Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1880-12-23
gu Original Storg.
Written for the Yorkville Enquirer.
THE LADY OF LINTON.
BY WALTER MORGAN.
CHAPTER V.

to one another. Cyril bowed, blushlng' ano
sat down again, with strange confusion at
his heart. This woman, with her pale, statu'
esque face and regal air, was more beautiful
than any one he had ever seen. He could
not tell why her beauty should so affect him;
but he could not keep his eyes from her face.
They remained there as if drawn to it by a
fascination which he was unable to resist.
He had the better opportunity for watching
her, as, after the first glance that she bestowed
upon him in returning his greeting, she scarce
ly once looked toward him again. Indeed,
neither of the ladies noticed him for little
while; for tea being almost Immediately
brought in, Lady Hungerford devoted herself
to the task of making it, and Miriam stood
by and rendered some trihing assistance, talk
ing in low tone as she did so so that Cyril,
feigning to occupy himself with some engrav.
ings that were lying on a table, had full op-
portunity to study her features unobserved.
"Now, Mr.. Hope, we are ready for you,
cheerfully exclaimed Lady Hungerford, as
she drew forward chair to the coy little
tea.table. ut is one of my freaks to be with
out attendants at this meal" she continued,
while Cyril hastened to assist in placing the
chairs. "It's so much more comfortable not
to have the servants standing around, and
there's really nothing for them to do. Sit
here, please, just by me; you Can make your
self useful in passing the tea to Lady Hep
burn, and besides, can see whether you take
proper care of yourself or moi"
The tea passed off very nicely, though Cy-
ril, with that odd bewilderment of feeling
which had come over him, could not have told
whether he was eating cake or sandwich, and
the delicate Souchong in his exquisitely frail
sevres cup might have been the commonest
mixture, so entirely was its flavor thrown
away upon him. He did his best to talk,
however, and succeeded in making good
impression upon his hostess, who was already
predisposed in his favor, and who drew him
out to great advantage, which was faculty
she had. Miriam was the most silent of the
party, and Lady Hungerford rallied her once
on her distracted air.
"My dear, your are very unresponsive,"
she remarked. "Ir Hope and l are both
doing our best to entertain you with our bril-
liant conversation, and you don't show the
slightest appreciation Of our efforts"
II did not know you were exerting your
powers solely for my benefit replied Miriam,
with faint smile "At all events, | AIN not
unappreciative but YOU know, Lady Hun
gerford, l am poor company at all times. |
have not your conversational gift, and am
better listener than taker."
"And good listener makes good element
in all society but we don't want you to listen
all the time, you know. l brought you here
this evening to assist me IN convincing Mr..
Hope what charming place he has come to;
for charming people make charming place,
of course. l didn't want to bore him with
the presence of the whole parish, on his very
first visit shall do thai at grand dinner
some time in the next two weeks. Dinner
parties are stupid things; but it is ones duty
to give them nevertheless, and I have actually
not given one for six whole months fore.
warn you both, in advance, not to let any
thing interfere with your coming to this one"
Cyril bowed his thanks. Lady Hepburn
flushed slightly, and said in rather a low
tone
"You are very kind but you know, Lady
Hungerford, that never 60 to parties.
"But you certainly should, Lady Hepburn.
1t is not at all fitting that woman in your
position should exclude yourself from the
world, and remain shut up like prisoner in
that gloomy olfcastle of place that you
inhabit. Not that l mean any disparage-
ment of the place, for it would be simply
magnificent if thrown open and kept in prop
er style. But there are rooms upon rooms
that you never use do believe you keep
the doors locked, like Blue Boards secret
chamber, from one years end to another,
without even the satisfaction of looking into
them yourself! Some day think I'll come
there and explore have great deal of
curiosity in my composition. Who can tell
whether there may not be something mystic
rious hidden away from the light within those
big stone walls?"
A pallid smile quvered over Miriam's lips
but Cyril wondered to see that she grew sud-
denly deathly white, and strange, scared
look seemed to him to come for an instant
into her eyes. Only for an instant. So quick.
" afterward that he fancied he must have
only imagined her emotion. She rejoined, in
quite natural tone, and more cheerfully
than she had spoken yet
"You are quite welcome to crafty yourself
by exploring the Towers at your leisure,
Lady Hungerford; but I am afraid you
won't make any interesting discoveries to re-
ward you for your trouble"
"At any rate you'll come to my dinner
party? am not going to let you off from
that. Why, don't you know, if you did your
duty you'd be giving dinner parties yourself
1t would be only right and proper in you
The Hepburns have never been backward in
hospitality"
Cyril wondered at her venturing thus open
1v IN cavil Of ond criticisa tho oonduct Of her