Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-02-11
CHAPTER XII.
And There Are Social Duties to Per-
form
The first November fog.

The first November fog.
The world had wagged on its matter-of-
fact way for more than six months now.
since that day in April when Philip de
Mountford-under cover Of lies told by
Parker-had made his way into Lord Rad
clyffes presence; more than five months
since the favored nephew had been so un-
tremendously thrust out of his home.
Spring had yielded to summer. summer
given way to autumn, and already win
ter was treading hard on autumn's heels
The autumn session had filled London
with noise and hustle. with political din
ner parties and monster receptions. with
new plays at all the best theaters and
volumes of ephemeral literature
And all thai as--tonight-wrapped in
a dense fog, the first Of the season, quite
a stranger, too, in London, for scientists
had asserted positively that the era of
the traditional "pea-souper" was over,
the metropolis would know it no more.
Col Harris was in town with his sister
Lady Ryder, and Louisa, and swearing at
London weather In true country fashion.
He declared that fogs paralyzed his in
tellect, that he became positively i'm
beetle, not knowing how to fight his way
in the folds Of such black pail Taxi
cab drivers he mistrusted; in fact he had
all an old sportsman's hatred Of me
chemically propelled vehicles, while he
fatty refused to bring valuable horses up
to town, to catch their death of cold
while waiting about In the fog.
So Luke had promised to pilot the party
as far as the Danish legation, where they
were to dine tonight. This was the only
condition under which Col Harris would
consent to enter one Of those COMPOUNDED
motors.
Col. Harris had remained loyal to the
core to Luke and to his fortunes. 1t is a
way old sportsmen have, and he had
never interfered by word or innuendo in
Louisa's actions with regard to her en-
gagement. His daughter was old enough.
he said, to know her own mind. She
liked Luke, and 1t would be shabby to
leave him In the lurch. now that the last
Of the society rats were scurrying to leave
the sinking ship. They were doing It,.
too, In q mighty hurry. The invitations
which the penniless younger son received
toward the end Of the London season
were considerably fewer than those which
were showered on him at its beginning,
de Mountford had come to stay, and
would one day be Earl of Radcliffe with
rent roll Of eighty thousand pounds a
year. and the sore need OF a wife.
It had all begun with the bridge parties
Luke would no longer play, since he could
no longer afford to lose a quarters in
come at one sitting. Uncle Rad used to
shrug Indifferent shoulders at such losses
and place blank checks at the dear boy
disposal. Imagine, then, how welcome
Luke was at bridge parties and how very
undesirable now.
Then he could no longer make return
for hospitable entertainments. He had
no home to which to ask smart friends.
Lord Radcliffe, though a monster of ILL.,
humor, gave splendid dinner parties at
all give and no take: and the givers re-
tired one by one, quite unregretted by
Luke, who thus was spared the initiative
Of turning his back on his friends. They
did the turning. quite politely but very
effectually. Luke scarcely noticed how
he was dropping out of his former circle
He was over-absorbed and really did not
care. Moreover. his dress clothes were
getting shabby
Tonight at the Langham, when he ar
rived at about o'clock. so as to have
an undisturbed half hour with Lou, Col
Harris greeted him with outstretched
hand and a cordial welcome.
Hello, Luke, my boy! how goes 1t with
you?"
Louisa said nothing, but her eyes well
coined him. and she drew him near her
on to the sofa in front of the fire, and
allowed her hand to rest in his, for she
knew how he loved the touch of 1t. Peo-
pie were beginning to say that Louisa
Harris was getting old; she never had
been good-looking, poor thing. but always
smart. very smart-now she was losing
her smartness. and what remained?
She had come up to town this autumn
in last autumn's frocks! And the twins
were after all being chaperoned by their
aunt. Would that absurd engagement
never be broken off? Fancy Louisa Har-
ris married to poor man! Why, she did
not know how to do her hair, and
dresses were still worn fastened at the
back. and would be for years to come
Louisa Harris and no French maid!
Cheap corsets and cleaned gloves! 1t
was unthinkable.
Perhaps the engagement was virtually
broken off-anyhow, the wedding could
never take place.
Unless Philip de Mountford happened
to die.
But it did not look as IL the engage
ment was broken off. Not at any rate
on this raw November evening, when
there was a dense fog outside, but
bright, CHEEKY fire and plenty of light in
the little sitting room at the Langhanl.
and Luke sat on the sofa beside Louisa,