The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1889-12-28

walk in the early morning: so this will
suit me exactly, as ] shall be able to.
leave the house without disturbing any
one"
"Take care none of my servants mis-
take you for burglar" said l, laugh
ing.
80. they won't do that, he returned,
with smile.
So left him, and as he was very quiet
and taciturn, and his brain evidently
still extremely weak, Lucy and found
that his presence made very little diff
ference to us.
"Don't mind me-" he said, the next
day, 81 feel exhausted, and converse
ton tires me. But am not i'll, and you
will please me best and serve me most
if you will let me go my own way and
not concern yourselves about me-"
So we left him to follow his own de-
vices, and as he preferred to have his
meals in his own room we saw very lit
tie of him.
"It's too bad" Lucy said to me. ~
did think Mr.. Stormont would have
been an exciting element. l hoped we
should have the house crowded with
nurses and brain specialists, and that
perhaps he would have gone suddenly
mad, and you would have restrained him
in some heroic manner. Instead of
which he is as humdrum as possible. At
least, he might have gone little crazy"
swell, he may yet" said /. HE has
only been here week to-day"
That evening johnson demanded an
interview of me.
swell, Johnson?" said to this old
and faithful domestic.
''I'm not easy about Mr.. Stormont, Sir
Francis" said johnson, carefully look
ing over his shoulder, though he had as
carefully closed the door behind him
when he entered.
| ssWhat about Mr.. Stormont?" / in
quired.
Hes an uncommon queer gentleman,
Sir Francis" replied johnson. ''Sev-
eral nights I've found him wandering
about my pantry, and yesterday he
frightened Mrs. Rowe out of her wits by
coming in when she and me was holding
a confidential communication in the
housekeeper's room. Mrs. Rowe's heart
is weak, Sir Francis"
couldn't help smiling, for it was no
secret where the weakness in Mrs.
Rowe's heart tended.
"What explanation did Mr.. Stormont
offer?' l asked.
s'None, Sir Francis" said johnson.
HE put his hand to his head and looked
bewildered, and then went of. He's
been caught upstairs by the girls just
the same, and Jane met him at your
dressing-room door. And it makes il
worse because he walks so soft. We
amt none of us angry with the poor
gentleman, Sir Francis, but we think
he's stark mad, and we think there'll be
murder If he amt looked sharp after"
81 hope not, Johnson" said. "This
is just what Mr.. Arrowsmith prepared
| us for; his words were: He goes moon
ing about the place, and wandering int
rooms where he has no business cam
turn my brother-in-laws's friend out O
my house because he's odd"
81 hope nothing may come Of it, Sil
Francis" said johnson, solemnly.
II trust not" said /. 'Mr. Stormon
will 90 soon. Meantime, don't let an,
|; one brighten her ladyship. There il
nothing murderous in q tendency II
) poke into strange places"
Nevertheless, felt somewhat uneasy
and watched my guest narrowly. Blu
there was nothing in his demeanor Il
warrant my apprehensions, and pres
emily forgot Johnson's revelations, ant
ceased to lie awake at night listenin,
, for sudden shrieks.
i Stormont had been with us a fortnigh
when we went to ball at the Duke o
Bengal's. Lucy donned her diamonds
and thought she looked very beautiful
in them, and told her 30. l was jus
kissing her when we suddenly foun
that Stormont was in the room. Luc
blushed prettily At being caught in he
husband arms, and / daresay l grew hot
1--WE are going to ball, stammered
, 81 was just telling my wife her diamond
|. became her"
$50 1 heard" said Stormont. MAY
, look at your diamonds, Lady Dennis?"
II He approached and gazed admiringl
ct her necklace and earrings.
"Beautiful!" he said, several times
diamonds of the first water! kno
a something about diamonds; my gres
uncle was diamond merchant"
IF you were going with US, you woul
!, see far finer diamonds than mine," sal
3 Lucy. '"The duchess has diamonds tn;
: are absolute priceless, and such quaint
: ty! She has them sown on to her dres
: and two detectives always close to her
4 ~ wonder she dares walk about
) such precious things" observed Sto
mont. AT large parties it is impossib
to say what bad characters may not sli
l in"
"Well, as matter of fact, she doesn
II walk about" said Lucy. "A few yea