The Wagner post. (Wagner, Charles Mix County, S.D.) 1912-current, 1912-05-17
CHAPTER VII.

THE PART PLAYED BY A FIVE
POUND NOTE.
And 1t was into this atmosphere Of
gloom and OF purposeless misanthropy
that Louisa Harris brought this morn
ing the cheering sunshine of her own
indomitable optimism. ---
n knew, of course, from the first
that the subject which interested
every n in the house more than any
other subject could ever do was not
to be mentioned in Lord Radclyffe's
presence. But She was quite shrewd
enough to see that dear old Luke-un-
sophisticated and one to acute an OBJ
server-had overestimated his uncle's
indifference to the aIl-absorbing mat
ter.
Inc old mans face-usually q mir
ror or contemptuous Cynicism-looked,
to the woman's keener insight, dis
tinctly troubled, and his sJrly silence
was even more profound than hitherto.
he hardly did more than bid Louisa
q curt, How de do?" when she en-
tered, and then relapsed into morose-
ness wholly unbroken before luncheon
was announced.
Jim-"in the Blues"-was there when
arrived, and Edie came in a few
moments later, breathless and with
hat awry and tawny hair flying In all
directions, straight from a tussle with
She dogs and the sharp wind in the
park.
Evidently no ecret-h had been made
before these I'VE of the strange events
which a eliminated this very morn
ing in their brothers avowal to
Louisa, and h p-ostponement sine die
OF the wedding. But equally evidently
these young creatures absopbed in their
own life, their own pursuits and
amusements, were not inclined to look
on the matter seriously.
Their SEV had hoon G ohsC1,xoIx,
cloudless throughout their lives that it
was impossible for them at the moment
to realize that the dark shadow. on the
distant horizon might possibly concea
thunder in its flmy bosom.
Edie-just over 20 years Of age and
already satiated with the excitement of
three London seasons, her mind sat-
urated with novel reading and on the
lookout for some new sensations-was
inclined to look on the affair as an ex-
hilrating interlude between the Shrove
Tuesday dance at Wessex House and
the first drawing room in May. Jim
in the blues"-very eligible as a
possible husband for the daughters of
ambitious mammas, a trifie spoiled, a
little slow of wit, and not a little self
satisfed-disnissed the whole incident
s "tommy-rot."
When Louisa first greeted them, Edie
had whispered excitedly:
Has he told you?'
And without waiting for a direct re-
ply had continued, with unabated
eagerness:
awful exciting, don't you think ?"
But Jim. with the elegant drawl pc
culiar to his kind, had suppressed fur
Their condolences by an authoritative:
Awful rot / call it, don't you? Luke
is soft to worry about it,"
Strangely enough, at luncheon 1t was
Lord Radclyfe who brought up the
subject matter. Eide with the tactless-
ness of youth had asked a point blank
question::
Well" she said, when is that we'd
ding to be? and what are we brides
maids going to wear? 1 warn you
won't have white-I hate a white we'd
ding"
. Then as no answer came she said i'm
patiently: >
Il wish you'd name the day. you two
stupids. Awfully soft I call it hanging
about like this"
Luke would have said something
then, but Louisa interposed.
1T is all my fault, Edie,' she said.
You know I want to take the twins
out myself this season. / must give
them a real good time before / marry"
"Bosh!' remarked Edith uncermeo-
niously. Mabel and Chris will have a
far better time when you are married
and can present them yourself. Tell
them from me that it's no fun being
out and the longer they put it off the
better they'll enjoy themselves later on.
Besides, Colonel Harris will AXE chem
bout"
Father hates sitting up late" haz-
arded Louisa, somewhat lamely.
1.-THE truth Of the matter is" here
broke in Lord Radcliffe dryly, that
Luke had persuaded o to put Off the
wedding because Of this ID impos-
tor who seems to have set you all of
by the ears
Edie laughed said "Bosh." Jim
growled and murmured ROT"
Luke and Louisa were silent, the
while Lord Dadclyffe's closely-set, dark,
young face to the other Louisa, feel
ing uncomfortable beneath that none
too amiable scrutiny. did o know
what to say, but Luke quietly remarked
after awhile:
You're right, uncle. 1t is my doing,
but Lou agrees with me, and we are
going to wait until this cloud is proper
ly cleared up"
II any one else had spoken so clearly
and decisively' In direct contradiction
to the old mans obvious wishes in the
matter, the esult wolld have been an
outburst. Of ill-humor and probably a
volley of invectiveS, not unmixed with
more .forcible language. But since 1t
was Luke who a spokcn-and Luke
could do no wrong-Lord Radclyffe re-
sponded quite gently:
MY cal boy" he said, n it was
really touching to hear the hard voice
soften and linger on the endearing
words, Il have told you once and for
all that the story of this so-called Phil
lp de Mountford is a fabrication from
beginning to end. There Is absolutely
no reason for you to fret one single In
slant because Of the lies a blackmailer
chooses to trump up. As for you put
ting off YOUR wedding one single hOur
because OF this folly, why, 1t is positive
nonsense. I should have thought you
had more common sense-and Miss