The Story-Teller.

Ellesmere Guardian, Volume X, Issue 935, 15 August 1891, Page 4

The Story-Teller.

THE COLONEL'S FUB COAT.

(Continued.) > > HA.i 'Charlifi Carew is a 'gd6A fellow enouKh.' he «wd jthe lasj^ ; sh% rt ba,d / Bftokpn to him oh the ' ' Wat '&' man dceinptcaTe to ipikro^aQe all, his bachelor friends to his wife, and I would rather not have him: $lw»ys hsnßing about the hotifie.' ' And George spoke m all eameat. Mrs Eljihinstone bad laoghed, a linV.to herself inwardly »t the time, and •> mentally hupband of jealousy. Dear old George, how Well iKa tneW him, how easily read himj with his transparent candid ways ! A JUtfe 6^l f-t fish perhaps at times, bot v thoroughly > affecionat*, honest, and time to hew When she compared bim to th*ho«Viiftds of her friends, how imme^anr^bjy 1 'he shone superior to tnos'e insffex£nt, deceitful epecimena of humanity I '4m' all, them wero worse causes .for a „ wifeV angerand indignation than the sometimes tiresome influence of a rrtakouline friend. If it were not for , jpharj[i6 r) ,pa]rew,, 7 she and George. wopjd_'.'r^ej^W^^l-- !l #ord ; and a flood , of guilty ,rem^>rse,'Tp^~tHe act of dereptiqn tp whiqh .spe, . had just consented swf-pt over the wife, and ma )e her waver eVeh in-'the' set :Jof ; dressing for her surreptitious- excursion. If George ever fonrid it oati'heydald'-liever forgive her, the evening's' Wmusement were proved. to, !be,oE. the, rqosft innpeent kind. For a few mpmenis sl\e faltered m her re sol otion, , fl]mpst d , .to, despatch a note of refusal ; to' the.jGot onel's cltib t theri' Chsirlie ' Garew'^ ; selfishness recprred 'to hftrntin*!,' and' «h*r>' grew .resnln'te atitt tirrh . otice' more. ;Wbat right had Gfeorge for one ! inbmbht .id allow that man to jCome be^t^^n Ker and him? She took out; ber'^h^sb'an'j'^. last letter, and read agnin the wpr^s, that had so annoyed her that morning Read how Carew had enticed George to linger on { n Paris, thus causing him to gpend more, money than he could afford, while her bills: all lay iipon liiY writing-table here unpaid, and likely ' to remain so toe. That was a crime no womai'. could be expected to overlook, and her indign|tfpßr-| rose- :, fafi^gh at the meniory of heir -' WrongsV '-Btifr three hours later, safely bidden behind ber box-enrtains, Mrs Efphihstone forpot her gt.ierances, and, flung anger to the- windiV. U ,' { S t U J :■ ,Y&bvf Colonel Vandelenr was enchanted, Never had he seen her look more lovely, or found her, more entertaining and Ta|>~ preciative of his own wit. ■'-- '•*•'- l -' Seated well to tjb^ n fore i .of .^jthe^box pleasantly^E J ensibie''of. J j^a i^^ej| l i;io4.)yß^ appearance never;, failedl p J to; , attract, he exchanged from time tor; time Recognitions with friends' belo*,6'r oaatiously drew his corupanion'S' notic* to some welUkndwri celebrity [i ' 6 sex. 'A In the box r iiri mediately oppofiite. their own was/a pppul^r,' tfameytc, .aiiti l^^ Elphinatone jltecjonip;. interested , to. fin(l oat who was the man go carefully screen ed behind the draperiesv > ■/> > , ; .ufi u\'? •Do look/ she says to the I Colonel j • the unseen is actually binding forward at last. Is he no^gopd-lop^ing^'^hp ' is he? Do you know ?'', '.' i; '"'•-'-?'> Colonel Vandeleur accepts the glasses she bands him, and glances across, , ; -■ •O 1 yes, 1 know him,' he says 4jarerj. lessly ;< a good looking fellow ,r as you •»/,' -T.. -;.v,. f, !U , ,{,,,,

' Bnt what is his name ?' persists Mrs Elphinstone laughingly, | , ,/.' ; ; ; „ .' His name f What a ' lucky- fellow to have aroused so ranch interest,, in yonr fair self 1 Well his name i& Charlie Carew.' ■ •>. ■ ■ ..;■■■ .'.■<-• „ : :a ■..

•Charlie Carew !' echoes she, once: more seizing,' t^e ' giasses, 1 ♦Imppaii-; 1 Impossible ! And w^j ?, B|ifc Iniieeid there is no mistake. Ton are' iriterested m this mad f~j»the« jpalMiiiljt tbii., 'InteresWr O deaf, Mrs. Elphinstone coldly, laying down the glasses, and beginning to play, ab» sently with- her fan.- ' But I have heard of him, that is all,' And she talks- and laughs gaily, and sits'out the whole programme without once betraying the passion of conflicting emotions' raging within. .

((Continued m our next iattu.)