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rO-r>AVS SHORT iTORY.] Lady…

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rO-r>AVS SHORT iTORY.] Lady Eily's Progressive I Dinner. By MRS. C. N. WILLIAMSON. I (ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.) I When Ijady Eily wanted to think very hard Ehe always lay down. Now, having received a certain letter, she was in dreadful need of an inspiration, so she lay down at onoe on the big chintz sofa in her bondoir, where her small white figure was instantly half buried ainoTOr ruffly silk cu.-iiions. back from Russia on Thursday, and going to America, on Saturday; and can he see ire on Friday evening?" she mur- mured, her hands behind her head. "He" was a young man whom his enemies called an adventurer and his friends adven- turous. His name was Cyril Baveloek, and lie had been almost everytliiiig, fro.m a. cow- boy to a war correspondent. He was good- looking. clever, odd, and immensely attrac- tive, but whatever he was or was not, he was iar from being, in the eyes of her world, a suitable person for Lady- Eily Francillon to marry. Nevertheless, she had made mp her mind that ;-he wanted to marry him, and hoped that he wanted to marry her, although he had never propesed. Now he wrote to say that he was coming home, but only to remain for twenty-four hours, and then to leave for America, where he was to join a party cf men, who had bought a. gold mine. Ameng other things, he was a clever mining expert, and his friends were counting on his servi-ces. He would be up to the eyes in business all Friday till the evening, tut could she pos- sibly spare him a "clear hour" then? It seemd to Lady Eily that this request was likely to mean but ore thing, and she would have been delighted, but she had the "clear hour" to spare. The puzzle was, how- ever, to find him even a moment, for she had a dinner party on for Friday evening. As she lay on the sofa she began counting over the guests on her fingers. There was Lady Wynford. in whose honour the dinner was to be given. If it were not for her, she coald plead illness and wire the others, bar ? in the hou-,e, and Lady Winford was staying in the house, and she could not play invalid and yet receive Cyril without the secret of he,r pretext leak- ing out. Sudddenlv Lady Eily received the electric flash of inspiration she had been coaxing, and, springing up. she clapped her hands. "It shall be a progressive dinner," she ex- claimed aloud. It never took the young widow long to make up her mdnd. Four years ago she had decided in exactly five minutes that it would hie worth her while to marry old Mr. Fran cillon for his money; and he had died to: soon after the beginning of the experiment for her to regret it. And, as in large things go it was in small. Luckily there were no married couples coming to dinner, so there -was no obstacle to her progressive plan. She went quickly to her dssk, and wrote a letter explaining. mater-, to Cyril Haveiock. I want to talk to you just as much as you say you do to me," she answered his request. You've been so long away, and in such interesting places, we shall have heaps to discuss, shan't we? But as I've this wretched dinner on hand, and you've so little time, the only way I can manage a real chat with you is this. I'll make the dinner a progressive dinner. We'll all go in properly with the people we ought to go with. but we'll change partners as many times as there are persons to go round. You understand? It will oe quite original and amusing. By this arrangement I slia.11 go in with Lord Torbay. and have Sir Nigel on my other side. Then I shall have Sir Robert, and then I shall havs you. Oh, by the way, I must ask another woman, or with you added to the party there'll be one man too many; but I haven't t,hought who I shall have yet-sdne girl of no importance." It was not until Havelock s letter was finished and sealed that Lady Eily began seriously to ask herself who the extra woman should be; but she was not long in selecting froin her list a certain Miss Black- wood. The girl was Irish, with no incon- venient female belongings who would want to be invited. he lived with an invalid aunt, who never went anywhere, or wished to; and as for the girl herself, though she was of good birth and breeding, she played the ■violin in draw ins-rooms cr at ecu certs, and picked up a little money-from all accounts, badly needed. "She's sure to be only too glad to come, 90 it won t matte:- about shart notice," Lady Eily thought; and, if I want her to, she'll play afterwards in the c!1.wi-r.'g-TaG'1-'Wb:{' -w ill bring the men to us all the sooner." Lady Eily's guests were faintly amused with the idea of the progressive dinner," which she sprang upon thex. as a surprise at the last minute. It wa" rather troublesome for the men, perhaps, as it necessitated their getting up from the table and changing places; but then men were born to trouble, and there was always the hope that if one's first neighbour didn't prove congenial the next one might be more amusing. Haveiock arrived late, looking browner, handsomer, more alert than ever. As he pressed Lady Eily's hand, she was deliciously fitire that she was in love with him. He was 60 different from any other man she had ever known—so daring, so unconventional! She gave him Miss Paget to begin with, for Miss Paget was plain and not interesting, M-cept