Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-02-08
CHAPTER VII.
The Part Played by Five-Found
Note.


Note.
And it was into this atmosphere OF
that Louisa Harris brought this morning
the cheering sunshine of her own indoni-
liable optimism.
She knew. of course, from the first thar
the subject which Interested every one
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
Observation-Disclosures and none too acute
an observer-had overestimated his uncle
indifference to the all-absorbinS matter.
The old mans face-usually mirror OF
contemptuous cynicism - looked. to the
woman's keener insight. distinctly trou-
bled. and his surly silence was even more
profound than hitherto.
He hardly did more than bid Louisa a
curt How de do?" when she entered
and then relapsed into moroseness whoii!
unbrOken before luncheon was announced
Jim-'in the Blues''-was there when
she arrived, and Edie came in few mo-
ments later, breathless and with hat
awry and tawny hair flying in all dlrec-
tons, straight from a tussle with the dogs
and the sharp wind In the park.
Evidently no secret had been made be-
fore these two Of the strange events
which had eliminated this very morning
in their brothers avowal to LOUISA ana
the postponement sine die or the wedding
But equally evidently these young crea-
lures absorbed in their own life, their
own pursuits and amusements, were not
inclined to look on the matter seriously
Their sky had been so absolutely cloud
less throughout their lives that 1t was
impossible for them at the moment 10
realize that the dark shadow on the dis
tant horizon might possibly conceal tnuh-
der in it's filmy bosom.
Edie-just over twenty years OF age and
already satiated with the excitement OF
three London seasons. her mind saturated
with novel reading and on the lookout Tor
some new senSations-was inclined to look
on the affair as an exhilarating interlude
between the Shrove Tuesday dance at
Wessex House and the first drawing room
in May. Jim-"in the Blues ell
gible as possible husband for the daugh-
tiers of ambitious mammaS,l trif1e
spoiled, a little slow of wit and not lit
tie satisied-dismissed the whole in
cident as tommy rot
When Louisa first greeted them Edie
had whispered, excitedly:
HAS he told you:'
And without waiting for a direct reply
had continued, with undated eagerness:
Awful exciting, don't you Think"
But Jim with the elegant drawl Pc
culiar to his kind had suppressed further
condolences by an authoritative:
Awful rot I call it, don't. you? Luke
is soft to worry about it,
Strangely enough, at luncheon it was
Lord Radcliffe who brought up the sub
ject matter. Edie, with the tactlessness
Of youth. had asked point-blank ques-
ton:
WELL she said when is that we'd
ding to be? and what are We bridesmaids
going to wear? 1 warn you l won't have
white-I hate a white wedding"
Then. as no answer came. she said, i'm
patiently:
81 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. I must give them a
real good time before 1 marry"
"Bosh." remarked Edith. unceremoni-
ousy. 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. Col.
Harris will take them about
Father hates sitting up late haZ-
arded Louisa, somewhat lamely.
THE truth of the matter is" here broke
in Lord Radcliffe, dryly, that Luke had
persuaded you to put off the wedding be-
cause of this damned impostor. 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 while
Lord Radclyffe's closely set, dark, pierre
to the other. Louisa. feeling uncom-
Portable beneath that monet too aIniable
scrutiny. did not 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 60
ing to wait until this cloud is properly
cleared up
If any one else had spoken so clearly
and decisively in direct contradiction to
the old mans obvious wishes in the mat
ter, the result would have been an out
burst OF ill-humor and probably a volley
of invectives. not unmixed with more
forcible language. But since it was Luke
who had spOken-and Luke could do no
wrong-Lord Radcliffe responded quite
gently:
MY dear boy" he said, and 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 Philip de
MountfOrd is a fabrication from begin
ming to end. There is absolutely no rea-
cause of the lies blackmailer chooses to
trump up. AS for your putting off your
wedding one, single hour because of this
folly. why, 1t Is positive nonsense.
should have thought you had more COM
mon sense-and Miss Harris, too. for a
matter of that"
Luke was silent for a moment or two
while Edie tossed her irresponsible young
head with the gesture of an absolute II
told you So Jim muttered something
behind his heavy cavalry mustache
Louisa. with head bent and fingers some
what restless and fidgety, waited to hear
what Luke would say.
If only" he said. you would consent
Uncle Rad, to let Mr.. Dobson go through
this mans papers,"
What were the good Of wasting Mr.
DobsOn's timer retorted Lord Radcliffe.
with surprising good humor. II know
that the man is an impostor / don't
think IT." he reiterated, emphatically, Il
know it."