Ladysmith news-budget. [volume] (Ladysmith, Rusk County, Wis.) 1907-1927, 1914-10-09

please himself. And DO nat blame
him. The women about here tneat
him abominably. They come ut all
times OF the day and night. use his
card room. order his servants about,
drink his whisky and smoke his Gig.
arettes, and generally invite them.
selves to luncheon and tea and dinner.
And then, when they are ready to go
back to their villas or hotel, take his
motor-boat without a thank you. The
colonel has about three thousand
pounds outside his half-pay, and they
are all crazy to marry him because
his sister Is countess. AS q bach
elor he can live like prince, but as
married man he would have to dig.
He told me that II he had been born
Adam, he'd have climbed over Eden
walls long before the Angel Of the
Flaming Sword padded him out. Says
he's always going to be a bachelor,
unless l take pity on him." mischiev-
ously.
Has he .?' in Mortified tones.
About three times a visit" Nora
admitted; but / told him that I'd be
q daughter, cousin, or niece to him.
or even a grandchild. The latter pre-
sented too many complications, SO we
compromised on niece"
II wish / knew when you were seri-
GUS and when you were fooling."
Il am often as serious when I am
fooling as am foolish when am seri-
GUS . :"
Nora, you will have me shrieking
in a minute!" despaired the mother.
Did the colonel really propose to
your
Only In fun"
Celeste laughed and threw her arm
around the mothers waist, less ample
than substantial. Don't you care!
Nora is being pursued by little devils
and Is venting her spite on US"
"ThereU be too much Burgundy and
tobacco, to say nothing Of the awful
stories"
with the good old padre there?
Hardly" said Nora.
Celeste was a French woman. Il
confess that like a good story that
isn't vulgar. And none of them look
like men who would stoop to vul-
garity"
That's about all you know of men,"
declared Mrs. Harrigan.
Il am willing to give them the bene-
1T Of doubt"
Celeste" cried Nora, gaily, i've
an idea. Supposing you and / run
back after dinner and hide in the card
room, which is right across from the
dining room? Then we can judge for
ourselves"
Mora Harrigan!"
Molly Harrigan!" mimicked the in
corrigible. Mother mine, you must
learn to recognize jest"
''Ah, but yours!"
''Ffne!" cried Celeste.
AS If to put final period to the
discussion, Nora began to hum aud
IDLY an aria from Aida.
They engaged a carriage in the viii
lage and were driven up to the villa.
On the way Mrs. Harrigan discussed
the stranger, Edward Courtlandt. What
a fine looking young man he was, and
how adventurous, how well-connected,
how enormously rich, and what an ex-
cellent catch! She and Celeste-the
one innocently and the other provo
catively-continued the subject to the
very doors Of the villa All the while
Nora hummed softly.
What do you think of him, Nora?"
the mother inquired.
Think Of whom"
This Mr.. Courtlandt"
"Oh, didn't pay much attention to
him." carelessly. But once alone with
Celeste, she seized her by the arm, a
little roughly. Celeste, I love you
better than any outsider / know. But
If you ever discuss that man in my
presence again, shall cease to regard
you even as an acquaintance. He has
come here for the purpose Of annoy
ing me, though he promised the pre-
feet in Paris never to annoy me again"
THE prefect!"
Eyes. The morning left Versailles
I met him in the private office Of the
project He had powerful friends who
aided him in establishing an alibi. l
was only woman, so I didn't count"
Mora, If ! have meddled in any
way" proudly, "it has been because
l love you, and l see you unhappy.
You have nearly killed me with your
sphinx-like actions. You have never
asked me the result of my spying for
you that night. Spying is not one Of
my usual vocations, but I did it gladly
for you"
You gave him my address," coldly.
II did not. I convinced him that I
had come at the behest of Flora Desi-
none. He demanded her address,
which l gave him. II ever there was
man in fine rage, it was he as he
left me to go there. If he found out
where we lived, the Calabrian assisted
him. I spoke to him rather plainly
at tea. He said that he had had moth
ing whatever to do with the abduc-
ton, and believe him. l am positive
that he is not the kind of man to go