The Washington times., 1913-11-07

Il
| ~ loved peacocks His gardens
~ at his country seat in Hugh
enden were filed with the
cleaning, graceful birds
Only Potter, the gardener, hated the
very sight of their slender necks and
wicked, brilliant eyes. He stood in the
doorway of one of the morning rooms
of the big house, and after the manner
of a privileged servant, lectured the
prime minister of the realm because
his pets ate seeds from the sunf1owers
and because he himself. would not wear
i his best coat for the benefit of the
approaching postman.
| More persons than Potter, the gar
dener, had seen the postman coming
| INTO the room to see If in this mail
| there might not be word from her
| Charles. She glanced at her own share
of the letters in disappointment.
has been three weeks. 1t should have
| come days ago."
Are you so deeply in Iove?" asked
| the old man wnimsically.
..Unspeakably," murmured the girl,
with the deepest satisfaction. You
know it's dreadful to me as much in
! love as l am. Once, oh, wasn't I q
wretch? I used to think I was even
cleyerer than Charles"
Well asked the man, wondering
Nov" she said well. I could no
more have gone out and faced Ismail
Poor Ismail," murmured Disraen.
I'm sure he would have collapsed at
once. By Jove, why didn't I think
of that?" Then he became serious.
'Tll tell you secret, he said.
I've asked Mrs. Travers here to help
you feed peacocks. I want that woman
where I can watch her. She will be
here soon. You have not told any one
but my wife about her, have your
Clarissa shook her head. and. almost
at the same time, Lady Beaconsfield
C1arissa was all excitement. At last
the news had come. She could hardly
stand still, while Disraelf his own
hands trembling, opened the envelope.
Not a shade of expression crossed his
face as he handed the message to the
girl.
THE celery is ripe to cut" she read,
why, what does it mean?" she gasped
| in disappointment. But Dfsraefs face
was shining now.
from a table drawer, ut means this
and he read the translation, The Suez
accepted"
words. too great for any form of ex-
Let her cry" said Disraeli. his arms
around his wife. And now my dream
has come true. And you. Mary, you
shall be my messenger. You shall be
the one to 90 to my queen and tell her
she is also empress of India"
They stood quiet a while until lit
tie later the sound of wheels was heard
and a servant announced Hugh Meyers.
We shan't tell him." Disrael laughed
with the pleasure of boy over joke
he Is to play. We'll wait while and
surprise him.
Mr.. Meyers came into the room, his
face drawn and gray.
Good morning. good morning." he
said in an abstracted way, to the two
| women, and turned at once TO Disraeli.
May / have few words alone with
you, in privatt?'' he asked.
! Yes" but these ladies know
Forgive me, j insist"
| Disraeli was struck by something odd
: in his manner. 'Of course" he replied,
, and turned to the two women. who left
| the room.
rwell?' he asked, gently, when they
The other man sat down heavily on
the sofa Mr.. Disrael" he said,
brokenly. '1-I-I am bankrupt"
'What?' said Disraeli. Il didn't
MY house is bankrupt" Meyers
gasped. every word hurting him as he
| uttered it.
Disraeli was stunned past belief.
MEYERS bankrupt" he managed to
say Meyers! Are you mad?"
II wish to God ] were"
But it's impossible
Its the truth