Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1885-11-18
WHAT WAS HER STORY
[All The Year Round.1
CHAPTER III.


[All The Year Round.l
CHAPTER TT
All good things come to an end, and sc
ct length did Mrs. Campion's dinner. II
| was never the custom at Kolokythla Lodge
for the men to linger long over their wine
With the departure of the hostess disinte-
too Indifferent to their host and too sus-
picious of each other to thoroughly fra
ternize. Tonight Linburn made the move
earlier than usual.
| On reaching the drawing-room they receiv-
ed Smiling welcome from the three mar
ried ladies. The governess and her pupils
had retired for the night. Linburn flung
| himself on sofa beside Mrs. CampiOn, and,
resting his flushed face on his hands, pre-
pared to study her at his leisure.
| Mrs. Webster sat down to the piano and
began to sing an absurd little song about a
damsel perched upon an lmpossIbly high
stile IN some north countree." Schonbein
stood by her side eurnlng over the leaves
Mrs. Hlghbury Banks delivered an amusing
harangue on the unwlillngness OF the pre-
sent generation to perpetrate matrlmony.-
No one made the least pretense OF Listening
to the music and Mrs. Webster did not ex-
pect it. She sang to please herself and her
cavalier, and left off or began again as 1t
suited her.
| To Linburn the remainder OF the evening
passed rapidly. 1t seemed to him that con-
versation with Mrs. Camplon was only just
beginning 10 attain dellghtIul point OF
personal interest when some one, going to
window drew back the curtains and dis
covered white world. During dinner the
snow had been falling, and now roof and
path and road were coverd IN q thin, white
mantle. A light wind had cleared away
the clouds, the sky was prlgnt win stars.
while the moon, rising between the frosted
branches OF An elmtrce opposite, shone in on
the disordered room aud mixed her silver
light wit ID the garishness OF lamp and candle.
The guests all came over TO the window
and expressed their admiration or surprise.
AS they stood there the slow notes OF
a distant bell rang out II.
''The wind must be in the east" said
Campion; "that's Big Ben.'"
| Then there was talk OF departure, and
Mrs. Hlghbury Banks was the first to go,
taking Schonoein with her in her brongham.
She much regretted that she had not q
third place to offer Kerr, for, although he
had done absolutely nothing to ingratiate
himself with her, she, too, was smitten
with his ''masculine beauty"
| Kerr said Goodnight, and Linburn, after
an interval, followed him contentedly
enough down into the hall. That interval
had comprised tender passage with Mrs.
| Campion in the conservatory, where they
had fingered moment to admire the view.
He had only pressed her hand, and she
but touched with pointed fingers the gar
denia in his coat; still, this had given him
an emotion and he was perfectly salts
fed.
Linburn was as much the prey of "emo-
ton" as are some other men of gout or of
dyspepsia. The blotcbiest Japan fan
would send rush OF sentiment across his
soul which obliged him to sit down-at
least so he said.
In the hall he found Campion and Web
with his coat.
'How are you going ?" said the host
81 don't think YOU'LL find cab up this
way, but you are sure to III the High street
If you don't mind walking through the
lane. L can let you out at the back,
you KNOW.
| Ihey followed MIN into the dining room,
and he, unboltlng the wlndow-shutters, pre-
ceded them down light OF stone steps into
narrow garden. He unlocked little door,
and they all stopped into the lane together
| Here 1t was not unpleasant walking, for
the ground was dry and hard. The wind,
which mad blown away the threatened
snow storm, had also blown the fallen
snow from the path and swept 1t IN loose
drifts against the pallngs.
| "Well, good night. said Camplon, ad-
dressing himself TO kerr, and ignoring Lin
burn ar much as possible. straight along,
you know. You can't mistake it, and
advise you to walk fast, for it's deuced
cold:
II wish saw some chance OF getting
nome, com mplained Webster in thick, rich
tones, winch suggested tnat be might, per
haps, md some physical difficulty in the
feat, "out my wife has retired to talk con
hdences with Mrs. Camplon in her bed
room, ana the Lord only knows when
they IL finish. Don't let Mrs. Ranks per-
suade you into matrmony. You are thou
sand times better off as you are"
Then they said goodnight" again, and
the last thing the young men heard was
Camplon's voice proposing drink OF some
thing hot and Webster's CHEEKY acquies
cence.
FOR some moments Llnburn walked
along, immersed In his own pleasant
thoughts. He did not feel cold; but, on
the contrary, lifted his bat to let the wind
ow IN upon his long hair. He laughed
softly as he repeated to himself some of his
speeches to Mrs. Campion which he thought
particularly good. Then it suddenly struck
him that Kerr was very silent, and then he
remembered that he had been SO all the
evening. The annoyance Linburn had felt
during dinner returned, he spoke with some
vexation
81 do think, Julius that for my sake you
might have paid Mrs Campion little more
attention, although you yourself might
have found n study of her profitable. Her
| character is very complex he sighed
'and counted on your ASST tance in un-
-ravelling it But f1atter myself l have
this evening obtained the clue"
He fingered his moustache pensively and
was lest IN retrospection until Kerr's con-
duct again occurred to him, and he said
SHARPLY +:
Nv hat is the matter with you? l can't
make you out Tonight. Mrs. Webster
must have nlce opinion OF You. l think