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Show IsMRS. BUSBr-GLAISHER was large and I Tftf I square anil rod, with tlio jaw of a mastiff, i 8 .y J. ffl She always thought of herself as of a a isBOKisnzH nwJestic presence. She was wrong; it ( WX was terrific. She was not only large IE fclflrlljH corl,oresl,,'v but was a woman of large, ft f?)f gf Senorous ideas ou the subject of the in- HSI fal,,bl,itj" of Mn?- Busby-GInlsher. H I HB UC wns uovcr doubled by a doubt m UT 6 I ir " U f the r,Shteousncss of any of her feel- If &BBBaJ '"-?. and In her eyes any desire she I II cherished was sacrosanct Anybody who I A ra" counter to them was an Infamous I vt perton, outside the human pale. The I t i rushing of such a person was apt to become a li.ed I W il1 with hrr; she would stick at nothing to com-I com-I I I"115 lt "! the weapons she used against the trans- jf ;;ressor uere for the most part continuous slander I W varied by anonymous letters. ' I y Suu ,1!1(1 the habit of domination, and ruled both her household and Tringle Hill, the suburb she II niloructl. with nxls of Iron. Her wealth, Inherited II Trom hor fa i her. a geutlenian who had made a large I : fortune out of wholesale, not retail, tailoring, and 111 ,irul le : eoiibistent prop of the chief sweating It I ulustry of Huge Loudon, gae her great social pres- II,-c ai"S H''" ii's" wealthy neighbors; her tenacity, tniculeiKP. aid malignity did the rest. StraugerHuwIui did not know Mrs. Busby-Glalsher, coming ro live at Triugle JJIII. would sometimes raise the sinud.MUl of revolt. They always repeated it. s,ltf ,1:,(I '"iIp else to do but secure her domination ;' the rebels had other occupation besides rebellion; and Ju the end she crushed them. Curates, organists! schoolmasters, and private persons who would not give her her owu sweet way, had in the end to leave Pringle Hill, for the most part with badly damaged dam-aged characters. J Sbe was nbv0 a" distinguished by an Inveterate Mil hostility to young married women, especially if they chanced to Jo pretty and attractive. It wsis almost g . Impossible for them to avoid quarreling with her. j ; for she forutI (parrels on them ; and It was seldom UU imle! that he failed to cause them a good deal of jg uuhapjih:i-. KM This idiyncrnsy caused her to fall foul of the Jj Scarlets. This young couple established Itself ut m Pringle HIM in a sm.ni boue, a fact which in itself j entitled Mr. and Mr. Scarlet to little consideration, rjjl. But since they showed an agreeable disposition to M malce the besr of suburban life, they presentlv were H admitted to Pringle Hill society, to tho Tennis Club gi . the dances, the buzaars, and other social advantages ! wlllt'h I'l'l'-wlp Hill enjoys. Mr. Antony Scarlet, a .fflR young man of twenty-live, presented to the world 'an g- eyeghiis. a vncuoiib air, an open mouth, and a Ibp j People who chanced to see him with that eveghiss' 1 0,,t of bb e-ve sa"" -1 ung man with verv keen LjjJU Intelligent eyes and close-set, resolute lips. Also be' ml fched his lisp with his eyeglass. But that was an nppearance he kept for the privacy of his home I and tho society of his Intimate friends. The shrewd Ml world of Pringle Hill saw only a patent idiot f He was believed to be "somethlnc" in tim ,i. M though no ono knew what, since tho Scarlets showed fm n ll,,l ncomniu reticence about themselves; and g the maid they had brought with them maintained an & equal reticence about the Scarlets. Their cook, re- & pontly engaged, knew nothing about them. This re- J tk-ence, so balking to Ipgltlmato curlositv, was bad enough, but Mrs. Scarlet's prettlness and charm were ug even more annoying to the elderly ladles of Pringle g : Hill, even though as they often