Southwest Washington labor press. [volume] (Hoquiam, Wash.) 19??-19??, 1923-11-16

fi0N 10 bSauNAAAAs
Lady Lydiard's answer to this was
a little masterpiece of good-humored
contempt. She patted Isabel's cheek,
and said. "Poohl pooh!"
Your ladyship does not admire the
beauties of nature" Miss Pink re-
marked, with a compassionate smile.
"As we get older. no doubt our sight
begins to fall"
And we leave off canting about
the beauties of nature" added Lady
Lydiard. 4 hate the country. Give
me London, and the pleasures of so
ciety."
Gomez Come! Do the country JUS
tice. Lady Lydiardi" put in peace
making Mr.. Troy. There is plenty of
society to be found out of London
as good society as the world can
show"
THE sort of society" added Miss
Pink, which is to be found, for ex-
ample, in this neighborhood. Her
ladyship is evidently not aware that
persons of distinction surround us
whichever way we turn. may in
stance, among others, the Honorable
Mr.. Hardyman-"
Lady Lydiard, { in the act of pour
ing out a second glassful of beer, sud
denly set down the jug.
WHO is that you're talking of, Miss
Pink?"
Il am talking of our neighbor, Lady
Lydiard. the Honorable MI. Hardy
man."
DO you mean Alfred Hardyman,
the man who breeds the horses?s
THE distinguished gentleman who
owns the famous stud farm" said
Miss Pink. correcting the bluntly di-
rect form N which Lady Lydiard had
put her question.
rs he in the habit of visiting here?'
the old lady inquired, with a sudden
appearance of anxiety. do you know
him?"
Il had the honor of being intro
duced to Mr.. Hardyman at our last
flower show" Miss Pink replied. "He
has not yet favored me with a visit. u
Lady Lydiard's anxiety appeared tc
be to some extent relieved.
II knew that Hardyman's farm was
in this county" she said, but l had
no notion that it was in the neigh.
borhood of South Morden. How far
is Hello or a dozen miles, eh?"
Not more than three miles" an.
swered Miss Pink. we consider him
quite a near neighbor of ours
Renewed anxiety showed itself in
Lady Lydiard. She looked round
sharply at Isabel. The giIl's head was
bent so low over the rough head of
the dog that her face was almost en-.
tirely concealed from view. So far as
appearances went, she seemed to be
entirely absorbed in fondling Tommie.
Lady Lydiard reused her with a tap
Vi the green IAN.
Take Tommie out, Isabel, for a run
in the garden" she said. He won't
sit still much longer, and he may an
noy Miss Pink. Mr.. Troy, will you
kindly help Isabel to keep my i'll.
trained dog in order?"
Mr.. Troy got on his feet. and, not
very willingly, followed Isabel out of
the room. They will quarrel now, to
a dead certainty" he thought to him
self, as he closed the door. Have O
any idea of what this means ?" he said
to his companion, as he Joined her in
the hall. What has Mr.. Hardyman
done to excite all this interest in
him?"
Isabel's guilty color rose. She knew
perfectly well that Hardyman's uncon.
cealed admiration of her was the guild
ing motive of Lady Lydiard's inquir-
les. II she had told the truth, Mr..
Troy would have unquestionably re.
turned to the drawing room, with or
without an acceptable excuse for In
truding himself. But Isabel was a
woman; and her answer, It is needless
to say, was, Il don't know, I'm sure
In the meantime the interview be-
tween the two ladies began in a man.
ner which would have astonished Mr..
Troy-they we're both silent. For once
in her life, Lady Lydiard was con-
siderlng what she should say, before
she said II. Miss Pink, on her side,
naturally waited to hear what objects
her ladyship had in view-waited until
her small reserves of patience gave
way. Urged by irresistible curiosity,
she soke first.
Have you anything to say to me
in private?" she asked.
Lady Lydiard had not got to the
end Of her reflections, She said
Yes" and she said no more.
rs it anything relating to my
Nicer" persisted Miss Pink.
Still immersed IN her reflectiona