White Bluffs spokesman. [volume] (White Bluffs, Wash.) 1907-1938, 1923-06-01
CHAPTER III.

my nephew!" Lady Lydiard ex-
claimed, in tone which expressed as
constituent, but certainly not pleasure
as well. How many years is 1t since
you and last metz" she asked, in her
abruptly straightforward way, as Mr..
Felix Sweetsir approached her writ
ing table.
The visitor was not person easily
discouraged. He took Lady Lydiard's
hand and kissed it with easy grace
A shade of irony was in his manner,
agreeably relieved by playful flash
of tenderness.
Years, my dear aunt?" he said.
Look in your glass, and you will see
that time has stood still since we met
last. How wonderfully well you wear!
When shall we celebrate the appear.
ance of your first wrinkle? am too
old; shall never live to see 1t"
He took an easy chair, unlimited,
placed himself close at his aunt's side,
and ran his eye over her ill-chosen
dress with an air Of satirical admira-
ton. "How perfectly successful" he
said, with his well-bred insolence.
What chaste gayety Of color!"
what do you want?" asked her
ladyship, not in the least softened by
the compliment.
II want to pay my respects to my
dear aunt" Felix answered, perfectly
impenetrable to his ungracious recep-
ton, and perfectly comfortable in
spacious armchair.
No pen and ink portrait need surely
be drawn of Felix Sweetsir, he Is too
we'll known a picture In society. The
little 1.-THE man, with his bright, rest
less eyes, and his long iron gray hair
falling in curls to his shoulders; his
airy step and his cordial manner; his
uncertain age, his innumerable &C.
mplishments, and his unbounded
popularity-is he not familiar every
where and welcome everywhere? How
grateful he receives, how prodigally
he repays, the cordial appreciation of
an admiring world! Every man he
knows is a charming fellow" Every
woman he sees is "sweetly pretty"
What picnics he gives on the banks
of the Thames in the summer season!
NJhof q uol1 oorpod 1;%t1o ipoor,o h.
derives from the whist table! What an
inestimable actor he is at private the.
atricals of all sorts weddings includ-
ed)! Did you never read Sweetsir's
novel, dashed off in the intervals of
curative perspiration at a German
bath? Then you don't know what
brilliant fiction really Is. He has never
written second work; he does every.
thing. and only does 1t once. One song
the despair Of professional compos-
ers. One picture-just to show how
easily gentleman can take up an art
and drop 1t again. A really multiform
man, with all the graces and all the
accomplishments scintillating perpet-
ually at his fingers ends. II these
poor pages have achieved nothing less,
hey have done service to persons
not in society by presenting them to
Sweetsir. In his gracious company
the narrative brightens; and writer
and reader Catching reflected brillian-
Cyl understand each other at last,
thanks to Sweetsir.
WELL" said Lady Lydiard, now
you are here, what have you got to
say for yourself? You have been
abroad, of course? Where?"
Principally at Paris, my dear aunt.
The only place that is fit to live in
for this excellent reason, that the
French are the only people who know
how to make the most of life. One has
relations and friends in England: and
every now and then one returns to
London
When one has spent all ones
money in Paris" her ladyship inter-
posed. That's what you we're going
to say, isn't it?"
Felix submitted to the interruption
with his delightful good humor.
What bright creature you are!"
he exclaimed. What would not give
for your flow Of spirits! Yes; one
does spent money in Paris, as you