said, they could seo jf nothing In her jfe' Mrs Bus'jy-rJIalsher found them Indeed detestable g , The pvpu began to fear that by that mere charm )rt . .Vrx. Scarlet would presently be a rival power In Jg ; 1 rlnulP Hill. .Nothing was further from Mrs. Scar- Jjy let's dosire or thoughts; but to Mrs. Pusbv-Glaisher her domination of Pringle Hill was the central fact jj of the uulverso; she was ready to suspect anvoue m of driving t dlbpute it with her; and she set to g vork to crush Mrs. Scarlet with her usual weapons. . w. Scarlet was not long obsen-lng a change In W ''l0' manner toward her, a disposition to look M sknnpo ii L her. to avoid her, and an uneasiness In Jg I Ki vtcWiy. She set about inquiring into the matter -gm and learned from Mr. Crewe, another young married Sm "oniuii, that .Mrs. IJusby-Claisher had been saying Sjm horrid things about her; that she dyed her hair Sw pjilnted her face, carried on with married men in a Sjl ver5' br!,7-e W,y. nD(l was altogether a most unde- jg S slnble person, quite unfit to associate with the select jjp! I sot!"l circle which adorned Pringlo Hill, j I Mrs. Scarlet came to Mr. Scarlet In a very pretty' jdtt flU'-v' toia uim wlmt she had learned, and begged JgM him to deal with Mrs. Busby-Glalsher. Antony shed 5$m hls eyeghifcs nud listened to her with the keenest jM Interest. He did not express any anger when she ? hud finished, but he looked uncommonly dangerous gW s ho said.: "I'll deal with the okl beast faithfully g But there Is only one way, and that will make things $ a sood deal more unpleasant for you In Pringle Hill jrtjj before they are all right" JJJM "I don't mind that at all as long as you punish tfM that horrid old woman!" cried Mrs. Scarlet. M "Very good," said Antony; and then he added m with some irrelevance : "I havo had an odd feeling jS "11 tho time that Pringle Hill was really a gold mine, tU 'f ."" C0Uld Uly Mt on tbe rccf'" Wlth tI,at llv M too-c his hat and cane and caught a train to town. djff T'' ucxt corning Mrs. P.usby-Glalsher was beyond ft mra'are charmed to receive a typewritten loUcr. Ml l Dly "A Wcll-Wibhcr," and unburdened br g j. that wcll-sher's address, which Informed her that.' ii I Mr. and Mrs. Scarlet had neglected to go through the formality of gelliug married. At once she sum. moneel the more suitable ladies of Pringle 1 Till and the rector; aud without mentioning that the Information Informa-tion came from an anonymous letter, told them that she had learned that Mr. and Mrs. Scarlet were not married. "When they had exhausted their expressions of horror at Mrs. Scarlet's brazeu effroutery iu tliru3ting herself into their circle, on Mrs. Busby-Glaifchcr's Busby-Glaifchcr's suggestion they called on the rector to expel this abomination from their midst. Tre rector, a ery womanly nmn of bad family and large private means, who loved a bit of scandal every whit as much as the worst of them, expressed the deep sympathy he really felt with them, and protested pro-tested his earnest resolve to purge Pringle Hill of pollution. He wns always a warm supporter of Mrs. Busby-Glaisher, whom he respected for her wealth and firmness of character, and of whom he cherished a very honest dread. Having obtained this assurance from him, the more unpleasant of the ladies, headed by Mrs. Busby-Glaisher, Busby-Glaisher, went forth to demonstrate their propriety and enjoy themselves by "cutting" Mrs. Scarlet on her morning's shopping In Pringle Grove. She eamo When the rector came B- B G AH, J B B-S O. NJ i , V that Mrs. Busby-Glaisher was a scandnl-monglng old woman, that she had been with Mfes Dorothy since She was a little girl, and had been present at her njarrlnge with her master, who, if he waB not well oft. was