The record-union., 1891-03-15
OH PTER JV

as to partly turn his back to her, and
direct his conversation to Lady Dora.
CHAPTER ".
Miss Tarrant noticed D'Herbelot's in
difference, and it seemed to pique her.
At dinner / was great deal surprised by
some of the questions which he asked
her.
miss Tarrant, do you never eat cooked
meat?"
1 had noticed that she ate no meat at
the table.
She raised her eyes with startled Won
der, for moment, to his face.
NO." she answered calmly, II never
eat meat"
"Of no kind?" he queried.
looked at him in wonder. A change
was in his powerful face, the muscles
twitched convulsively, his eyes rested
with perplexed expression upon her
face, her hair and upon the strong,
shapely hand toying with the wine glass,
she sitting, meanwhile, as if quite uncon-
scious of his scrutiny.
Again he asked:
did you never try the taste of raw
beef or flesh of any kind?'
This time she raised her eyes and re-
garded him through half-closed lids.
could see the anger hidden therein-a
iurid, yellow coal Of fire.
Why do you ask such questions?
Have [ not just told you I never eat
meat?'
Never tasted it?n he persisted.
A swift change seemed to fit, for an in
stant, through the yellow eyes. It struck
me as an expression OF fear or cunning, l
knew not which. He, too, noticed it, for
q triumphant smile turned the corners of
his lips for second. A quick glance of
unmistakable fear darted swiftly from the
eyes as she slowly drank her wine to the
last drop. Then setting the glass down
empty said, quietly:
sYes, 1 have tasted certain kinds of
meat.'
"Ah!' He bent eagerly across the ta-
BILE and looked boldly into her face.
This time there was fear, absolute ter
ror, pictured upon her countenance, and
the hand clasping the stem of the wine
glass shook violently. But noticing our
puzzled faces this woman, who possessed
superhuman self-possession, laughed
lightly, gayly, holding her glass to be re-
filled; and then, with her eyelids almost
closed, looked at him with seeming
challenge.
I am satisfied that whatever this man
knew or limited at, she understood it
thoroughly.
''Yes, at times" she said, 81 eat meat
at certain times.''
''Ah!'' he said, drawing deep breath,
81 thought SOL knew SOP
Her manner changed from naughty
dcmeanor to the verge of reckless hilar
ity. Passing the glass Of wine to her lips
she bowed to him smilingly, "a votrc
0ante.''
He drank gravely. Again she raised
the glass. He drank as before.
Lady Dora here gave the signal to with
draw, and the ladies arose from the table,
leaving Sir Lional and ourselves to finish
the wine and walnuts, our host barely
concealing his eagerness to join the ladies
in the drawing room, where he seated
her radiant beauty, even when the retire
ment for the night took place, resigning
his seat reluctantly.
'.Well,'' said l, entering D'Herbelot's S
room before seeking my own apartments,
what do you think of Glandour Court?
and what do you think of her?'
''Glandour Court is magnificent, but
not more so than dozen other estates
which have seen. AS for her there I am
puzzled, for have seen nothing like her
in my life BEFORE"
Her beauty is bewildering. Is it not?n
"BeautyI' he echoed. II saw no beauty
in Miss Tarrant, for / know that is whom
you mean. To my mind, Lady Dora far
surpasses her in looks and Manners
Oh, her manners are nothing to brag
about" l said, remembering her beha-
yior at dinner; ''but her beauty, beyond a
doubt, is without q flaw. 1t discounts
anything have ever seen or ever hope
TO see."
"Ah," he answered, sighing, "I see you
are as badly infatuated as our unfortunate
host. Sir Lional."
''Sir Lionalt' I gasped.
"Yes,'' continued D'Herbelot, smiling,
''Sir Lional Glandour who cannot exist
out of his chere 0nlie's sight"
l arose to my feet in indignation.
Sir, am gentleman, and as such
against my oldest and dearest friend, and
while I am enjoying the hospitality of
his roof"
D'Herbelot regarded me contemptu-
ously, pityingly.
''Rossiter, are you so blind that you
cannot see an inch before your nose? and
what is the secret malady which is slowly
but surely killing Lady Dora?'
what under heaven do you meanf'
Simply this: Sir Lional Glandour,
your precious friend, and considered a
man of honor-a prince of good fellows,
no doubts harboring a mistress under
the same roof with his pure wife and in
nocent child. Yes" excitedly, .'for this
woman, half animal, he forsakes that
pale, sweet lady, whose heart is breaking
beneath its burden of shame and dishonor.
That thing beautiful! She is hideous, dia-
boiical, in my eyes, for 1 see her without
the glamour of magnetism with which
she has so successfully surrounded you,
lnat you. foolish boy. see her, exactly as
she desires you should. This woman pos
seSses a git, the gift of magnetism, SO IN
tense that it was all 1 could do to prevent
her from overpowering me with her will,
wnlch, Tor an instant-for the first time
IN my nfe-came near overmastering me;
put, by strength of will power, L let her
know was her master; ah, and forced
some truths from: her, too. I saw her as
she really is-a large well-formed wo-
man, a white hairy skin, plentifully
sprinkled, with large, brown moles, her
lips red, blood-loving lips, and sharp,
cruel, beast-hke teeth; the eyes of a chez,
tah Her hands with long claw-looking
nails. For secret in your ear. Rossiter.
she is more than half ANIMAL,
L looked at him, a fear taking possession
Of me. This man, learned beyond his
fellows, was undoubtedly going mad.
What a pity, and what a loss to science.
You need not be afraid: am far from
mad. On the contrary, never was saner
in my life."
/ started; he is wizard reading my
very thoughts.
He smiled cynically and continued:
"Yes, surprise you. / read You like