The Washington times., 1913-11-03
INSTALMENT i.
YAyING breakfasted at her ease,
- the duchess was seated in the
u most comfortable chair of the

would she have tempted the ancien
enemy of man by letting her hands Ii
idle, yet it did not behoove the duches
or Glastonbury to work, so she com
promised with embroidery.
This new piece of fancy work WAS a,
most as hard and uncotnpromfsine a.
hersel1. 1t was copy of Dignity an,
Impudence, done in violent woods upo,
a dull background. By no means woul,
the duchess have turned her hand T.
deilcate tracery Of flowers with colore,
silks Let nature be nature" she wouI,
nave said. land embroidery be embroid
cry, but don't try to make one look If,x
The other. And no one would have ac
cused her OF putting into her latest bi
or work any semblance Of nature.
1t helps me to think" she expla;nei
TO Mrs. Travers, who discreetly admiret
the piece.
On and what are you thinking of?'
asked her guest, still absorbed in adni.
ration.
Nothing" she replied, innocently, and
bit absently, for her mind was occu.
pied at that moment by a number a,
things.
Presently she asked, as though reluct.
ant to inquire. How is er-Mr. Dis.
raelfs wife this morning?"
Better" answered Mrs. Travers
She says her fainting fit last nigh,
was quite extraordinary, and that she
leels rs well as usual now.
The duchess murmured an answer
mat might be translated any way her
nearer chose. In fact, she was not
pleased that Mr.. Disraelli's wife should
lAnt, neither was she pleased that she
should have recovered. She was NOT
pleased at all that she should he her
guest at Glastonbury Towers. The duke
mad insisted upon il, and. for once she
had given in tp his wishes. But she
meant to speak her mind out the first
ume she had a moment alone with him
Inc duchess had her eye upon every
one In the room. Her eldest daughter
Lady Cudworth, and her husband. were
down for visit; her second daughter
Lazy Brooke, and her husband, at pres
ent absorbed In an account of a tight.
rope dancer In London, were present
Her third daughter was not in the
room, but even the duchess gave up
long ago trying to keep strict account
OF the whereabouts of Clarissa.
Charles, the viscount of Deeford-
whom she had selected as the husband
or her youngest was present, absorbed
IN trying to give the duke an account
OF some model cottages he was build
ing. "A happy peasantry is the back
bone of England" he was declaring
with emphasis.
Dye know what yer happy meas.
antry will do. Deeford?" asked the
duke, In derision. They'll sell yer
drain pipes for old lead, use your stair
case for firewood, and put their pigs In
yer pantry
Then 1 shall turn them out" an
severed Deeford.
And be held up as a harsh land.
lord" said the duke.
The lower orders never APPRECIATE
comfort" commented the duchess With
dnality. as she reached for a larger
cushion.
Mrs. Travers, pretty and viyacious
bent over her soHcitousIy. How busy
you must be, with so many guests,
she murmured.
only my two daughters and their
husbands" answered the duchess. with
Charles Deeford and Sir Michael Pro-
bert"
The governor of the Bank of Eng
landr' isn't hep unused Mrs. Travers.
But you have forgotten Mr.. Disraeli
and his wife,
They are not my friends" answered
the duchess acidly.
The duke turned from his converse
ton of British peasantry. Belinda"
he warned her. they are our guests
The duchess injured feelings burst
out at this point and the presence of
Mrs. Travers and the viscount did not
restrain her from answering.
Yes" she said, "and 1 cannot help
wondering why" And she turned to
her work.
Mrs. Iravers gave her a long, calcu-
lating look from a pair of shrewd ewes.
Why was the prime minister of Eng
land a guest at Glastonbury Towers.
when the mistress of the place did not
like him? she wondered. Her actIy,
mind began working at the mystery she
felt was here.
Presently the footman appeared with
two telegrams on a silver tray. For
Mr.. DisraelL" he said, respectfully.
Disraelt again. The duchess looked
her annoyance. He is not here" she
sand pompously.
The butler stood irresolute. Mrs
Travers reached out her hand and took
the kilograms. Il think / could find
him." she offered, her fingers tighten
ing over the two envelopes.
Certainly not, Agatha" she said |
and signed the servant |
TO leave the room
Mrs. Travers settled back in her chair
and went on with her own letters. Her
husband was moving from Carlsbad to |
she informed them, care !
lessly. He is never better" she went |
on. He develops new symptoms in each |
place, and gets rid Of them by moving
10 another. 1 ought to be with him,
but" she rose and stretched her
pretty self a least little bit, I'VE are SO |
poor"
''oh, come" laughed Deeford, those
exquisite diamonds"
''Heirlooms,' she answered quickly,
with a sidelong glance at the duke,
who stirred uncon:tortably in his chair,
and watched his wife over the top
of his newspaper
You always look charming said the
young viscount, politely. |
You do. you do assented the duke
a bit too heartily. He caught his wife's
IL.