Coulee City dispatch. [volume] (Coulee City, Wash.) 19??-19??, 1923-10-26
MYLADY'S MONEY
An Episode in the Life
of Young Girl
By Wilkie Collins


ticing the GOODNESS of her reception:
| 81 have not been very well, Mr..
Hardyman, or you would have seen
me before this. My only object in
presenting myself here is to make my
excuses personally for having written
of you in terms which expressed a
doubt of your honor. I have done
you an injustice, and l beg you to
forgive me-"
Hardyman acknowledged this frank
apology as unreservedly as it had
been offered to him. ''Say no more,
Lady Lydiard. And let me hope,
now you are here, that you will honor
my little party with your presence .
Lady Lydiard grayely stated her
reasons for not accepting the invita-
ton.
II disapprove so strongly of I'M
equal marriages." she said, walking
on slowly towards the cottage, that
1 canot, in common consistency, be-
come one of your guests. I shall al
ways feel interested in Isabel Miller's
| welfare; and can honestly say
shall be glad if your married life
proves that my old-fashioned preju-
dices are without justification in your
case. Accept my thanks for your in
vita ton, and let me hope that my
plain speaking has not offended you. I"
She bowed and looked about her
10 hot oh RI
the carriage waiting for her at the
gate She had forgotten to look back
for the dog when she entered the
shrubbery. She now called to him,
and blew the whistle at her watch
chain. Not sign of Tommie was to
be seen. Hardyman instantly direct
ed the servants to search in the cottage
and out of the cottage for the dog.
The order was obeyed with all need
full activity and intelligence, and en-
tirely without success. For the time
being, at any rate, Tommie was lost.
Returning from the garden gate,
Hardyman received from his servant
handful of letters which had just
arrived for him. Walking slowly over
the lawn as he opened them, he
found nothing but excuses for the Ab-
sence of guests who had already &C
cepted their invitations. He had just
thrust the letters into his pocket,
when he heard footsteps behind him,
and, looking round, found himself
confronted by Moody.
"Halloo! have you come here to
lunch?" Hardyman asked, roughly.
Il have come here, sir, with little
gift for Miss Isabel, in honor of her
marriage" Moody answered, quietly.
And ask your permission to put 1t
on the table, so that she may see it
when your guests sit down to lunch
con-"
He opened jewelers. case as he
spoke, containing plain gold brace
let with an inscription engraved on
the inner side: ITO Miss Isabel M.
Ter, with the sincere good wishe; Of
Robert Moody"
Plain as it was, the design of the
bracelet was unusually beautiful
Hardyman had noticed Moody's agi.
tation on the day whsn he had met
Isabel near her aunsts house, and had
drawn his own Conclusions from it
His. face darkened with momentary
jealousy as ne looked at the brace
let. "All right, old fellow" he said
with contemptuous familiarity. Don't
oe. modest Wait and give it to he1
with your own hand"
mo, Sir" said Moody. II would
ratnef leave it, if you please, to
speaE for ITSELF"
Hardyman understood the delicacy
o1I.ieeling which dictated those words
and, without we'll knowing why, re
sented it,. He was on the point of
speaking, under the influence Of this
unworthy feeling, when Isabels
voice reached his ears, calling to
him from the cottage.
Moody's face contracted with sud-
den expression of pain as he, too,
recognized the voice. Don't let me
detain you, sir" he said, sadly. Good
morning."
Hardyman left him without cere-
mony. Moody, slowly following, en-
tered the tent. ALI the preparations
for the lunchean had been completed;
nobody was there. The places to be
occupied by the guests were indi-
Gated by cards bearing their names
Moody found Isabel's card, and put
his bracelet inside the folded napkin
on her plate. For while he stood
with his hand on the table, thinking.
The temptation to communicate once
more with Isabel before he lost her
forever was fast getting the better
OF his powers of resistance. IF 1
could persuade her to write word
10 say she liked my bracelet" he
thought, 1T would be comfort when
go back to my solitary life" He
tore leaf out of his pocket-hook
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