Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1882-01-26
CHAPTR ",


fore be completed his visit TO Ryelands.
The houses were 30 close TO each other
that it was only pleasant walk for him
across the fields Of morning; and Mark
Breton thought il but natural that Per-
eival should have great deal TO say TO
his cousin, and considered il very good
natured of the young man TO give up his
days shooting 30 often on Sibyfs account.
The house was still full OF guests. 1t
was not often that Mr.. Breton and Cap
tain Lansing met, except when others
were present; but sometimes Sibyl walked
towards Ryelands and turned back with
him through the fields, and sometimes
when she had successfully disposed oil
her lady visitors for an hour, she played
10 him in her sitting-room with the lat
ticed rose e-embowered windows, or let her
hands fall idly into her lap as she turned
round upon the music stool and listened
while he talked. And day by day it SEEM
ed that the Squire's beautiful young wife
grew Trailer and sadder her brown eyes
brighter, her WEAKNESS of life more and
more insupportable. People saw it. and
wondered for awhile, and then, observing
the increasing intimacy between the cous-
ins began to talk.
It was about this time that Amaranth
Carruthers wrote to Sibyl-cordially and
cheerfully enough-asking whether she
could take her in for a day or two,her hus-
band having been sent abroad on some dip
lomatic mission and she herself left quite
alone in Chester Square.
Mrs. Breton answered this note with
out any appeal to her husband, express
ing some cool regret that the house was
quite full, and hope that Mrs. Carruth-
ers would not permit herself to feel too
anxious during the absence Of her hus-
band.
A few days later Percival received an
invitation from great house in the North
"a most exclusive one--which must have
been obtained for him, and not without
difficulty, by the Countess He did not
tell Sibyl of this; but the invitation was
declined, Captain Lansing explaining that
he was engaged for the week specified, to
his cousin, Mrs. Breton, of Wyndicote.-
A command to show himself at the Castle
followed hard upon this refusal, a COM
mand which Percival ventured to disobey,
advancing the same plea as before to the
terrible old head of the family.
But it seemed that the Countess was not
to be put off with excuses like other peo-
pie; for she arrived one evening at Wyn-
dicote quite unexpectedly and demanded
weeks hospitality of the young Squire
in person. Something was wrong, she ex-
planned, with the heating apparatus at the
Castle. At her age she could not endure
cold halls and galleries; she had been
about to take herself off to Brighton until
the workmen were got rid of, when it oc-
CURED to her that perhaps Sibyl would
Just take her and her maid in.
Mark received her ladyship with a
good-natured fuss, during which Mrs.
Breton stood watching the scene with a
cold and inscrutable smile.
II only hope the Countess may not find
Wyndicote even chillier than the Castle"
she said, then, slightly bending her fair
head, and walking away to consult with
her housekeeper.
By dint of finding q temporary shelter
for half dozen men at Ryelands-Sir John
Bertram's cosy bachelors ballroom was
made for the Countess and her suite, and
the veteran manager prepared to make
her own observations.
Sand how is Percival Lansing, my dear
sibyl2" she asked briskly on the second
evening of her visit, up to which time she
had seen nothing Of her grandson. II
supposed that you saw him here every
day, as Ryelands is so close"
"Very close" assented Mrs. Breton,
with the same inscrutable smile which her
pale lips had worn on the night of the
Countess's arrival.
ais he as good-looking as everY"
"Your ladyship will doubtless have an
opportunity of Judging for yourself on
that point, as well as on any others that
may interest you"
Sbyl was standing on the hearth-rug-
the gentleman had not yet come into the
drawing the Countess sat
enthroned in an easy-chair. She was
holding brilliant Japanese fan between
her down dropped hands, and was look
ing with certain cruel amusement from
under her eyelashes at the grim old figure
opposite in its velvet and old laces and
sparkling rings.
II want him to come to me, You know,
for few weeks,' continued the old wo-
man in conciliating way.
$50 he has told me-" Mrs. Breton
smiled again. at is very good of your
ladyship to come and fetch him.
"Fetch him2 Nonsense childw The
sallow old cheek began to burn under its
touch of rouge. "Does that mean that I
am not welcome in my granddaughter's
houseY If am in the way, it is not yet
too late to spend the week at Brighton"
II should say Brighton would be very
pleasant just now," Mrs. Breton answered
with Indifference, as she walked away,
dragging her long white gown wearily af-
ter her.
Captain Lansing did not appear in Mrs.
Bretton's drawing room that night, nor
perhaps it might he by accident-did he
come to Wyndicote at all during the Coun-
tess's stay.
II have had most delightful visit
really" cried the head of the family, when
the day arrived for her departure. "You
have one of the best husbands in the
world, my dear Sibyl, and nice little
girl. You are certainly very lucky
young woman"
"Your ladyship has forgotten to men
tion the house and the carriages and dia-
monds with my other good luck"
"Well, they are not to be despised, child"
the old lady was obstinately gracious