Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1913-05-05

0(Sle 70 1IIen0 the 1uucTdl Oh u pcnul-
less but blooded second cousin she
would have discovered Henrietta's
mistake and smoothed it over in her
intmftable way. But she had departed
the very day following her own dinner
party.
Ten o'clock chimed out from the gilt
clock, and Mrs. Midgeiey's face grew
pale. She glanced at the velvet por-
there and perceived an eye peering at
her. 1t vanished instantly, but she
knew that the new butler was cog
infant Of the social snub she had re-
ceived. The maids knew, too. and to-
morrow all Croesus City would laugh
at her.
Somehow Henrietta did not care but
sat drearily staring at her diamond
bedeeked reflection in the mirror.
After awhile she arose and went into
the dining room. Hawkins was busy
ing himself near the sideboard.
MY guests did not come, Hawkins"
said Henrietta in a quavering tone as
she seated herself at the flower deck
ed table. You can clear away the
other plates and bring my dinner"
Hawkins turned the light to a sub
dued glow, as beftted a dismal situa-
ton, and went poHderously to and fro
removing the gold and silver and crys-
tai collected at each place and making
a neat pile of the hand painted favors
Henrietta had taken pride in ordering
for the occasion.
Henrietta Midgeley, who was sociable
by disposition, found herself interested
! in tha huflar'S uuiat rnAvarraptS he
cleared away the evidences of the I'M
| invited guests.
As he removed her soup plate she
spoke to him, more from loneliness
! than any other motive.
You are English, aren't you. Haw-
kins?" she inquired.
Yes, ma'am, begging your pardon,
ma am" replied Hawkins, disappear
! ing in the pantry
Are you married?" pursued Hen
rietta when he returned with q pair
of silver dishes.
Yes. ma'am." Hawkins face grew
pale as he lodged behind Henrietta's
chair.
Does your wife live here?r
| Yes, ma'am."
II wonder If she wouldn't like a
place in my house. I'm thinking of
discharging that French cook. I'm
sure he swore at me this morning, but
can't prove it, for l don't understand
French. But he looked dis If he was
swearing"
"You tell me II you ear i'm swearin'
at you, ma'am, and I'll knock is
bloomin' 'ead orr calculated Hawkins
fiercely, for the moment forgetting the
dignity of his Office
"Why, Hawkins. you certainly are
loyal. Now, if your wife is a good
cook she can have Pierres place to-
morrow"
MY wife is a good cook, ma'am,
thanking you, but she's money in 'er
hown right and hemploys FER own
cook" returned Hawkins, with dig
nifty.
Goodness! And she lets you work
for a iving?" Henrietta was deeply
interested and had forgotten her own
modification.
"She as pervided for me most liberal,
ma'am, but she won't live with me.
and therefore won't touch 'er money"
Hawkins spoke with bitter pride.
'She won't live with your" repeated
Henrietta, startled. us she-is she
ashamed of your" She blushed as she
thought of her own husband, whom she
had left in London, rich, but avowedly
miserable at parting from his ambi-
tious spouse.
"She said as 'ow / lad not the max
ms of a society gent in me. and it was
so, ma'am. But she broke my cart"
Just as l suppose / broke poor
Midgeley's," quavered Henrietta, burst
ing into tears. 81 left him all alone
in London to go into society, and now
| hate 1t all. Look at the way they
have treated me-" She forgot herself
and lifted her voice above its usual
low pitch She hid her face in her
jeweled hands. looking ridicuIously fat
and pudgy by contrast with her splen-
did surroundings.
Hits bally shame, 'Enrietta."
bIurted the butler as he folded his
arms and stared defantIy at his mis-
tress.
Mrs. Midgeley screamed and arose to
her feet Whatever do you meant
Why"-she hurried toward him and
peered into his round, flushed face,
with its respectable yellow side whisk-
!, ers and shaver upper lip-"why-why,
: it's Henry Midgeley! Oh. Henry, Hen
. ry; never was so glad to see anybody
in all my life! Let US go back to Lon
don and be happy" She fell into his
,, outstretched arms and wept noisily, as
she had yearned to do.
/. After awhile there shot into the
!, room a wrathful Pierre. who flung his
white cap and apron on the door and
danced upon them and howled about a
: spoiled dinner and a ruined reputat ion
and demanded his wages.
1t was Midgeley. the erstwhiIe Haw-
kins. who paid him his wages and
babe him begone, and as the French
: man witnessed the buffers arm steal
around the lavender velvet waist OF
his mistress the chefs contempt got
the better of him. "Canailler he hiss
" ed disgustedly as he fed. but the re-
: united husband and wife were too hap