The Jackson standard. [volume] (Jackson C.H., Ohio) 1847-1888, 1880-03-11

mouse. Unen walked on, WllSGllng, W1ln
cheerful speed, till he came to the lit
tie corner door, as it was called; but
he had scarcely got within, when he
checked himself abruptly. The moon
was shining full across the green ter
race and the empty beds of the flower
garden, streaming upon this little for
lorn angle and its big ugly urn. Full
in its light, softly crossing in front of
the big pedestal, her pretty figure re-
lieved against it. within half a dozen
PAGES Of him, coming towards him,
was the lady he had seen before. Her
dress was the same dead white. with
the black fichu, all frills and fringe,
tied behind broad hat. thrown back
a little from her face His heart gave
a great jump when he saw that in a
moment he must pass close, and that
she could not in any way conceal her.
self from him. He almost stopped
short, but she came on softly, without
embarrassment, without alarm. Ger
tainly she was like Maud: tender lit
tie pensive face. with soft, very large
eyes-which must be blue, Edmund
felt-a pensive half-smile about the
mouth. She was neither startled by
the sight of him, nor did she take q
single step out Of his way, but went
on at.the same composed pace. She
had almost passed him, when he be-
thought himself to pull off his hat.
This seemed to give her little move
ment of surprise She half turned her
head to look at him, and the half
smile on her delicate lips frightened a
little. It was too slight, too evanes-
cent, to be called pleasure: and yet it
was something like pleasure that light
ed up the gentle face. Then she
passed on, and in another moment had
gone out by the door. He had not
opened it for her, as politeness requir-
ed. He had been too much taken by
sTprise-bewildered by the sudden
appearance Even now he stood still.
dazed, not knowing whatato do, puz-
zled how to address a lady whom he
did not know. to intrude into an ac-
quaintance whether she wished it or
not, but yet feeling it impossible to
let her go like this. He stood-was it
for moment. or longer?-h hesitating,
wondering: then rushed after her,
meaning to say that she could not pos
sibly cross the park at this hour alone,
that she must permit him to accom-
pany her. In his haste he made a
dash at the door, threw it open, plung-
ed out into the wide white desert
where she had gone. The moon shone
full upon all the breadth of the park.
The ground was higher here, and there
was less mist; the pathway wound
along for hundred yards or so, fully
visible; but no one was there.
"Again!" he cried, speaking the word
aloud in his confusion and annoyance.
The bushes indeed clustered thick up
on the way to the keepers cottage.
Could this be a second niece, a daugh-
ter, another young woman living
there? He was so vexed, so disap-
pointed, so tantalized, that he did not
know what to do or say.
Has Ferney a daughter as well as
a niece?" he said to Maud, singing
her out again, her mother remarked,
from all the rest.
"a daughter? Oh, no; nobody but
Jane. They brought her up; but that
is all. Why do you take so much in
terest in the Ferneys, Edmund? You
have always known them, ever since
you first came here"
Then Edmund told his story. How
once more he had seen the strange
lady: how she had passed through the
door, and once more gone down the
keepers way; or, at least, so he sup
posed. Had she gone to the village he
must have seen her. This time Maud
became excited, too. She took her
mother into council. Mother. do
you know any one who has lately
come to the village, or to any of the
houses about? I should think she
must be crazy person. Edmund has
met her twice in the lime-tree walk,
in white dress -"
Edmund must have been dreaming"
Lady Beresford said.
Not any more than I am now. I
saw her quite plain tonight. There
is something in her air, generally, that
reminds me Of Maud. [ thought it
was Maud herself playing me trick
the first time [ saw her"
"And dressed in white. Such an
extraordinary thing!" said Maud.
"Who can it be?"
This incident of the dress moved the
ladies more than it did the man. He
had to explain to them exactly what
kind of a dress it was that she wore
Though | dare say he has not no
ton" said Lady Beresford 'Proba-
bly, it is only some light color. Men
never know -"
A slight look of uneasiness got into
her face. She listened as the dress
was described with reluctance, trying
to change the subject; but the others
were very much interested. "A dress
not like anything you ladies wear
now" Edmund said.
"A dress, | should say, very like
what the art people wear. 1t must be
some artistic person who has taken
lodgings in the village" said Mrs.
Cole, who was Lady Beresford's sister.
Depend upon it that is what she is,
an art-student, not rich, living in
some little rooms, studying the effects
of a winter landscape, or something Of
that sort Perhaps Ferney has let her
his parlor Hasn't he got parlor?
That is what this strange Vi itor must
be-"
This was not quite 50 Objectionable
to -Edmund's feelings as the other
guess, and the talk got quite animated
about his lady. Only Lady Beresford
did not quite like it. 'Please not to
say anything about her to Sir Robert" "
she said; ''he is not fond Of strangers
about" And she was visibly uneasy.