Southwest Washington labor press. [volume] (Hoquiam, Wash.) 19??-19??, 1923-11-16
MY LADY'S MONEY
An Episode in the Life
of a Young Girl
By WiLkie Collins
NlUNUUNMUuNNWINlNln
INsTALLMENT NO. is.

lN0 AlA4l In W. ~
you are completely mistaken. Miss
Pink. You may not mean It, but you
speak most ~unjustly II you say that
your niece is an object OF suspicion
to me nor to anybody In my house"
Mr.. Troy, quietly listening up to
this point, onw interposed to stop
the discussion before it could degen-
crate into a personal quarrel. His
keen observation, aided by his aecur-
ate knowledge Of his clients charac-
ter. had plainly revealed to him what
was passing in Lady Lydiard's mind.
She had entered the house. feeling
Cperhaps unconseiously) q jealousy
Of Miss Pink as her predecessor in
Isabers affections, and as the natural
protectress of the girl under existing
circumstances. Miss Pink's reception
Of her dog had additionally irritated
the old lady. She had taken a mali
cious pleasure in shocking the school
mistress sense Of propriety, and she
was now only too ready to proceed to
further extremities ON the delicate
question Of Isabel's justification for
leaving her house. For Isabel's own
sake-therefore, to a nothing Of
other reasons-it was urgently desir-
able to keep the peace between the
two ladies'. With this excellent OBJ
ject in view, Mr.. Troy ceased his OPP
portunity of striking into the con-
v~ersation for the first time.
Pardon me. Lady Lydiard," he
said, you are speaking Of a subject
which has been already sufficiently
discussed between Miss Pink and
myself. I think we shall do better not
to dwell uselessly on past events, but
to direct our attention to the fture.
We are all equally satisfied of the
complete rectitude of Miss Isabel's
conduct, and we are all equally inter.
ested In the %vindication of her good
name"
Whether these temperate words
would of themselves have exercised
the pacifying influence at which Mr..
Troy aimed may be doubtful. But, as
he ceased speaking, a powerful auxil
iary appeared In the shape of the
beer. Lady Lydiard seized on the
jug, and filled the tumbler for her
self with an unsteady hand. Miss Pinl
trembling for the integrity of hel
carpet. and scandalized at seeing &
peeress drinking beer like a washer
woman, forgot the sharp answer thaI
was just rising to her lips when the
lawyer interfered. SMALL" said Lady
Lydiard, setting down the empty
tumbler. and referring to the quality
of the beer. But very pleasant and
refreshing. What's the servants
name? Susan? Well, Susan, I was dy-
ing of thirst, and you have saved my
life. You can leave the jug; dare
say l shall empty it before 1 60"
MI. Troy, watching Miss Pink's
face. saw that it was time to change
the subject again.
Did you notice the old village,
Lady Lydiard, on your way here2" he
asked. The artists consider it one
of the most picturesque places in
England"
Il noticed that it was a very dirty
village" Lady Lydiard answered, still
bent on making herself d~isagreeable
to Miss Pink. The artists may say
what they please; | see nothing to ad-
mire in rotten cottages and bad drain.
age and ignorant people. | suppose
the neighborhood has its advantages
It looks duh enough, to my mind"
Isabel had hitherto modestly re-
restricted her exertions to keeping
Tommie quiet on her lap. Like Mr..
Troy, she occasionally looked at her
aunt, and she now made a timid at
tempt to defend the neighborhood, as
a duty that she owed to Miss Pink.
"Oh, my LADY, don't say it's a dull