The Bon Homme County independent. [volume] (Tabor, S.D.) 1904-1913, 1912-05-16
THE PART PLAYED BY A FIVE.
POUND NOTE

CHAPTER VII.
THE PART PLAYED BY A FIVE
POUND NOTE.
And 1t was into this atmosphere of
gloom n of purposeless m~isanthropy
that Louisa Harris brought this morn
ing the cheering sunshine of her own
indomitable optimism.
She knew, bf course, from the first
that the subject which interested
every one i'm 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 none to acute an OBJ
server-had overestimated his uncle's
Indifference to the all absorbing mat
| ter.
The old mans face-usually a mir
ror of ~contemptuous cynicism-looked.
to the woman's keener insight, dis
tinctly troubled, and his sVrly silence
was even more profound than hitherto.
He hardly did more than bid Louisa
a 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
she arrived, and Edie came In q few
moments later, b%reathless and with
hat awry and tawny hair flying in all
directions, straight from a tussle with
ahe dogs Inc the sharp wind in the
park.
Evidently M secret had been made
before these two OF the strange events
which had eliminated this very morn
ing ! their brothers avowal 10
Louisa, and the postponement sine die
OF the wedding. But equally evidently
these young creatures absorbed In their
own life, their W pursuits and
amusements, were not inclined to look
on the matter seriously.
Their sky had been SO absolutely
cloudless throughout their lives that II
was impossible for them at the moment
10 realize that the dark shadow on the
distant horizon might possibly conceal
thunder In Its flmy bosom.
Edie-1ust over 20 years OF age and
already satiated with the excitement Of
three Londsn seasons, her mind sat-
urated with novel reading and on the
lookout for some new sensations-was
incllned to look on the affair as an ex-
hllrating interlude between the Shroye
Tuesday dance at Wessex House and
the first drawing room in May. Jim
in the blues"-very eligible as q
possible husband for the daughters of
ambitious mammas, a trife spoiled. a
little slow of wit. and not a little self
satisfied-dismissed the whole incident
as "~tommy-rot."
When Louisa first greeted them. Edie
had whispered excitedly:
Has he told your"
And without waiting for a direct re-
ply had continued, with undated
eagerness:
Awful exciting, don't you Think"
But Jim, with the elegant drawL pc
cular to his kind, had suppressed fur
ther ~onfdence by an authoritative:
Awful rot l cali 1t. don't you? Luke
is soft to worry about it."
strangely enough, at luncheon It was
LORD RadclyHe who brought up the
subject matter. Edie with the tactless-
ness OF youth had asked a point blank
Well" she said, when is that we'd
ding to be? and what are we brides
maids going to wear? warn you I
won't have whtte--I hate a white we'd
ding"
Then as 10 answer came she said i'm
patiently:
Il wish you'd name the day, you two
s,upids. Awfully soft l 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 l want to take the twins
out myself this season. / must give
Them a real good time before i marry"
'Bosh!" remarked Edith uncermeo-
hlously. Mabel and Chris will have a
lar better time when you are married
ana can present them yourself. Tell
them from me that its no fun being
out and the longer they put it off the
better they'll enjoy themselves later on.
BESIDES, Colonel Harris will take them
about"
Father hates sitting up late" haz-
arded Louisa, somewhat lamely.
II III fkh 80 -
broke In Lord Radcliffe dryly, that
Luke had persuaded you to put off tile |
wedding because Of this id impos-
.or who seems to have set you all off
by the ears"
Edie laughed and said "Bosh!" Jim
growled and murmured ROT"
Luke and Louisa were silent, the 4
eyes, wandered from one
young face to the other. Louisa, feel
ing uncomfortable beneath that none
100 amiable scrutiny. did not know
WA to say. but Luke quietly remarked
after awhile:
YOU'RE right, uncle. It is my doing,
put Lou agrees with me, and we are
gong to wait until this cloud is proper
" cleared up"
II any one else had spoken so clearly
and decisively In direct contradiction
20 the old mans obvious wishes in the
the result would have been an
Outburst OF ill-humor and probably a
voiiey of invectives, not unmixed with
niore forcible language. But since it
was Luke who had spoken-and Luke
sould do no wrong-Lord Radclyffe re-
quite gently:
My dear boy" he said, and it was
,eally touching to hear the hard voice
soften and linger on the ~endearing
words, II have told you onc and for
~ that the story Of this so-called Phil
y de Mountford is a fabrication from
beginning to end. There is absolutely
10 reason for you to fret one single in
liant because Of the lies a blackmailer
,inooses to trump up. AS for o put
ing off your wedding n single hour
'ecaus of this folly. why, It is positive
I should have thought you