when she sang. Afterwards he was to have Mrs. Norman, who was afraid of him because she could, not understand him. Then he would be passed on to the girl of no importance, Miss Blackwood, and by that time, as the hostess would have done her duty by the three most important men in turn, she could afford to be happy and make the impatien t Cyril happy also. Haveiock talked all the music he knew to Hiss Paget, and watched his hcstess across a bank of crimson roses. She was looking very pretty to-night. There was no woman Tie liked better, and he could fancy being very happy with her. He was ambitious, and her money would be much to him in his career. Not that he wanted to live on it; he would make his own. But Lady Eily's hus- band would be placed on the top round of the ladder, which Cyril Haveiock, bachelor, could not hope to reach for years. She was right. His letter had meant the intention of proposing, and he was far from having abandoned it, though the feat was 8urrounded now by bristling difficulties. When he took his place beside Mrs. Nor- man it was not so easy to look at Lady Eily, and, therefore, at, Mrs. Norman was not as attractive to him as she was to Robert Parker, and it was forbidden by the hostess to talk to your left-hand neighbour, he looked < at the lady opposite, who happened to be Miss Blackwood. Ho began by asking himself lazily whether siie were pretty or not. Then it dawned upon him that -he had a curiously arresting sort cf far.?. It compelled you to think aooat it. She had the air of being someone in particu- lar. though Lady Eily had mentioned her as a girl of no importance. .\figs Paget had been associated., with cyst46rs and jpetite maimite; Mrs. Norman had zeen him through the sole tud sella "ragne-au. iie joined Miss Blackwood when pate3 de riz-de-veau aux champignons were dlJt". She looked up and smiled faintly, btu 1..ft it to him to soeak flr-c. Her eyes were even finer tb.-in- he had thought, and their effect was electrical. He glanced at the menu. and said aloud, Good! She smiied. "You are frank," she remarked. "What makes you think so? n9 askea. "You dout mind showir-g a trait-if Ûln can call it a trait-with which I wouldn't have credited yiu." Please explain." "Mut I? Well then, that you are a gour- met." "Because I looked at the menu, and said 'Good?'" She nodded. "f sad Good because I don't eat the thing t'hoa.t comes next, and take it for granted you don't. It's bad for the complexion." "Wha.t if I don't?" "If you have to depend on my conversa- tion to ti-de you over the next half-hour, it's worth while for me to begirt wit|i something mere interesting than the weafflh^. But if you were going to..put your heart into your dinner, any topic would do." "Thank you," i-aicf the girl. You've enabled me to win a waser. I bet myself a new bat that you wouldn't begin with the eather, as the others did -w iit-Iv«crs« excuse, t m-na admit, because there's ??)60od deal irf it." „ But you've lost. "Ifru haven't won. but don't you see, I shall have the bat all the same? Myself will have to pay me. They looked into each other's eyes and lau,-bed. Have a pink one," he said. 1\1 like to, but it must be black, because It will have to last a long time." Do you hate having to make conversa- tion with strangers?" li Imt-h-er like it. One never knows but t'hat a stranger may turn out to be the most interesting person one has ever met; whereas with those one already knows She shrugged her shoulders slightly. "I'm not sure that you haven't in you the making of a cynic," said Haveiock. You know nothing about me." I want to know. I shall have a eha-nce W find out." In halfan hour what can one person find out about another ?" We've known each other ten minutes so far. Have you Sound out nothing in that (time about me? If not, it's because you haven't cared to take the trouble." I've discovered that you're not likp- frverybody eise, and I've begun to wonder mlaiy." Thank you. That's hopeful. May I tell you what I've found out already about you?" "I think I can bear it-at least, it can't take long to tell." If it were to go into print. I could easily run it into a thousand words. But I'll tell it you in four. You are not happy!" I'm amused." Yes, with the world, because you have a sense of humour whioh you can make stand you in good stead. But you are not satis- fied. You ask a great-deal of life--inore than most women do." "I'm a working woman. >f you must know. I fiddle for the rest of the world to dance-- almost. literally. I really can play I wish I didn't ne-3 I to maike money out of my only talent. It seems to vulgarise, it." "The violin is the one instrument I love. It has a soul." "I'm glad you feel like that." "Why are you glad 7" "Why, I—when you come-to ask me I don't quite know Now he was looking her straight in the ezes. Nobody else mattered; and anyway, you were forbidden to speak to your neigh- b(.ur on the left hund. How lucky! "Is it true that you don t know?" he asked. "I wish it weren't." "I don't understand." "You have the most extraordinary attrac- tion for me. I never felt so much attracted by any woman in my life. Don't look shocked. It's not shocking. It's only glorio.is and wonderf il. I wanted to know why you were glad I cared for the violin, oeeause I hoped it meant I hfwi already become of some in-pt rt-aice to you. Have I ?" "You are extraordinary. We hardly know each other's names." "As if names mattered. Why, my soul is talking to yours now. and with souls (only a few people have souls, you know) twenty minutes or twenty years are the same. I ir.