisaged
the hard possibility OF actually losing
her.
Oh, these men of this awful conven-
tionai world How cruel they can be
in that proud desire to do what is
right-what their code tells them is
right-no law of God or nature that
only convention. the dictates of other
mem, Hard on themselves. selfish in
abnegation. but not understanding that