well known to be a very honorable voong gentleman. She ended by expressing her wonder at what Miss Dorothy's uncle, the baronet, would say if he heard that these lying stories were going about. Mrs. Busby-Glalsher wasmuch taken aback. That she had been spreading s'lander. on grounds suppllpd her by a kind but anonymous correspondent, seemed But the rector was uncomfortable; and he pressed Mr. Busby-Gluisher for the sources of her information informa-tion till she showed him the nuonymous letter- The simple cleric read it and said that It was a very proper letter, and, of course, her correspondent could do no Ioks than write it, if she had reasons for her belief. Then he added, fondly: "Of course it relieves us from any legal responsibility for the action we have taken But I shall lose no time iu going to see Mr. Scarlet, and ha hum putting to him the impropriety of letting us labor uudcr this infsap-prcbension," infsap-prcbension," "You'll do nothing of the kind!" cried Mrs. Busby-Glnisher, Busby-Glnisher, sharply. "Leave It all to me. "Why, I may be mouths getting on proper terms with her after this uncomfortable affair! I cannot risk auv muddling." mud-dling." "Very well ha hum your well-known tact," said the rector, and he took ills leave But after awhile he grew uncomfortable. The thought that there might be a legal side to the matter troubled him; the thought also that he might incur some odium for acting as (irmly as he had on Insufficient grounds, worried him. Moreover, he began to resent Antony's having let him In a false position, when a simple denial would have cleared the matter up. He made up his mind that by far the best course would be to go and at once take a high hand with the young Idiot. Accordingly, after his high tea he went to the Scarlets' house. The maid told him her master was a dinner, showed him Into the drawing-room, and early in the afternoon. An- brought back word that Mr. tony Scarlet received him i Scarlet would see him when with his most open-mouthed WKKST" rdrtr '1-l .y-' ai."tA,amn , -j .i . ,.,,,. u .... be had finished dinner. She vacuous air The rector. H W&l&ShM0W itMJ Mt hIni to kick his heels who was used to hum and HQ l1iK$! for ncarl-V an Uour ,U that to ha, in and out of the Pg5 Wl'Wgl ,Ai. ''W -" -"' ' V'&?$JS$S& drawing-room. He was not pulpit rose to the great MM$ lS4!ffi J'ZWwWr loug rce,,LB tlmt be was occasion of hie life and ex- TOU l$r$&i not belu treatcd w,t1' a pressed his heartfelt indig- HBfl lf ?JrSag Jw2B8Eti&& tyrtWyii:7- Proper regard to his social nation at the enormity of liKfl . fi-'lT' l91fy "' H WWs importance, and the feeling the conduct of his hearer MB J&T V'&kwV&wl&i grew in depth and intensity and his reputed wi'fe with K W' ' SISTOa 8 fr fofMW&s- iUl wheu tbc' door llhl a Uuency as agreeable as It WHBsSfPSWh 'W$ vtSf'Fi y f ' 'lMf ?'A&WM open be wus re,,dy to trcafc was surprising to himself. HBSsKM ' kl W'Wfk&k'U '$M M9$W$k- the UIatter wIth a vcry Antony Scarlet was greatly tKS&&Jf 'f W 4&WM t) 13, ff I & hiph hund imlm1' flustered, and lamelv asked WSfStrr&SSB ) , F fv -BW&J&SBS A iV J ifc'TMiW- Antony Scarlet came In, whether the outraged ladles tSSskfiM 'J ',TkM&M'W4 ' vi "l T TST?; weur,nP " llinuor ittciCt a were llkcl7 to have suffered WSJB'W ? & M WtW-f Hl&j$$$ bJeCt ,U ltS,clf ,,ard,y an much harm from having HffiMsKP"W W W &$?' YK S3r'S. HtfPiMrSPfr assurance of geuuine re-been re-been brought into contact B5SSL sd1' IP"5 CSS'ltf ,"feteWfefeftt sP"bHity Jmlged by the with Mrs, Bcnrlet The in- MM SMTWt: 1dU' fe'Al!r " ? :V 11 "II' vS standard of Pringle Hill. dUnant rector did not spare 93 xyy V '4.',rv4'i 0; TTv- V VlfiW $&$ smoking a large cigar, and him; he told him almost E ckSM rffc& Ar ' ffiMy