Wilmington daily commercial., 1872-06-19
CHAPTER III.

stuart breakfast cap, OF the sheerest white
Grape, which gave TO her costume the last
possible touch of refined elegance. "Why
did Providence ever see fit TO make such a
nyishing creature a widow" was Miss In
rlesby's thought as she watched the graceful
entrance of the stranger, and exchanged a
moderately affectionate greeting with her.
"Am late or early Z" asked the latter, in
her rich, sweet yOice--the voice of born
contralto. "You did not mention the break
fast hour last night, and am always lazy on
the least prOvocatiOn."
You are early as il chances" said Rose
watching her with unconscious envy, and al
most wishing herself a widow, that she
might be able to wear such an irresistible
coli. mamma is not down, and breakfast
is not ready"
And you are always so early2" asked
Mrs. lnglesby, glancing at a hat and veil
NEAR by, which had apparently just been laid
aside. .....
Not always, but l have been little un-
well this spring, and DIR. Rawdon advised
walk before breakfast, so l try It occasion
ally. There is very pleasant square near
us, and ii is always deserted early in the
morning. One might practise gymnastics
there with perfect impunity.'
Indeed! !" said Mrs. Inglesby, smiling, 81
am rather fond of a constitutional myself, 4"
she went on ''If you have no objection, /
think | will join you some morning."
''I-of course / shall be very glad" said
Rose-but she stammered, and, despite her
self, looked Enthusiastically dismayed.
This expression, quickly as it was Danish
ed, did not escape her sister-in.law. The
beautiful brown eyes gave one keen glance
which Rose did not soon forget, and then, as
a flush came over the delicate gueder rose
complexion of the girl, Mrs. Inglesby walked
to one of the low French windows which
overlooked a garden blooming with the royal
beauty of May.
What beautiful flowers you have!" she
said. 81 suppose the dew is gone by this
time, and we may venture out with impu-
nifty"
jackson, our gardener, Is so careful to
keep the walks clear of grass that you need
not fear any amount of dew" said Rose, fol-
lowing her, and unclosing the sash.
They walked down the garden-paths to-
gether but while Mrs. nglesby was de-
lighted with the dewy freshness and fragrance
OF every thing around, and while she stopped
continually TO admire or gather some tempt
Ing bud or half-blown blossom, Rose seemed
strangely indifferent to the winsome charm of
these bright darings of the spring. She
sauntered listlcssly along, and looked so often
in the direction of a house near by-a large,
IhllNlSOlllc nOuht,S tt III
od-fashioned garden, which was divided by
high wall from their own-that at last her
sister-in-law remarked the fact.
who is your next-door neighbor p she
asked. ''Being so near you ought to be so
cable.
I'VE have no next-door neighbour" an
swcred Rose, little shortly. THE house is
unoccupied.
Mrs, Inglesby stopped in the act of pull
ing Noisette bud, and looked at the house
in question. For an unoccupied dwelling it
certainly presented a strange appearance Just
thcn-blinds were open, windows were raised,
stir and movement were plainly visible with
in As she looked,a gentleman showed him
self at one of the open windows, and then
hastily vanished.
"lt your house is not occupied il must be
haunted" said She turning to Rose with a
smile.
But Rose was frcwning as she gazed in
the same direction, and her companion whom
nothing escaped, saw that one tiny foot was
beating nervously on the gravel path,
1.-The new owner must have come an
swered she, almost bitterly. "When | said
it was not occupied, l meant that the old man
who used to live there is dead, and that his
nephew, who inherits the place, had not ar.
rived.
so it has changed hands, said Mrs. In
glesby, looking with considerable interest al
the stately house over which the bright MAY
sunshine slanted as lovingly and gayly as II
no coffin had ever passed across the thresh
old. 81 think | should hate to leave such {
home What was the name of the old mar
OF whom you speak 2"
"lIe was an old wretch" said Rose, vim
dictively, 'and his name was Devereux."
More than this meagre information Mrs
lnglesby did not receive. As Rose uttered
the last word, there came through the opeI
windows the clear, ringing sound of the
breakfast bell, and the two ladies retracel
their steps to the house.
The day passed very quietly, and So like
wise, did the evening. But again no visitor
dropped in; and it really seemed as if tn,
curiosity of NorthOrpe was to be restrained
in simply heroic degree. This evening, how
ever, Rose showed unmistakable signs o
ennu. She strolled listlessly to and fro
haunted the neighborhood of the front win
dows, started whenever there was a step o.
the pavement near the door, and finally com
mitted the enormity of an undisguised yawn
Somewhat ashamed of this last achievement
She went to the piano but, in the midst o
her very first song there came sharp pei
of the door-bell that made her start and turf
4 moment later John passed through the ha
To answer the summons, and Mrs Henry In
SltSpY, VINO was listening, WIFI eAeulpldI
patience to her mother-in-laws placid streal
of small talk looked up with little intere'
IN the interruption. As she looked up, he
eye ehanced to fall on Rose, and somethin
i'll the girls face attracted her attention. 81
was listening eagerly-listening with LII
parted and color varying-to the sounds
the front door; to John fumbling an instaI
or two at the handle before turning 1t, and
yoice-a round, jovial voice-inquiring
Colonel lnglesby and the ladies were
home
The bright brown eyes that were watchlI
II saw swift flush of veXatiOn come ov
The listening face, and the lips meet only
be impatiently bitten. "POor child J" thong
The elder and more experienced woma
she y looking for some man who has II
come"
Somebody had come, however; for, !
sides the voice aforesaid, hat and sti
were audibly deposited in the hall, and
stout old gentleman in a wig, soon made
appearance at the open door.
lie was greeted cordially by the colonel
Brent, and was plainly an intimate frier
from his own greeting to Mrs. lnglesby a
Rose.
When he was presented to the you
stranger, he at once claimed the privilege
shaking hands, on the score of having DC
a lifelong friend of her husband and
lnsDands family.