&ist vpen your answering a fair question. Do ycu. or do you* not, feel something of the attraction I feel for you?" "Yes. then, I do feel it. It's magnetic, I supnose. "It's more than magnetism. It's destiny. I've, been expecting to meet you ever since— why. ever since I lia-d any thoughts at all." "I—think we must not talk !ike this." "Yes, we must. There's no other chance for n- e. I must make the most of every second. I have to go a wav to-morrow. I can t go no,v. till everything's settled between me and the weman I've always besn waiting for, and have met at last. just in time to prevent my ruining my whole life and perhaps that of another. I've reccgnisid you as The Woman—the One me, that's the question?" you recognised me, that's the "You are like a tidal wo.-e." "Then let me sweep you away with me. Answer the question, whicn I shouldn't dare to ask if I weren't sure you a.re She, and that we must have been meant for each other. Do voi: recognise me?" "You are—I had the strangest thought ? bout you as our eyes met for the first time. '-I.'ell me. You must." "It nas that—I'd naown you always. I thought what a disappointment I should soon have in discovering that I was mistaken." But now' you know you were not mis- taken." "I'm too bewildered to know anything except-except that I "That you?" That I seem to be alone in the world with yen-for this moment." "Will you be alone in the world with me always? The world was really made for us two 'to be ha-ppy in together, for we can't be h.appy in any other way, since that was always meant. Will you marry me?" Ycu are going away to-morrow." "Will you let me get a special licence and go off with me?" "Ail ehauge a^-ain!" cried Lady Eily. "Will you?" repeated Havelock, as he rcte to take a seat by bis hostess. Hew can I answer?" asked the girl of all importance. Afterwards-in the drawing- rcr>TO—we'll have a word again." Yes. and I'm going to take you home too." said Haveiock. We're engaged to be married, and I don't know where you live!" We're not engaged." "Oh. but we are." And he left her to goo to Lady Eily. Lady Eily had been watching him as well as she could, for Sir Nigel had been very attentive—too attentive, in the circum- .tanef"B. Certainly Cyril had oppeared to be somewhat occupied with Miss Blackwood, but then, as he had. been forbidden to talk to his other neighbours, what else could he do to make the time pass? "Well. I hope you haven't been bored?" ahe murmured. "It was the best I co-uld do for you." "You have done gloriously," said. he. This is the best evening of my Life." I'm so glad you could come." So am 1-thankful." And now, we haven't too long. There's ♦arae,. then a sw«et—and for the rest I must have dear old Sir Robert-the shortest time of -in with him. Do you really go to-morrow morning?" "After all. not till later. I'm thinking of a Special train, just in time to catch the ship. There's such a lot to do to-morrow. I can't get qff till the last moment." "What a man you are! I never saw such energy. Apd aren't you very extravagant, having a special? They cost no end of paoney, don't they?" Perhaps. But then (I'm not punning) it will be, I think, a special occasion for me." [ Leaving all your friewte?" I hope to take one with me-a great friend." "Indeed! Did I ever* meet him?" It isn't a, he.' I expect that this trip of mine will be a wedding trip." "Oh!" With a supreme effort, she con- trolled herself. It was this, then, that you wanted to tell me when you wrote?" "Well, you are the first to. know. except the lady." "And may I ask who she is?" Miss Blackwood. Miss Blackwood! But you didn't know her till to-night." "I teg your pardon I've known her always. But the details of the marriage were only settled to-night—rather suddenly. A million thanks to you for your progressive dinner." So glad to have been of any use to you," murmured Lady Eily. Then she drank some champagne, and per- haps it was that which made her eyes sting. How clever she had thought herself, and what an idiot ehe has been. Her poor progressive dinner!" She had hoped so much from it, and-this was the end. I've half a mind to tell him that I, too, am going to be married," she said to her- self. It could be true, if I liked." And involuntarily she glanced towards Sir Nigel. How she got through the rest of the dinner she scarcely knew; but women are born martyrs. The time came at last when she could rise, and smile at Lady Wynford. In the drawing-room she had to ask Miss Paget to sing, and the song chosen was Good-bye." She could have screamed, but instead, having applauded prettily, she went to Miss Blackwood. I hope, Mona, you brought your violin?" she asked. Yes," said Mona, in a. subdued voice, with a rapt look in her eyes. "I'll play, with pleasure." From what I hear, it ought to be—a wed- ding march." "Oh!" "He's told me. What a secretive girl you are. He says you've known each other always. And you're to be married to-morrow. It isn't a joke, I suppose?" No. It's earnest," said Mona. She had committed herself. And, whether Lady Eily marries Sir Nigel or not, she will never, never, never give another Progressive Dinner.

I Passing Pleasantries. j

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