ggfo? Vw-f lp-'raPSWi&' vi tlitnt one word of apol-word apol-word for word what Mrs wM, $& -f U5bv IW ' WStfsp&ftSS Ml"' BJ "llbo"t removing his Busby-Glalsher had said, WnMbtMm Jk -?'1 . i.rKffSC X m ' " ''mffifc3m 1,,I,,lN from hls I,ockets-what I,ockets-what other ladies had said! BRkE& "W -&0Z&W& V rVii3SrFSX J. i "aid Awfully: "Well, Mr. what he himself had said B&?P&I( "&vw faS&SX&W I Ptb m SKp flSSSS udge, how are you?" about the so-called Mr WSMWa JJ&Or T'TU vjF ! f0M ,V- j. 1 !? Wl&Al&A&c Thc" roctor ro &w Scarlet. Then he told Mr HK Jwli J$ I W Mi'kUMmWM b"8?,f fo hIfi ' 'ho.!. Scarlet with amazing elo- BlC&K JWX.' 4 $tS.vx J I R I PffeW'S not great height, aud said, quence his opinion of him. WSBmMdW fSm I IM 4 ' M IS fciJPWW with admirable dignity : "I Antony let the rector talk HBJKfeSSjcM JMtt j M IK mWWSWSm ba come to ask. Mr Scar-his Scar-his fill, without saying a fllBK$P mfc.M ?WSr I IwA l IPWfuWMt lct for an explanation of word more than was sulll- HSCKH'S M &Jp l W'SSi 'M 'if &m&i'. vour extraordinary conduct cient to excite him to his IKII'W V m lft .V '3 Jf' Si MM' ,n a,,owl"B Irs- Busby-fullest Busby-fullest expression of the mBEffi&r ?jfcjr: 'rliuLsljy W .WX3fcW IjWhWjlM Glalsher and myself to la-freutlmonts la-freutlmonts of lacerated fBt Jtt&zWffiftti Wl&VJSS vSwT Xi'B ?5fSSHfe bor undor a '8take. If ln-Pringle ln-Pringle Hill. But as he BH jM &M& $Wkfc 'JtS Mi Will I 1 WKWIft deed we are laboring under left ho said, with hK fool- QB k3M'UltWFm OP&Stti ftJIF M TaWl&vMSI u ,ui3tuke as t0 -vour Iur ish lisp: "Haven't jou KSH RtZM $& ' t&Jfil W Sir , tH JsV,tmS& lage with Mrs. Scarlet A large private meanth, Mr Bltti M$ ' F5&B&i J L Jfu&$$; lJiJS l lMlffiS'WJs"' word from you would have Gudge?" mmm Ism'mvL $y&i7Mil5i Kv ASsSv)' sct tbo ,uatter r,Bht at "Yes, sir. T have, thank HD IMM& & SStaWW. V M Wl Mriii CW onPe But you chose delib- goodness. And It enables MRS MM&WMv- $ Wm$ffi ?'f flMfflkVSte CratC,y t0 pUt US ln n fll,8e me to say what I think IffiP vSmA?S M,OV.iW MM mWSMm T lml I)os,tlon: and 1 ,uust d- wlthout fear or favor," said MBSM JJ&ffllr-&J$& VfWM 'ZlI hMM SlfiSSSrwh' Mfi T maud an ei)lauatIon." the rector; and he swelled KjI WtWMI"' rTOB'T Mm ti J&Srafo t;V TOtW. "And wbv shouldn't you, with pleasure at his happv WRWlffl&vfvWgffiVj WM'JJ WflfSHCT 3& " CT' k fl6?a iMr UuU;t ' ' Wb-V s"ouldirt way of putting it MmMmmmSma MW m'dMMiMWWSi you? hald Aiilony-hoart- "To Mithuh Buthby- Kmf$l&Wif Mfflm MhKm'MmB.i I,y w,th a benmlnP 8m,le- Glalther? How very nith" Hil'IWrK g MM$ MWWM 'W$$ ? JIfeWl nl.pescd by Ills en-wld en-wld Antony Scarlet, with Hi$W;fu WKr-'' kv t? K,,8,"s manner' lh(? m?lor an idiotic simper" W&'Wj .iwA ' &fffiffljMffl lMfSfiMP & VMS said sternly: "And what is , The rector had not long MmPM lwl ,W SAiSfe " f Wl?SS your explanation of this-been this-been gone when young Mrs. WilMf H$$fcf" Mr -' FMM0fflMW ffiaiBBaW &&L ' y& i i&fW 1,a -hum levity?" Crewe came round In great HKM 'Sl W1 : M i W VM'Ci W 14 "()b "'hen you came to distress. Antony saw her, KgPE:&t U W&$ : ' WslM Si MffilMMyfewSra " H' the blackguardly since Mrs Scarlet was lyl WwfHt Wfe4fl 1 BKSMSMfS yP" a.ncl MrS Bu-by-ing down with a headache; Ml1 KVvSvi &$ tr SfttffeSS Ff KR saiJiaS Glalsher Invented and and she told him that Mrs IBoSPiiVfflSo' r'W'RWi' MBifl? Hi ' rmSrIS:S3as-1 bpread about my wife, It Busby-Glalsher had called KAfeT IMKE) 'I &MffiffiMI $ WWffiiMmigr did not occur to me to say on her with two other ladles SSft?