The Somerset reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1868-1909, 1889-01-31
SELECTED.
AN UNEXPECTED VISIT.

AN UNEXPECTED VISIT.
| 1t was with the air of man Profound
Indifferent to his own successes tina
Gerald Strickland, twitching his cuffs an,
scratching his arms, before letting hi
hands fall into his lap, sank back into tn
luxurious arm chair by his library fire
after throwing on the table the letter tina
announced his promotion to an enviabl
post in the civil service. As he though
of the post his advancement seemed Il
him no subject for congratulations, bu
only enc of those grim jests with which
fortune delights to mock disappointe,
men.
| An old man-servant, one of the sor
growing rare. entered the room with al
evening paper. He laid 1t at his master
side, and stood at respectful distan' e
waiting, Misunderstanding, with some anx
iety legible in his countenance,
"Well, Thomas2" asked Strickland.
81 beg your pardon, sir; but do you re
member what day it is to-day
| mo, Thou as.
Your wedding day, sir?"
Strickland's face clouded.
Il did not know, sir, whether yol
would wish for dinner the same way as
as you used to have"
| mo, Thomas; shall probably dine a
the club"
II ordered dinner as usual, sir, and ,
bouquet, In case"
Quite right Thomas, quite right.
For an instant the heart of the promot
ed official sank. rhe fidelity of his oil,
domestic was humilating, How h,
would once have resented the suggestion
that Thomas would remember this an
niversary better than himself! And tina
it should fall to the old servant to orde
| from the florist the bouquet Gerald him
self had been formerly 80 proud to brns
home, on this evening, to his wife! Blu
the slight sense of annoyance passed
away quickly. 1t was with absolute in
difference that, seeing the man-servan
still waiting, he asked:
Anything else, Thomas"
gone, "s- yoaS 5sIE adyy tealed." 4P9aarPRG y
were not at home, she said she would cal
again this evening about six. She wish
ed to see you on important business"
"IIer name?"
"She left none"
did you see her?
mo, sir
Did John say what she was like?'
Rather tall, sir; young lady, dark
and fashionably dressed"
"If she calls will see her. You may
go, Thomas
The servant left, and Strickland con.
tinued to himself. Tall, young, dark
well-dressed, business with me. Who car
she be-"
1.-The lady is here, sir, in the drawing
ROOM" said Thomas, returning to the
library, after about ten minutes.
Strickland went to the drawngroom
At the door he paused a moment
to steal look at his visitor. She
stood by one of the tables, idly turning
the leaves of photograph album. HeI
back was toward him, and he could dis
tinguish only the tall and graceful figure
of woman, well-dressed and wearing
expensive laces.
MADAM !" he said, advancing.
The lady turned. Strickland started a.
if he had received an electric shock. TIC
conceal, to the best of his ability, his sur
prise and the sudden pallor of his face, ht
made her profound bow.
Il hope am not inconveniencing you
she said at the same time returning hi
salute. Then, with quiet ease she Sc
lected chair and sat down.
mot In the least, am at your service,
said Strickland.
"As shall avail myself of your con
descensiOn, hope that was not merely q
compliment"
MAY ask you how | can oblige your
The lady stroked the soft fur of her
mutf, and once or twice lifted her search
Ing eyes to his face. Apparently she was
hesitating to name the purpose of her
visit. Meanwhile, Strickland gratitled
his eyes with good look at her, lovely
fascinating still, as the first day he had
seen her. Only her pure profile had
gained more decision, and her eyes had 8
profounder meaning than when he last
looked into them, as those of woman
who had lived aud suffered.
At length she said
"Do you still correspond with my
father?"
"Yes. 1t Is, however, fortnight
since last wrote to him."
II received letter from him yesterday
He IL coming to town tomorrow"
This time Strickland mad no attemp
to conceal his surprise.
Tomorrow Your father who never
leaves home"
1.-The medical men order him to the
South coast, and he will on his way stop
in town to spend the night with"
She paused.
"His daughter" said Strickland.
HE says his son. And so we find
ourselves In pleasant embarrassment"
She leaned back, and with small hand
began drubbiny q waltz on the table al
her side.
'You call it pleasant" said Strickland.
81 did not come here to discuss words,
but to discover a plan of action"
II see none"
And you are politician, man of
genius! If those subtle arts, that have
been so successfully employed in your
own advancement, could be, without pre-
judice to you, this once employed to ex-
tricate me from
Excuse me, madam; but your re-
proaches are scarcely likely to assist me
to exercise my imagination"
Bah! Well. have plan. First l
do not wish, cost what 1t may, to let my
father know-the truth"
The unhappy truth
She made a little grimace, and pro-
ceeded; my father would be cruely
hurt, and the sins of the children ought
not to be visited upon their parents. My
remorse-I beg your pardon, that Is of
little consequence here"-she looked
aside TO warn him not to exposulate, and
continued: "Hitherto, thanks to our
precautions, the distance of my fathers
residence, and the seclusion in which he
prefers to live, he has been spared this
sorrow. Tomorrow our clever edifice
of dutiful falsehood falls to the ground,
and l. At least, am unable to conjecture
the consequence.
"And l."
"Mr. Strickland, 1t is absolutely nee
essary to prevent this scandal. trust
you will assist me, My father must find
rs together; and we must avoid every
thing that would serve to awaken sus.
picion."
She spoke sadly, a. well IS earnestly.
A shadow Of concern settled ON her hear