The Owosso times., 1881-10-28
HER ENEMY.

on divan Of his library. So well suit
ed did he appear to his luxurious sur.
roundings, you would not believe he
had been Sir Geoffrey Staines, Bart,
only a week-had spent but one night
beneath the roof of Redwood. He had
long faced poverty with the brayest
light-heartedness, and now bore his un.
expected honors as one to the manor
born-unexpected, because the distant
cousin whom he had succeeded was
looked upon by all his friends as a man
sure to marry.
The new barOnet lay watching the
smoke wreaths of his cigar, when
there came light tap at the door.
Come in
There entered very striking-look-
ing girl. Tall, plainly dressed, but
with figure that Cleopatra in her
youth might have envied; with classic
head around which the dark hair was
arranged as simply as possible; with
heavy.lashed gray eyes that held a pc
culiar look of smouldering fire.
You sent for meY she said briefly.
Geoffrey had instinctively risen and
tossed away his cigar.
IL beg your pardon. Whom have
I the honor to-
. My name is ElinOr Scott slowly,
and breathing freer when she saw that
the name was strange to him. Then
she added, Il am your housemaid.'
Had she said she was one of the royal
princesses it could not have surprised
him more.
l Good heavens! A servant-you?'
Your most humble servant She
courtesied low-not in playfulness and
not in humility, more likely in bitter
mockery M ~
Geoffrey took a couple Of turns in
the room. His housekeeper had begged
him to rebuke a servant, and this was
shel No wonder the good woman had
found her 'orty as a duchess
If adversity has driven you to this
he began abruptly, will you not allow
me to help yoll-nay, listen-only to
help you to a position more suitable
for a ladyY g ~ @
Permit me to be the Judge Of what
Is suitable. l have chosen to enter
your service, and so long as 1 do my
duty in it, suppose you will not dis
charge me-.
'Assuredly not; but a
Then we will consider that settled
Mrs. Griffiths told me you wished to
see me in the library; may ask for
whatY
It's Of no consequence. Oh, we'll, if
you will have it, it seems my good
housekeeper has taken it into her head
that you entertain some peculiar dis
like for me-
No reply.
All nonsense, of course, but the
good woman is persuaded that you are
my secret enemy GEM b#W
NO, not secretl' Elinor Scott broke
out. Yes, I do dislike you. 1 an
your enemy, and am glad you know
why, never saw you in my life be
fore. You must be taking me for some
one else
The girl shook her head.
Il can not have given you any cause
for this resentment said Geoffrey
But if yen fancy you have any griev
ance against me. tell me, and 1 will
right it.
Il will tell you nothing, but that
am your enemy. I am here to do yol
an injury. Now, II you like, you car
turn me away
She looked at him as If she half hop
ed to be taken at her word, but Geof
frey Staines squared his broad shoulder
and fairly smiled, as he answered:
DO you think am afraid of you?
don't believe you are that kind to pu
arsenic in my coffee, and really, / d,
not see what harm you can do to me
You are welcome to oremain at Redwoo'
as long as you please
This was evidently not to her liking
for she frowned, hesitated, and finall,
left the room In naughty silence.
1t is needless to say that during tn
days which followed the mind of he
master was very much occupied wit
Elinor Scott. To have handsom
aristocratic looking girl tell you in on
breath that she is your housemaid, an
before you have recovered from you
astonishment, in the next, that she
your enemy, without any cause, !
enough to make any man puzzle him
] self.