-l'Wv rTSffiv' BBSfMSw )R7 fflJfei'W1 anything until I could say whom she described with g$Kj& Ww TiBMPiff 5 ?!tWScSS U ,a tho ,,roper w,,y tome felicity as old cats ISfflwfeMliffS ? fj L'frfeJvr through her solicitor. I had told h,.r that he and 'BUA: KSFtfifa nMfflW&ffl Jkl mhW&JWmM thought he had served tho his wife were not married. Wff? iH1f- MwM&fflkD lP?BS&WS If wrIt on yoH by nmv'" sa,d and assured her that If shp MW&ndi&Q TaI'TW h mSft&W&'H S WsmMIWM Will 8 Antony cheerily, continued to associate with WWuml 9M WMfWdMW MM HI ,,nBnanlly lie! Sollo Mrs. Scarlet no one would rlKk5 SOTgl lBI&1&Ww ,tor' Wrlt ' What do you nMoclute with her Antony M?c1 SfejS. SoSSS t US m''' MVWWWInmiei lup'ln'"" sasprd the rector, bliowed a good deal of In- fisSSMl SW?1 "Lies about a woman's terest about their exact &5$j WtiY SWESsinBH H Hf VVMWflfff? eharac ter aro generally con-words; con-words; but, since he did Bffa uS' 3 llWraPlifflH ! rars KlV&M&tfNf ? V B U sidered blackguardly; and not deny the charge, she P&MI ,- W BHTOWfflH'SI :Hl,a mv wlft''s solicitor has n-enme n-enme away believing St to WW f$Wt 'WwMnW$fflfM M - yMSuhyd tructlons to commence ache ac-he true, and as much dis- &W7 M$rW) mfilWfflK&nmr' tlonS fnr slandcr Klat tressed as uhen she came WLJ JlM$MIuS 'M X WiMM, ' MVt&f.&J&Ji&CrA -VouandMrs. Busby-Gla-For a few days the af- hzTTr ll&JiJl W'- Kl7 shier" said Antony, with a fair developed slowly La- zSKPSF' h W&'xM&t MMWlSWTlTnTTffl charming smile dies of more uncompromls- fflffimm Suddenly the rector re-ing re-ing propriety were balked fytfmfflWM a,lz that , this Antony of their fervent desire to S$Wg$ ' St"arlp uas a very am out Mrs. Scarlet since she ;$$ ' cut young man from the did not appear in the $Wm v,,cuo,,s yUnK f' he lmd streets of Pringle IIUl vfe that for all his They prowled about for ;feF$:J easy and pleasant cheeri- hours In the engaging ef- $$ f1&$$ s bls c3 w dauS- lortbut In vain. The Sij00!f'U St 1 ous and he stuttered. publlc-'finlritctl P lyi, 0 u"t h SySIP nletl' it ! A woul frorn you Brother, refused to supply " -L5JGg5?igivr.i; -., 'rP 3ft Pfe: would havo stopped the the Scarlets with grorerles; matter at onco! You had and the other tradesmen ,r w"' '"' 'c ''oor in her face. on,v to speak, t-to show mo .sent in their bills and de- u your marriage certificate! iu.tmm ins ant paymont in an objure but fervent Kin1011 lmL thiS ,lr',Htk" nPl,u11 thev wp p m". eating outraged propriety. Antony Si-arlol paid the bills In person and In eash; the sight of gold oner haps Its chink, invariably loosed the radesm fs" 5XS!! !md h,e K;!iraotl ",at Mrs Busby-GIalS o? the rector, or both, had inspired the sending of each Then Mrs. Busby-Glalsher took nnolhcr step She sent a note to the Scarlets' servants i sk ng them to S t0 ,,er- TupIr muHk'r ba them go by al means. When they were .shown Into Mrs? Busby Olalsher's- drawing-room they found the rector wiU, -or; sll0 at 0DC0 08kfal tbQm fcerlwIJ1 J "ere bent on spoiling their chances of getting other Places by. remaining in a house where" the mas or and mistress were not married. The parlor maid at once very rudely, and with considerable het sal to her of little Importance Shp was used to Immunity Im-munity But It was a serious matter indeed If aim had offended a member of the class she had so long regarded from afar with Impassioned esteem, and In which sla.' had always felt that she wua born to shine could she but obtalp an entrance into It What If fche had mibscd such nu entrauceV However, she assured the girl, with diplomatic firmness, firm-ness, that she believed her to be a shameless liar iu league with her Hhiiinclcsb master, and bado her go. the girl went, saying that sho would have the law on her. ( Mrs. Busby-Glalsher turned to thejrcelor and said: L,au wp have made a mistake?" i anMt.uVninnbliml)e vcr-v awkward If we have," said the rector. "I hope we have. do. indeed," paid Mrs. Busbv-Smjio Busbv-Smjio nn '" tbI"k C 1,avlUK " baronet's nIece at it a