Ladysmith news-budget. [volume] (Ladysmith, Rusk County, Wis.) 1907-1927, 1917-08-03
SHEDS
Got ING
AUTHOR Of THE LONE
WOLF. THE BRASS
BOWL, ETC.
COPYRIGHT RYJ OIns .IOsFpH VANCE

1CG Never! Iueu Sue lduSHcu AedI'
tily.
Miss Carteret ventured smile. II
was thinking" she offered in conclu-
sive amendment.
| "Believe me, saw that" the other
interrupted, land more: read your
thoughts quite plainly"
ooh, nor the girl protested in
alarm.
"But yes, my dear. You were think
ing that in me you'd caught something
| Of a tartar. Now weren't you? But
hand-painted bark doesn't neces-
sarily imply venomous bite. And If
my complexion is candidly artful-
must q woman look her age or lose
caste? 1 do wear wig; but think
what fright I should be without one |!
On the other hand, my figure and eyes
and teeth are all my own" the last
were frankly exhibited in an infectious
laugh, "and so is my heart. In short,
at my worst I'm perfectly respectable
old gossip But-gracious, child u
how you do run on!'
With this bewildering reproach, the
Dowager Dragon rose, and produc-
ing an impressive bunch Of keys, began
to unlock her various pieces Of hand
luggage.
Really, she pursued, "you don't
give one a chance to ask a single
question. Here you've dragged out Of
me the most private bones in my skele-
ton cupboard without so much as tell
ing me your name. No matter: you
won't refuse it when you know mine.
It's -Amelia-widow. Now,
as Peter Trait says, what do you
know about that?"
Miss Carteret knew nothing what
ever about that, and owned her ignO-
rance with look of darkness that
earned an indulgent chucEle.
Confess you have never heard Of
me! But that's only because you're
English"
ooh, but I'm mott" Miss Carteret
Insisted impulsively. "My mothers
parents were English; but L"
Here she chOked in undisguised dis
may. But her companion wasn't look
| ing-didn't, indeed, need tOslOOk: such
Is the resource of one ripe in the
knowledge of humanity.
eco on, my dear. Tell me alias
we'll now as Later. You will, anyway,
In the end-and if you don't I'll en-
gage to find you out for myself. BY
the way, your name would help"
Lid" Miss Carteret announced In
coherently, stopping abruptly rs
though half-chOked by the monosyl-
liable.
"How very odd!' commented Mrs.
Beggarstaff with a straight face. Miss
Lid! Almost as bizarre as Beggar-
staff. But that's my own fault:
married it with my hearing unim-
paired. But Lid! / never"
"My name isn't Lid!' the girl In
terrupted Indignantly. 81 never said
so. Something was tickling my throat.
My name is Lucy Carteret."
"SOrry I MISUNDERSTANDING glad.
Lucy Carterets much prettier and-ah
human. The Maryland Carterets,
hOpew
ooh, no." said the girl hastily.
.Too bad; it's good family. Let
me see-there are no Carterets worth
mentioning in New York. Virginia
branch, perhaps?"
ooh, no."
The iterated denial was less bold
than it's original; Miss Carteret was
beginning to be sorry she hadn't walt
ed for later steamer, as we'll as thai
she had thought 1t necessary, not tf
say romantic, to adopt pseudonym t(
fit the initials on her luggage.
"Then you can't be anybody! Mrs
Beggarstaff asserted vigorously. "Tof
bad. Unless possibly" she frightened
"yOu come of the English family
There are, believe, some Carterets II
Hertfordshire,"
mol" the prosecuted young woma1
said firmly. 81 told you / was al
American-and If the matter Is OF an,
Importance, I'm perfectly willing t
admit I'm nobody"
"Don't be cross with an inquisidv
old woman, my DEAR" The Beggar
staffian smile was very fetching. Mis-
Carteret's indignation melted before II
"Tm only trying to find out II W
haven't friends In common. Who ar
your friends on board? know every
body, and"
'I'm travelling alone" the girl inter
posed meekly, land to the best of m
knowledge don't know a soul on tn
Ship"
Mrs. Beggarstaff chose shrewdly t
disapprOve. ''That's not right! Your
too young and good-looking to trave
without at least chaperOn. Thes
transatlantic boats are all alive wit
adventures. Luckily, you now hay
me-unless, perhaps, you're too higf
spirited to utilize an old woman's II
tereSt?"
you're very kind" Miss Cartere
murmured-not altogether insincerel!
She was too intelligent to be blind
the advantage Of having SO thorough
paced Dowager Dragon to protet
opd advise har And she was any