The Washington times., 1913-11-03

There was a pause, then the duke pu
down his paper with resolution. BE
linda" he began, Il should be grateful
If you did not speak Of Mr.. Disraeli a.
you do. He Is q guest-I have invited
him for political reasons. as have ex
planned"
"A certain Mr.. Arch In an estimabl,
| farmer" retorted the duchess, "and q
politician. Do you intend to invite him,
Arch is a good Saxon name, moreover
he is-a Christian"
80 is" began the duke.
Benjamin Disraeh? 1t does not sound
probable
HE has brains-
"But not birth. He achieved social DO.
sition, and the prime ministership OF
England, by marrying an old woman fol
her money"
Belinda" expostulated the duke, you
are surely not going to say anything
against Lady Beaconsfield?
"Only that she married Disraeli," she
, remarked cuttingly, as she gathered up
her woods.
The duke left the room. He liked and
admired and feared this great prime
minister, as all men did. Benjamin Dis
rael was either loved or hated by every
one and feared in some measure by all.
He stood alone at the head Of his party.
the most prominent figure Of England in
the early EOS. He was acknowledged the
greatest among living men, yet the
duchess dared look down upon him So
ciaIly, because Of a difference In dead
and gone ancestors.
The young Viscount Deeford came
back into the room. He had his mouth
set and walked with the air of a man
who has some terrible task ahead of
him. The duchess smiled in anticipation
and her face softened. Here was one
person who was swaying the direction
she wished.
WELL Charles?" she remarked ten
tatively
The man swallowed hard Duchess" 4"
he started Off nervously, when I ac-
cepted your delightful invitation down
here did so with a purpose"
"Yes?"
IL have been thinkink very serious
ly lately, duchess, and have concluded
ii is my duty to get married"
The duchess smiled encouragingly.
my wife will have to face heavy re-
sponsibiIties in the near future. when
my father dies" the man went on. II
have I your permission to pay my ad-
dresses to Lady Clarissa? May I hope
you and the duke will grant it?''
IF I grant it the duke WILL" re-
marked the lady, decisively. But Clar-
issa is an odd child She displays Or
iginality. She takes no interest in
her music lessons because she said she
was too musical, and her teacher was
not musical enough"
These aIniable eccentricities do not
alarm me-" remarked the man with
amused superiority. Then she will be
constantly in my society,"
Yes" assented the duchess, with IN
conscious irony. THAT ought to sober
her"
The French window opened, and the
duke and Lady Beaconsfeld, slender
and pale and fragile looking, followed
by Mrs. Travers, entered the room.
Il am looking for my scapegrace hus-
band" Lady Beaconsfleld remarked
genialIy, in answer to the duchess cold
good morning" And i was wonder
ing where Sir Michael Probert was.
1 know Dizzy was anxious to see him"
Mrs. Travers gave Lady Beaconsfeld
another of those sidelong, calculating
glances, that she had once before fav-
ored the duchess with. Surely there
was some mystery here. she thought
and knitted her eyebrows, trying to
solve it. What should the great Dis
raeli, who worked while he seemed on
the surface to be playing, want with
the governor OF the Bank of England.
who kept out of his way as much as
possible?
But Clarissa ran into the room. bub-
ling over with excitement, full of youth
and high spirits. the kind Of girl who
brings life and interest into a room the
moment she enters It. Her wide skirts,
worn over she hoop. after the manner
Of 1870. bobbed up and down as she
SKINNED across the floor and kissed her |
mother good morning.
I'VE have the greatest man in the |
world as our guest" she greeted them |
all enthusiastically.
That's what / say" laughed Lady |
with approval.
HE transforms everything he !
the girl ran on. He turas