entirely your own fault "I shouldn't dream of taking the trouble to contradict con-tradict a miserable lie of that kind: and much less should I dream of showing my marriage certificate to any foul-minded meddler who chooses to ask for JU" "Do you allude to me as a foul-minded meddler, sir?" roared tho rector. "Cortaluly, my dear rector, certainly," said Antony. An-tony. And he added, with a genial laugh: "I think that the jury will take an pvcu stronger view of the matter." The rector'K mouth was dry and his face was pale as he said; "Do I understand that you propose to wash your dirty linen In public In u court of jus-licoi" jus-licoi" "Your dirty liuon, rector; yours and Mrs. Busby-GlalnherV Busby-GlalnherV tald Antony, peaceably. "It was entirely your own fault sir! -Entirely! The sight of your marriage certificate would have stopped ( H it at once! Any jury will soe it!" H "1'ou spread tbc lie before you made any attempt H to ascertain the truth. But there, we'll leave It to IH the jury. And now I won't keep yoo. Don't please. M think me Impatient t but Mrs. Scarlet will want the H room fumigated after you have been in it, before BH j M can use it again. Good evening." ' M "Fumigated? I was never so Insulted in my Intel" M roared the rector, as he went out, a limp and bro&ep ' M man. He had no heart for a noisy talk with Mrs. M Busby-Glasbler after the quietude of Mr. Antony M Scarlet That good lady therefore spent an Impa- M tleut evening, deroured by her eagerness to be cott- M versing sympathetically with tbc niece of a baronet. ' M Next morning she could have dealt with tbe slowness M with which tbtt hours were pacing ln really unhady- ' M like language. At eleven o'clock a gonttanan called i to see her who proved to bo a lawyer's clerk. With a M brisk hoartlncfis he presented her with a Iettl docu- M ment which he explained was tbo writ m an action for M slander brought against her by Mrn. Scarier, and that M the amount of damage claimed wns 5,000. M Mrs. Busby-Glaisher was at first exceedingly an- M noyed, since ahc was doubtful whether it was quite M good form to call on a lady who was bringing an fl action for slander against her. But presently rt oc- curred to her that she might very well make the writ I M an excuse for calling curlier than tho usual hoar, to M talk such a serious matter over at once, nHtlcabJy; M and she grew cheerful again. Then in came the M limp aud broken rector, bearing in his hand a Blmllar jH writ which the brisk and hearty lawyer's clerk bad jH just served on him. M Mrs. Busby-Glalsher treated the matter of the writs M with a light, contemptuous cheerfulness. She assured M him that thoy were merely thc formal way of treating; fl the matter; that people of position like the Scarlets H did not air their grievances In the law courts. She M euded by saying: "It's just a matter for a little H friendly chat. T shall call on Mrs. Scarlet this after- jH noon and settle it We shall be all tbc better friends H for this little tiff; you'll w" H Tbe rector went away striving to share her con- M lldonce; but Mr. Antony Scarlet's eyes, quiet and i dangerous, kept rising before his mind. He felt that M he needed comfort comfort from his lawyer and M went to town. M When, outshining the rainbow In her magnificent H apparel, Mrs. Busby-Glalsher knocked at tbe Scarlets' H door, it was opened by the maid with whom she had M been so diplomatically firm the night before. M The maid said- "My mistress said that If you had ' H the brazen Impudence to call. I wasn't to let you into M the house. And the master has gone to town to H see his lawyer about my bringing an action against H you for calling me a Hbameleus liar." H "I don't want any Impudence from you, you