The morning call., 1891-10-31

| dear" Lady Mellsn replied. "You were
| so rude to Mrs. Mersley on the pier the
! o,her night" ,
| "Who was to know that plainly dressed
! little old woman was Generals lady
wasn't she entitled TO civility because
| she was old and gray?' retorted her iady-
| sh p who could be severe sometimes.
And Miss LanthrOp reveDged herself by
| sulkug for the remainder OF the day;
To see May preferred, and to be bluntly
| told she had brought it on herself. was too
mortifying. 1t even spoiled her nights
| rest
Some time after midnight she rose and
! walked her room till some evil spirit
| prompted her to enter an adjoining one.
| There hung Mays new dress, orouBht
| home A few hours earlier, and left for some
| trifing alteration Lady MelllSh's maid,
| Esther. had promised to attend to in the
| morning.
at the airy fabric of white silk tulle that
ought to have been hers, she said, and rot
that girls: and she hated May more than
ever for being so favored.
Presentation the evil spirit was still
lurking near-she set down the lamp, ana
pushed closer to the dressing table the chair
over which the skirt of therube was spread.
On this table had been left tlacon OF
camphorated oil Sir Paul had been using for
an affection of the throat. a trembling hand
drew it to the edge of the table aud over
oily gouts began to fall on the Silken front
of the charming costume OF which poor May
was then dreaming.
Alas! that envy and malice could go to
such lengths.
She would never be able to wear it now.
and Lady Meilish's frolicsome little dog
would be accused OF the mischief.
So said Vida to herself, and would nave
crept back to bed. but swiftly and firmly
strong hand grasped her by the back 0t the
neck and the wild cry of terror forced from
her was stlfled by douche OF water that
took her breath away.
Her unseen assaiant must have been
armed with large bath sponge, for again
and again the soft and soaking mass was
dashed in her face as she struggled valnly TO
escape. Nor was she released until she had
been hurried into her own chamber, where
| she dropped on the floor drenched breath
| less and exhausted.
VINO had done this? Who could have
| stolen upon her? Not Lady Mellish? 1t
| was not her fat, soft little fingers that had
| held Vida in the grip that rendered her
utterly helpless and unable to turn round
| upon her aNsailant.
| Could it be Sir Paul?
Frightened, mystified, Miss LanthrOp eX-
| changed her dripping night gear for dry
| garments and crept into bed TO lie, shlYer-
ing and shaking, till morning.
| After the day had fully dawned, she took
courage to peep cautiously into the adloin-
| ing room. There hung the ball dress, with
! out spot or soil on il. All traces OF her evil
handiwork had disappeared, with the flask
| OF oil. Could she have dreamed it?
No, for q pool Of water remained on the
| carpet, and Viola went back to bed to
| answer the summons to breakfast with an
assertion that she was not well enough to
| rise.
This brought Lady Mellish to her side,
and Vida trembled anew.
But her ladyship's expression OF kindly
| concern soon proved that she was In total
| ignorance of the events OF the night.
"Why, my dear, what is the matter? A
! headache? a cold? Are your ewes heavy,
that you do not open them? You look sadly
| flushed. So very sorry! Hope you are not
feverish. Shall we send for a doctor?
Where's my maid? On, here she comes.
Esther, poor dear Miss LanthroD Is so i'll,
| she cannot lift her head from tho pillow.
What can all her?"
Esther looked grave, said the yonng lady
was decidedly feverish, then expressed
hope that it was nothing infectious; limited
that there had just been case of fever not
far off, and didn't my lady think it would
be advisable, for the sake of Miss Western
and others, that Miss LanthrUp should be
removed before she got worse?
Yes, yes; l Will go home" exclaimed
Vida, eagerly, seiZing the chance Of escape.
Let me be sent home at once. | can be
well wrapped ~, and taken to the station
/
Hospitable Lady Mellish demurred, but
Vida insisted, and within an hour she was
on her way back to Surbton, shedding
tears OF rage aud modification, instead Of
remorSe.
shes gone, and joy 90 with her." said
Esther, in the hOusekeeper's room, for
she's bad one. She didn't think | saw her
wickedness last night, but l did. Id got
one Of my fts # toothache. and knew there
was no seep for me till it ease off; so l
went to the spare room to alter those folds
Of Miss Mays skirt; and | was at the wash
hand-stand-it's behind the door. as you
know--to vet my handkerchief. and tie it
round my face, when in comes miss on tip
toe l watched all her maneuvers, till l
saw what she was aiming at. On! the wick
edness Of 1t! Aud it made me SO angry
that | snatched up the sponge and gave her
fright and a buffeting that's driven her
cut Of the house. She didn't dare tell me,
even if she guessed who it was that did it,"
So Vida Lanthrop's visit ended in her dis
comfturp, and May is still at Brighton, for
Sir Paul and Lady Mellish have grown so
fond of their young guest that they have
a6o har bai do