White Bluffs spokesman. [volume] (White Bluffs, Wash.) 1907-1938, 1923-07-06
MY LADY'S MONEY
An Episode in the Life
of Young Girl
By WiIkie Collins
BY Wilkie Collins

a woman that admire. With good
looks, too-of course with good looks
She will be perfect treasure Gas you
remarked just now to the man who
marries her. l may claim to know
something about 1t. have twice mar.
rowly escaped being married myself;
and thought I can't exactly explain it,
I'm all the harder to please In conse.
quence. Miss Isabel pleases me. think
/ have said that before. Pardon me for
saying 1t again. I'll call tomorrow
morning and look at the dog, as early
as II o'clock, If you will allow me.
Later in the day l must be off to
France to attend sale of horses.
Glad to have been of any use to your
ladyship, l am sure. Good morning."
Lady Lydiard let him go, wisely re-
signing any further attempt to estab-
lish an understanding between her
visitor and herself.
"He is either person of very lin
tied intelligence when he is away
from his stables,," she thought, cor he
deliberately declines to take a plain
hint when 1t is given to him. can't
drop his acquaintance, on Tommie's
account The only other alternative is
to keep Isabel out of his way My
good little girl shall not drift into q
false position while I am living to
look after her. When Mr.. Hardyman
calls tomorrow, she shall be out on
an errand When he calls, on his re-
turn, she shall be upstairs with
headache. And, If he tries 1t again,
she shall be away at my house In the
country If he makes any remarks on
her absence-well, he will find that
l can be just as dull of understanding
as he is when the occasion calls
for It,"
Having arrived at this satisfactory
solution of the difficulty, Lady Lyd-
lard became conscious of an irresist
ible impulse to summon Isabel to her
presence and caress her. In the nature
Of warm-hearted woman, this was
only the inevitable reaction which fol.
lowed the subsistence of anxiety about
the girl, after her own resolution had
set that anxiety at rest. She threw
open the door, and made one Of her
sudden appearances in the boudoir.
Even in the fervent outpouring of her
affection there was still the inherent
abruptness of manner which so
strongly marked Lady Lydiard's
character in all the relations of life.
did l give you a kiss this morn.
ins?' abe .2aked, when Isabel rose to
receive her.
yes, my lady" said the girl, with
her charming smile.
Come, then, and give me a kiss
in return. Do you love me? Very we'll,
then, treat me like your mother. New.
er mind my lady this time Give me
good hug"
Something in those homely words,
or something perhaps in the look that
accompanied them, touched sympa-
thies in Isabel which seldom showed
themselves on the surface Her smil-
ing lips trembled, the bright tears
rose in her eyes. "You are too good
to me-" she murmured, with her head
on Lady Lydiard's bosom. How can
l ever love you enough in return?"
Lady Lydiard patted the pretty head
that rested on her with such filial
tenderness. There! there!" she said.
go back and play with Tommie, my
dear. We may be as fond of each
other as we like, but we mustn't cry
God bless you! Go away!-go away"
She turned aside quickly; her own
eyes were moistening, and 1t was part
of her character to be reluctant to let
Isabel see it. why have I made a
fool of myself?" she wondered, as she
approached the drawing room door
1T doesn't matter. I am all the better
for 1t. Odd, that Mr.. Hardyman should
have made me feel fonder of Isabel
than ever!"
With these reflections she re.en.
tered the drawing room and sudden
ly checked herself with start. Good
heavens!" she exclaimed, irritably,
how you frightened me! Why was
not told you were here"
Having left the drawing room in
state of solitude. Lady Lydiard, on her
return, found herself suddenly con-
fronted with gentleman mysteriously
planted on the hearth rug in her abb
sence. The new visitor may be
rightly described as gray man. He
had gray hair, eyebrows and whis-
kers; he wore gray coat, waistcoat,
and trousers, and gray gloves. For the
rest, his appearance was eminently
suggestive of wealth and respectable
ity, and in this case appearances
were really to be trusted The gray
man was no other than Lady Lydiard's
legal adviser. Mr.. Troy.
II regret, my lady, that should
have been SO unfortunate as to star
tie you," he said, with certain un.
derlying embarrassment in his man.
ner. 81 had the honor of sending word
by Mr.. Moody that would call at
this hour, on some matters Of bust
ness connected with your ladyships