The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1881-07-09
HER ENEMY.

had spent but one night beneath the
roof of Redwood. He had long faced
poverty with the bravest light-hearted.
ness, and now bore his unexpected hon
ors as one to the manor born-unexpect-
ed, because the distant cousin whom he
had succeeded was looked upon by all
his friends as q man sure to marry.
Handsome and fond of ladies' society. il
was still mystery to the world why Sir
Henry Staines never brought mistress
to Redwood.
The new baronet lay with his shapely
head well back among the silken cush-
ions, idly watching the smoke wreaths
of his cigar, and planning, like the keen
sportsman he was, the total discontinue
of certain rascally poachers whom his
agent complained of, when there came q
light tap at the door.
Come in,
There entered a very striking-looking
girl. Tall, very plainly dressed, but
with figure that Cleopatra in her youth
might have envied; with a classic head
around which the dark hair was arranged
as simply as possible; with heavy dashed
gray eyes that held a peculiar look of
smoldering fire.
"You sent for me?" she said briefly.
Geoffrey had instinctively risen and
tossed away his cigar.
I'll beg your pardon. Whom have
[ the honor TO-
"My name is Elinor Scott" slowly,
and breathing freer when she saw the
name was strange to him. Then she
added: 81 am your hOusemaid. 4"
Ho1 chn cod opo &C +l,o L
princesses it could not have surprised
him more.
"Good heavens! A servant-you?"
"Your. most humble servant" She
courtesied low-not In playfulness and
surely not in humility, more likely in
bitter mockery.
Godfrey took couple of turns in the
| room. His hOusekeeper had begged him
to rebuke n servant, and this was she
no wonder the good woman had found
her "'orty as duchess"
eff adversely has driven you to this,
he began, abruptly, "will you not allow
me to help you nay, listen only
to help you to a position more suitable
| for lady?"
"Permit me to be the Judge of what il
suitable. have chosen to enter youl
service, and so long as | do my duty il
it [ suppose you will not discharge me 2
Assuredly not; but"
"Then we will consider that settled
Now, Mrs. Grifiths told me you wished
to see me in the library; may 1 ask TO
what?"
cts of no consequence. Oh, well, i
you will have it. 1t seems my goot
housekeeper has arranged some kind 0
welcome for the new baronet-triumph
arches, tenants cheering. servants drawn
up in the hall, and all that and that yol
refused to take any part in it. -
81 lid"
"Quite right, too" hastily; "awfu
bore, that kind of thing Glad I ar
rived sooner than they expected and es
capped it all. But Mrs. Grifiths ha
taken it into her head that you entertain
some peculiar dislike for me"
No reply.
"All nonsense, of course: but the goot
woman is persuaded that you are my Sc
cret enemy"
"No, not secret y Elinor Scott brok
out. "Yes, 1 do dislike you. 1 an
your enemy, and am glad you know it.
"Why, [ never saw you III my life be
fore. You must be taking me for som,
one else"
The girl shook her head.
II cannot have given you any caus,
for this resentment" said Geofrey, ut
terly bewildered. "But if you fame,
you have any grievance against me, tel
me, and / will right it. )"
81 Will tell you nothing but that an
your enemy. am here to do you an in
jury. Now, if you like, you can turn
me away"
She looked at him as if she half hoped
to be taken at her word, but GeOffrey
Staines squared his broad shoulders anC
fairly smiled as he answered:
"Do you think / am afraid of you
l don't believe you are the kind to pu
arsenic in my coffee, aud really, l do no
see what harm you can do to me. Yor
are welcome to remain at Redwood al
long as you please"
This was evidently not exactly to hel
liking, for she frowned, hesitated, anC
finally left the room IN naughty silence
1t is needless to say that, during the
I days which followed, the mind of hel
master was very much occupied Will
! Elinor Scott. To have a handsome
( MISUNDERSTANDING girl tell you in one
breath that she Is your housemaid, and
before you have recovered from YOU
establishment In the next that she is YOU
enemy, without any cause, is enough t.
make any man wonder and speculate an(
puzzle himself IN vain.
He found that the library formed par
of the strange girls charge, and for
while he haunted the spot about the tim,
she was occupied there. But he was no
long proof against the look of ANNOYED
surprise that always met him. Her fac,
would darken when he entered. Sh
would accomplish her work as quick,
as possible, never addressing him, anl
only replying when he addressed her il
the briefest and coolest of monosyllables
SO Godfrey ceased to seek her society
and some weeks passed during which b
saw her but seldom.
One day, contrary to his habit, b
entered the library quite early in th
morning. On the threshold he stoppe,
In PANIED surprise. Her head was turn
ed away from him, but there was n
installing the graceful figure at his writ
ing-desk. Those white hands, bus
among his private papers, could belon
to but one person of his household.
$50" he exclaimed, "my fair enem