St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1891-08-09
LANDLORD AND TENANT.
A Story of Making Love Under a
Lease.
BY THE Duchess.

'But who are they, my dear Gerald?''
says Mrs. Grandcourt, a touch of irrita-
ton in her tone.
My dear mother, if we knew that, we
should know everything. Barker"-re-
ferring to the lawyers letter at his
elbow-''says they are quite respecta-
BILE; but, really, so far as | can see, his
only reason for advancing this rash
statement lies in the fact that Simpkins
told him 500
'And they?"
Are this young lady's lawyers. 1
presume"
"What don't like" says Mrs. Grand
court presently, lis the fact that they
are not mother and daughter. or any re-
lation at all to each other. Mr.. Barker
expressly says that. 1t sounds as if the
young-young person had a companion
who"
You mean you think the young per-
son is an actress" says Mr.. Grandcourt
indolently. "Well, the same thought
has suggested itself to me. But actresses
are not necessarily demoraiizing, and"
Eyes, 1 know. And that Dover hous'
has been such long time on hand
supplements his mother with a sigh
Money of late has not been plentiful
with the Grandcourts, and the old name,
the old property, so dear to the gentle,
fragile woman sitting at the head of her
sons table, seem likely to sink deeper
and deeper into the tide of debt and de-
preston, until finally the flood shall
rise and sweep over them, and drown
them altogether. Toe grand old name!
The name her dead husband had given
her! If Gerald would only marry some
one with rank and money, too.
True, thou wiSest of Women!" says
the young man, rising with slight
it. and gathering up his letters. 1.-The
Dover house must be let, and we are
not in a position to be too squeamish
about the tenants of it. Let your young
person have it by all means for the
three months she desires it. The season
is over; her engagement at an end, no
doubt. The duenna will accompany her.
The glare of the foolights will know her
no more until November. This is Au-
gust. isn't it?''
"Oh, my dear Gerald, what picture
you conjure up!" says poor Mrs. Grand
court. IAN actress-and here, almost
within ones gates"
Nonsense. motherP' STOPPING over
her and kissing her. whats Hecuba
to me, or / to Hecuba? We needn't
know her. She can have my house
my other house." laughing. my garden
and my trout stream, but she shan't
have meF'
Oh, ignorant young man!
The trout IRE shy to-day. or all too
moving, or have been at an alder
mans feast in troutland, because no
pretty speckled creature comes to the
call of the dainty fly that 'GrandcOurt
has cast to them many and many time
since early down. 1t is now 10 O'Clock,
and he. breakfastleSS, hot, ilI-tempered,
but filled with determination to do or
die, turns curve of the river and finds
himself
Face TO face with quiet young girl,
who looks back at him out of two starry
eyes that reflect astonishment, but no
bashfulness. She has been fishing, too,
evidently, and not so vnsuccessfully as
he; she is, indeed. just dropping
handsome trout of half pound or so
into her basket as GrandcOurt appears
upon the scene. She stands erect as he
approaches her with his rod in his hand
shoulder.
A little slow color creeps into her
cheeks as she gaZes at him. Such
sweet gaze, and such a sweet face to
give it, Is this slight, lovely girl his
tenant-the actress?
"This part of the river does belong to
me, doesn't it?' says she, in clear
tone. that is yet suggestive of doubt.
II am not treSpaSsing, am I?''
NO. fear it is l who am doing
that" says he, land 1 must apologize.
| am" raising his hat, speaking to
Miss Bland?"
YES" says she, after very percep-
tible hesaittion, and with quick blush.
"Hah-changes her name when she
leaves town." thinks Grandcourt to
himself. flights shy of the stage when
off the boards; poses as the orthodox
English maiden here" Yet he knows
he lies to himself as he thinks this.
Anything more unlike posing than the
attitude of this frank, unembarrassed
girl who is standing before him could
not be imagined.
''And you?" says size, Sam l speak
ing to my landlord" She smiles as she
asks this.
40 that fortunate person." returned
he, smiling too. She is so pretty that
he torgets good many things and lets
himself slide into quite friendly air
with her. Can it be possible she has
been here for three weeks? Three
weeks in near proximity to him, aud
never until now to meet her.
"You have been from home?'' says
she, suddenly. in gentle interrogative
manner; breaking in upon his SOliloquy.
No" says he rashly.
ooh! L thought you had been, because
because had not seen you fishing
anywhere OH this river until to-day"
Good heavens! had she supposed he
would call? Had she perhaps hop ed
through him to get introductiOns to the
ounty.
He is so distinctly embarrassed that
he gtzeS at him with some surprise.
And he, watching her. grows positive
that she has grasped his secret
meaning. What prlg she must
think him! Yet to call without
his mother would be an impertinence,
and to ask his mother to call upon an
actress of unknown anteeedentS would
he a greater impertinence still. Will
she be angry? Take it in bad part? To
his establishment, as the truth dawns
upon her. her lips widen, great CLEAN
SuUOlS tDGO llCI Olco. AlGGI OIl6 lOliS
struggle with herself she burst out
laughing! Laughing! A sense of injury,
of offense, brings quick flush to Mr.
Grandcourt's face. He froWns slightly.
Jove when he frowned shook the
heavens! But Miss Bland is so far I'M
impressed by Grandcourt's frown that
her laugh grows into lady-like, but
most decided little shout.
Job Run SO snrrN." says she pres