Im- H pertinent slaTey! Show me Into the drawing-room M at once, and tell your mistress I Insist on seeing; her!" roared Mrs. Busby-Glalsher. M The maid shut the door ln her face, and left her IH planted on the steps. With her splendid firmness IH and In the very nick of time, Mrs. Busby-Glaisher l curbed a lit of apoplexy and went home. She drank a strpng brandy nud sodn, nud sat down to consider H other means of getting In touch with Mrs. Scarlet and becoming reconciled with her Suddenly it Hashed M upon her that Mrs. Scarlet might be serious ln her H action for slander. She took thc writ and the anony- H mous letter and went to town to her husband's H solicitor. ppj Mr. Horsham, an old friend of her husband', re- celved her with the nir of gloomy distaste she wrongly believed habitual to him. But as she told her story M and answered his searching questions, he gradually H grow cheerful; aud at the end he said: "A disgust- M lng business; a very disgusting business indeed. I mLH suppose you want me to try to get this lady to take tiLfl I pbs than 5,000. She will be a fool If sbe does; and H Blckerbteth !fc Crumptou are not the fools to let her." H "What! Me pay 5,000!" cried Mrs. Busby- IH Glalsher. ' IH "Certainly, you'll pay," said Mr. Horsham, almost ''llH with glee. "There Isn't a chance of your doing any- ,H thing 'H "Never! I'll tight the case through every court in H England!" M "Then It will cost you ten thousand,'' said Mr, nor- jJ sham, scarcely able to restrain his Joy at the dc- H tested lady's predicament 'ILLfl "Xonsense! I don't believe It! Engage tho best iLfl legal talent in England! At once!" cried his client H "Pardon me. This Is not the kind of business my .H firm would dream of touching. It would utterly flLI destroy our standing In the profession," said Mr. 'LLl Horslinm. iLLa He wns firm in this refusal; and the face of the H Mrs. Busby-Glaisher who lSft the ofllcc, screaming H vituperation, was a rich purple. She came home, H raging, to find a large gathering of the" ladies of Prln- H gle Hill In her drawing-room, and iu the middle of H them the pale and perspiring rector. Tho lawyer's H clerk had been Improving the shining hours by visit- H ing them, frightening them, and bullying evidence H out of them with his brisk heartiness. The rector jH 'had como in to tell her that his lawyer, too, had jH bidden him settle the case, and refused to defend It H The ladles, terrified by the lawyer's clerk, infuriated H most of thcpi by the thought Mint they had been H misled Into Insulting an innocent lady, and the nleco of n baronet at that, had been mercilessly leratlug him for n disgraceful scandal-mongpr. The raging Mrs. 'Busby-Glaisher turned the excited drawing-room ) H into thc scene of a battle royal; and when, after a H storm of recriminations, sho roared her revolting sub- jects out of the house, she sat down on the bofa to H realize that her domination or Pringle Hill was ijhat- H terSl for years, maybe beyond recovery. H A fortnight Inter, as Mr. Antony Scarlet (ook up H (he two checks for 5,000 which his wife had Just H indorsed, he said: ''I'm going to pay them into my H account, DoJlr. Your uncle suid that if ever 1 could H show him 10,000 of my own he'd raise your allow- H ancc from 500 to 1.500. Since, with thc interest jH from this, we shall have a couple of thousand a year, lH we will leave these pleasant Pringle shades and take jH a fiat In Mount Street among the people we know." "Oh, how nlcel" cried Mrs. Scarlet Then she i added, thoughtfully: "But I've been wondering who H sent that horrid anonymous letter which cnnblrd us 'H to punish these detestable people." H "Ah, I wonder," said Mr. Scarlet; nud bo smiled a queer amiie. H I.T-Sh --,-- -SiB |