Helena weekly herald. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1867-1900, 1886-03-11


early as eleven o'clock, if you will allow me-
Later in the day must be off to France tc
attend a sale of horses. Glad to have beer
of any use to your ladyship, am sure. Good
mcTning"
Lady Lydiard let him go, wisely resigning
any further attempt to establish an un er'
standing between her visitor and herself.
He is either person of very limited in
telligence when he is away from his stables, y
she thought, cor he deliberately declines to
take plain hint when it is given to him.
can't drop his acquaintance, on Tommie's ac-
count The only other alternative is to keep
Isabel out of his way My good little girl
shall not drift into false position while
am living to look after her. When Mr..
Hardyman calls tomorrow she shall be out
on an errand When he calls on his return
she shall be up stairs with headache. And
if he tries it again she shall be away at my
house in the country. If he makes any re-
marks on her absence-well, he will find that
l can be Just as dull of understanding as he
is when the occasion calls for it. D."
Having arrived at this satisfactory solution
of the difficulty, Lady Lydiard became con-
scious of an irresistible impulse to summon
Isabel to her presence and caress her. In the
nature of warm-bearted woman this was
only the inevitable reaction which followed
the subsidence of anxiety about the girl, after
her own resolution had set that anxiety at
rest She threw open the door and made one
of her sudden appearances IN the boudolr.
Even in the fervent outpOuring of her affec-
ton there was still the inherent abruptness
of manner which so strongly marked Lady
Lydiard's character in all the relations of
life
'Did l give you kiss this morning" she
asked, when Isabel rose to receive her.
YES my lady," said the girl, with her
charming smile
Come then, and give me kiss in return.
Do you love me! Very well, then, treat me
like your mother Never mind my lady
this time Give me good hug"
Something in those homely words, or some
thing perhaps in the look that accompanied
them, touched sympathes in Isabel which
seldom showed themselves on the surface
Her smiling lips trembled, the bright tears
rose in her eyes. ''You are too good to me-"
she murmured, with her head on Lady
Lydiards bosom. How can | ever love you
enough in return"
Lady Lydiard patted the pretty head that
rested on her with such filial tenderness.
There! there!" she said go back and
play with Tommie, my dear We may be as
fond of each other as we like, but we mustn't
cry. God bless you! Go away!--go away"
She turned aside quickly; her own eyes
were moistening, and it was part of her
character to be reluctant to let Isabel see it.
"Why have | made a fool of myself" she
wondered, as she approached the drawing
room door. 1T doesn't matter, am all the
better for it. Odd, that Mr.. Hardyman
should have made me feel fonder of Isabel
than everr
With these reflections she re-entered the
drawing room, and suddenly checked herself
with a start. Good heavens!" she ex-
claimed irritably. ''how you frightened me!
Why was not told you were herep
Having left the drawing room in state of
solitude, Lady Lydiard, on her return, found
herself suddenly confronted with gentle
man mysteriously planted on the hearthrug
in her absence The new visitor may be
rightly described as a gray man. He had
gray hair eyebrows ami whiskers; he wore
gray coat, waistcoat and trousers, and
gray gloves. For the rest his appearance
was eminently suggestive of wealth and re-
spectabilty, and in this case appearances
VI
was no other than Lady Lydiard's legal adj
wiser, Mr.. Troy.
Il regret, my lady, that should have been
so unfortunate as to startle you," he said,
with certain underlying embarrassment in
his manner. Il had the honor of sending word
by Mr.. Moody that would call at this hour
on some matters of business connected with
your ladyship's house property. Ipresumed
IL E,,I 1,.,,~
your pleasure"
Thus far Lady Lydiard had listened to her
legal adviser, fixing her eyes on his face in
her usually frank, Straightforward way.
She now stopped him in the middle of a SEN
tence, with a change of expression on her
own face which was undisguisedly change
to alarm.
Don't apologize, Mr.. Troy" she said 81
am to blame for forgetting your app point
ment, and for not keeping my nerves under
proper control" She paused for moment,
and took a seat before she said her next
words MAY ask" she resumed, ''if there
is something unpleasant in the business that
brings you here!"
Nothing whatever, my lady; mere for
malities, which can wait till tomorrow or
next day, if you wish it"
Lady Lydiard's fingers drummed impa-
tiently on the table. You have known NE
long enough, Mr.. Troy, to know that cannot
endure suspense. You haze something un-
pleasant to tel me-"
The lawyer respectfully demonstrated.
"Really, Lady Lydiard-"he began.
"It won't do, Mr. Troy. know how you
look at me on ordinary occasions, and see
how you look at me now. You are a very
clever lawyer; but, happily for the interests
that l commit to your charge, you are also a
thoroughly honest man. After twenty years
experience of you, you can't deceive me.
You bring me bad news. Speak at once, sir,
and speak plainly"
Mr.. Troy yielded, inch by inch, as it were.
81 bring news which, / fear, may annoy
your ladyship." He paused, and advanced
another inch. at is news which l only be-
came acquainted with myself on entering
this house. He waited again. and made
another advance. II happened to meet your
ladyship's steward, Mr.. Moody, in the
ball.
"Where is he." Lady Lydiard interposed,
angrly. Il can make him speak out, and
WILL Send him here instantly"
The lawyer made a last effort to hold of
the coming disclosure little longer. "Mr.
Moody will be here directly" he said. Mr..
Moody requested me to prepare your lady
stip-"
"Will you ring the bell, Mr.. Troy, or must
IL"
Moody had evidently been waiting outside
while the lawyer spoke for him. He saved
MIR Troy the trouble of ringing the bell bv
presenting himself in the draw -, r''r
Lady Lydiard's eyes searched hi fac aS he
approached Her bright compl axiDn Ia l,i
suddenly Not word more passed her lips
She looked and waited.
In silence on his side, Moody laid an open