Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1886-09-13

would not disturb them upstairs.
3We shall not hear it, but it would
be very nice if we did" said Lady DarneL
Then all went away, and Dora had the
spacious drawing room all to herself lt
was frightened by glowing fire OF coal
and logs and by the light OF lamps under
colored shades, and it was beautified by
masses of dollhouse bloom in great ma
jolica jars of blue, and yellow and dull
Indian red 1t was in all respects as de-
ightful room as the heart Of woman
could desire; and yet its spaciousness gave
an idea of desolation and abandonment
when only one person was left in occupa-
ton.
Dora began a rondo of Beethoyen's but
she played hstlessly, without fire, without
expression, and before she had played
three pages her fingers were lying idle ON
the keys as the player sunk In q deep
reverie.
She was reused from her thoughtful alb
straction by sound on the terrace out
side-a sound that seemed like the tread
of feet upon the gravel She ran to one OF
the windows and lifted the edge OF the
blind, and looked out into the darkness,
with her face close against the glass. The
night was pitchy dark. She could see
nothing.
Then she opened the easement and lis
tened intentiy for some minutes, but there
was no recurrence of the sound which had
startled her.
Still she was not satisfied. She rang
for servant and told him to go out upon
the terrace and see if there was any one
lurking about.
II certainly heard footsteps" she said,
about ten minutes ago"
The footman had family incredulous
air, though he was too well bred to ex-
press his unbelief. He went into the hall,
slowly and laboriously withdrew the bolts
of the great door, slrolled out upon the
terrace, and walked about three
yards in each direction. The night
was so dark that regiment might
have been in ambush at either end Of
the terrace. and the footman would have
been none the wiser. He came back to
the drawing room and assured Miss OAR
nell that there was not mortal on the
terrace or in the Italian garden; and then
he went back to the servants hall and en-
larged upon Miss Darnels fidgety, prying
ways and love of late hours, while he fin
lshed his supper.
u suppose she'll keep me hanging about
till half after II before can take those
lamps away" he grumbled.
1t was nearly II, and Sir Allan had not
yet gone to bed. He had taken off his
coat and put on a loose velvet jacket, and
was smoking a cigarette in his wife's
morning-room. He always enjoyed being
alone with her, always had something
particular to say to her, some scheme or
arrangement to discuss He never knew
WEAKNESS in her society, and even to-
night, tired as he was, he was 10th to go to
bed without the customary talk. Since
yesterday his mind had been full of the
Italian trip.
"And you are glad to go away with me9"
he said.
Every, very glad More glad than can
say"
"In that case you ought not to have
waited for the doctors orders. Directly
you felt yearning for change of scene you
ought to have told me to take you away"
II could not be so selfish, Allan, know
ing how fond you are of Darnel."
Il am fond of no place in which you are
not happy"
81 have been very happy herewith
you"
ayes, you have been-at first, perhaps.
You were happy here, and so was I-com-
pletely happy in the beginning of new
life. But you have not been happy lately,
Clare. There has been something weigh
ing on your mind; and l have shrewd
suspicion that it is the polar atmosphere
of Darnel that has been freezing my dar-
lings tender heart"
"Oh, Allan, how can you think me SO
weak? What other society can want
when have your"
But Sir Allan had made up his mind on
the subject.
"Women are sensitive upon small mat
ters," he said. "Never mind, my dear, we
shall be far away from the people who
have sighted you, next week, beside the
blue waters of the Mediterranean. The
money is ready there in that cabinet-e4OO
in circular notes, and we can have plenty
more when that is spent. Our Italian tour
will be like second honeymoon, and it
shall be a long honeymoon"
He opened the cabinet while he was talk
ing, and pulled out drawer inside 1t
was an old Italian cabinet in ebony and
ivory, full of curious little drawers and
recesses, From one of the drawers Sir
Allan took out the bundle of bank-notes,
and looked at them, and fingered them
like child with new toy, longing to be
off and away, scattering those notes at
hotels and in the smart little shops of gay
Continental watering-places He meant
this journey with his second wife to be one
of delight for them both-for her the de-
light of strange places and lovely scenery;
for him the rapture of seeing her happi-
ness. He had written to an old clubhouse
chum to secure a good courier Lady
Darnel would take her maid, and he his
faithful old valet. Grace was young
enough to shift for herself.
He put the notes back into the open
drawer, and took the revolvers from one of
the recesses. They were packed in e. neat
little Russia-leather case. He opened it
and took out the pistols and descanted upon
their beauty.
"They are the prettiest things I have
seen for an age" he said.
Il hope you may have no occasion to use
them. Allan" answered his wife, averting
her eyes with look of fear.
"You don't like to see them in my hand,n
al have horror of all firearms"
"My dearest, forgot" he cried, putting
the revolver which he had been examining
back into its case.