The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1890-03-12
The Haunted Chamber.
BY TIE DUCHESS"
-duthor Of "!toaica,' Mona Sculsy,"
Phyllis, &c, etc.
CHAPTER Ii.

-A,tthor Of "!foaica," Mona Scully,'
Phyllis, &C, etc.
CHATTER II.
Every dav and all Gay long there is
nothing but rehearsing. In every corner
two or more may be seen studying to-
EetAer the p&rts they have 20 play.
Florence D"iE!a:ne &l4nc refuses to re-
Ge;:rSe her :,..!'$ eNcep, II Iull company,
t&0Ugh IL. 5I%:'%.'i3 has made many
attempts t. induce her to favor him
with private reading OF those scenes
IN which he and she mast act together.
He had even appealed 10 Dora Talbot
to help him IN this matter, which she
is only too willing 10 do. as she is
secretly deSiTous o. fiaging the girl as
much in his way as POSSIBLE. Indeed
anything ti!,;5 would keep Florence out
OF Sir Adrian S sight would be welcome
TO her; 50 that she listens kindly to Ar
thar DEnecourt when he S0licitS her
assistance.
she evidently shuns me-" he says in
an aggrieveG tone to lser one evening,
sinking into the seat beside hers. Ex-
cept a devotion to her that is singular
y sincere, know Of nothing about me
that can be regarded By her as an Of
tS!sS. ASe ~ <.PPNtio " Liz IAas SUo
dislikes me-"
There an sure you are wrong" de-
claceS the widow, tapping his arm
lightly with fan. @She is hut a gill
She hardly Knows her own mind"
she seems to know it pretty well
when Adrian addresses her." he says,
with suile!t glance.
At this Mrs. Talbot can not repreSs a
start; she grows a little pale, and then
tries to hide her confusion by smile.
But the smile is forced, and Arthur
Dynecourt. watching her, reads her
heart as easily as if it were an open
book.
u don't suppose Adrian cares for
her" he gees on quietly. AT least
here he drops his eyes" I believe,
with a little judicious management, his
thoughts might have been easily divert
ed into another chau1e!."
@Yop think So" ASKS Mrs. Talbot
family, tritliEg Wit: her fan. Il can
not say have noticed that his atteR-
tions TO her i!avc been in any way par
tieular."
sNot as yot." agrees Dynecourt, study
ing her attentiyely; -and II | might ps
open with ycu," he adds, breaking Of
abruptly and assuming Ill air OF anS-
iety-~we might perhaps mutually help
each other"
Help each other?"
Dear Mrs. Talbot" says DynecourS
softly, has it never occurred to you
how safe a thing it woGld be for my
cousin Sir Adrian to marry q sensible
woman-a woman w20 understands
the world and It's waCS-a woman
young and beautiful certainly, but yet
conversant with the conUeaGnces OF So
ciety? Such woman would rescue Ad-
rian from the shoals and GuickSandS
that surround him in the form OF mer-
cenary friends and scheDiHS mothers.
Such a woman might sUre'y' be found.
Nav, T think i myself could put my
hand upon her, if l dared, at this mo-
ment."
Mrs. Talbot trembles slightly, and
bushes good deal, but says nothing.
sHe is my nearest Of kim" goes on
Dvnecourt, in the same low impaSSve
voice. Naturally I am interested N
him. and my interest on this point Is
surely without motive; as, were ne
never to marry. were he to leave no
heir, were he to die some sudden death"
here remarkable change overspreads
his features-~I should inherit all the
land you see around you, and the title
besides"
Mrs. Talbot is still silent. She mere
ly bows her head in assent.
Then, you see, mean Anoiy 70
ward him when I suggest that ne
should marry some one calculated. 20
sustain his rank in the world" col I'M
ued Dynecourt. AS have sald De-
fore, I know one who would fill the po-
sition charmingly, If she would delgn
to do So"
and who?" falters Dora Talbot ner-
vopsly.
MAY I say to whom I allude" he
murnurs. sNrs. Talbot, pardon me II
I have been impairment in thinking OF
you as that woman"
A little Pickering smile adorns Dora's
lips for a moment, then. suddenly re-
menbering that smiles Go not become
her. she relapses into her former calm.
You fatter me" she says sWeetly.
*" never istter," he responds, with
telling emphasis. @But, can see you
are not angry, and so I am emboldened
to say plainlT;-. I would gladly see you
, nv cousins wife. Is the idea not alto
gether abhor: ent 70 YOU"
NO. Oh, Eo."
1T is perhs ps-pardcn me if so too
far-even ag eeaDle to you:
~Nr. DyneIourt," says Mrs. Talbot,
suddenly gla&ciny at him and laying
her ieweled fingers on his arm, Il will
confess to vou that am tired Of being
alonedependent on myself, as it were
thrown on my own Judgment for the
answering Of every question that
arises. would gladly acknowledge q
superior head. I would have some one
help me now and then with a word OF
advice: in short, / would have hus-
band. And"-here she lays her. fan
against her lips and glances archly at
him confess too that like Sir Ad-
rian as-Hell-as well as any man
know"
aHe is very fortunate man"-grave-
". Il would he knew his happiness"
Not for worlds" says Mrs. Talbot,
with well-feiSned alarm. "You could
not even hint 20 him such thing as
as" She steps, confused.
It shall hint nothing-do nothing,
except what YOU wish. All, Mrs. Tai
bot"-with a heavy sigh-"you are su-
prenelv happyl I envy you! With your
fascinations and"- inSinuating.y-"a
word in season from me, l see no reason
why you should not claim as your own
the man whom you-Tell, let us say,
like; while L"
aIf can befrie2d yc,: IL any way
interrupts Dora quickly, command
me-"
She is indeed cutie dazzled by the
picture he has painted before her eyes.
Can it be-is it-possible, that Sir Ad-
nan may some day be hers: Apart
from his wealth, she regards him with
very tender reelingS, and OF late she
has been rendered at times absolutely
miserable by the thought that he had
fallen victim to the charms Of Flor
ence.