Helena weekly herald. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1867-1900, 1886-03-04
CHAPTER ".


Left alone in the drawing room, Moody
looked at the unfastened envelope on the
table,
Considering the value of the inclosure,
might he feel justified in wetting the gum
and securing the envelope for safety's sake.
After thinking it over, Moody decided that
he was not justified in meddling with the let
ter On reflection, her ladyship might have
changes to make in it, or might have post
script to add to what she had already writ
ten. Apart, too, from these considerations,
was it reasonable to act as if Lady LydiardS
house was a hotel perpetually open to the in
trusion of strangers! Objects worth twice
five hundred pounds in the aggregate were
scattered about on the tables and In the un-
locked cabinets all round him. Moody with
drew, without further hesitation to order
the light restoratives prescribed for himself
by Mr.. Sweetsir. The Enclosed letter reposed
in its place on the table.
The footman who took the Curacao into
the picture gallery found Felix recumbent on
a sofa-to all appearance so completely alb
sorbed in the Hobbema that he was quite un-
able to look at anything else.
He took the Curacao mechanically, drained
the glass at draught and held it out to be
filled for the second time. :" Don't interrupt
me" he said, peevishly, catching the servant
in the act of staring at him. " Put down the
bottle and go." Forbidden to look at Mr..
Sweetsir, the mans eyes, as he left the gal
lery, turned wonderingly towards the famous
landscape And what did he see! He saw
one towering big cloud in the sky that
threatened rain, two withered, mahogany
colored trees sorely in want of rain, muddy
road greatly the worse for rain, and a vaga-
bond boy running home who was afraid of
the rain. That was the picture to the foot
mans eye. He took gloomy view of the
state of Mr.. Sweetsir's brains ON his return to
the servants hall. "a slate loose poor
devil!' That was the footman's report of the
brilliant Felix.
An interval of some minutes elapsed and
at last the silence in the picture gallery was
broken by voices penetrating into it from the
drawing room. Felix rose to a sitting posi-
tion on the sofa He had recognized the voice
of Alfred Hardyman saying, Don't disturb
Lady Lydiard, and the voice of Moody an
swering, 9 | will just knock at the door of
her ladyship's room, sir; you will find Mr..
Sweetsir in the picture gallery"
The curtains over the archway parted, and
disclosed the figure of a tall, lean man, with
a closely cropped head set a little stifiy on
his shoulders. The immovable gravity of
face and manner which every Englishman
seems to acquire who lives constantly in the
society of horses, was the gravity which this
gentleman displayed as he entered the pic
ture gallery. He was a finely made, sinewy
man, with clearly cut, regular features. If
he had not been affected with horses on the
brain, he would doubtless have been person
ally popular with the women As it was, the
serene and melancholy gloom Of the handsome
horse breeder daunted the daughters of Eve,
and they failed to make up their minds about
the exact value of him, socially considered.
Alfred Hardyman was, nevertheless, re-
markable man in his way. He had been Of
fered the customary alternatives submitted
to the younger sons of the nObility-the
church or the diplomatic service-and had
refused the one and the other II like
horses" he said, "and l mean to get my liv-
ing out of them Don't talk to me about my
position in the world. Talk to my eldest
brother, who gets the money and the title"
Starting in life with these sensible views, and
with small capital of five thousand pounds.
Hardyman took his own place in the sphere
that was fitted for him. At the period of
this narrative he was already rich man,
and one of the greatest authorities on horse
breeding in England. His prosperity made
no change in him. He was always the same
grave, quiet, Obstinately reSolute man, true
to the few friends whom he admitted to his
intimacy, and sincere to a fault in the ex-
preston of his feelings among persons whom
he distrusted or disliked. AS he entered the
picture gallery and paused for a moment
looking at Felix on the sofa, his large cold,
steady gray eyes rested on the little man
with an indifference that just verged on con-
tempt Felix, ON the other hand sprang to
his feet with alert politeness, and greeted his
friend with exuberant cordiality.
Dear old boyl This is so good of YOU"
he began 81 feel it; l do assure you l feel
itn
'You needn't trouble yourself to feel it."
was the quietly ungracious answer. Lady
Lydiard brings me here. l come to see the
house-and the dog" He looked round the
gallery in his gravely attentive way. 81
don't understand pictures" he remarked, re- :.
signedly 81 shall go back to the drawing
room"
After moments consideration Felix fol-
lowed him into the drawing room, with the
air of man who was determined not to be
repelled.
''Welln asked Hardyman. ''What is it?"
about that matter" Felix said, in
quiringly.
''What matter!"
''Oh, you know VIII next week do!n
''Next week cOn't do!"
Mr. Felix Sweetsir cast one look at his
friend. His friend was too intently occupied
with the decorations of the drawing room to
notice the look
''Will tomorrow dosh Felix resumed, after
an interval.
YES"
Sat what time."
Between twelve and one in the afternoon"
Between twelve and one in the afternoon"
Felix repeated He looked again at Hardy
man. and took his hat. ''Make my apologies
to my aunt" he said ''You must introduce
yourself to her ladyship. | can't wait here
anv longer He walked out of the room,
having deliberately returned the contempt
rous indifference of Hardyman by a similar
indifference on his own side at parting.
Left by himself, Hardyman took chair
and glanced at the door which led into the
boudoir. The steward had knocked at the
door, had disappeared through it. and had
not appeared again How much longer was
Lady Lydiards visitor to be left unnoticed
in Lady Lydiard's house,
As the question passed through his mind
the boudoir door opened For once in his life
him,