The record-union., 1891-03-01

: i
control, forced me to turn my head, and
as | expected she was standing straight
/ IL the middle OF the floor convulsed with
silent laughter.
CHAPTER III.
A few mornings following Lady Dora
asked me kindly if had the least objec-
ton to giving up my rooms in the east
wing, stating, as n reason, Miss Tarrant
had expressed an ardent desire TO ex-
change with me the west wing for the
east wing.
] told her ladyship 1 would gladly
make the exchange, for, indeed, l had
always felt a little tiInid III my rooms,
owing to the fact that there was an out
side stairway leading into the park.
Her ladysnip thanked me, and informed
me that Miss Tarrant woGitl like to occu-
py the rooms that same night. SO, with
Mrs. Dunlap's help and one of the maid S
assistance, packed together my posses
sions and prepared to vacate. The old
ayah had already commenced bringing
III some OF her mistress belongings,
amongst which was a large leopard skin.
This she proceeded 10 spread upon the
floor, telling me, III her broken English,
il was the skin OF pet leopard-sl beauti-
FIJI tame cheetah-which ears and years
ago belonged 70 Miss Infern's mother,
and which, strange to say, died the very
hour Miss Intern was born.
Why does she carry it about with
her?' l asked, curiously-
Ille old woman shook her turbancd
head.
when Miss Intern baby she no could
sleep without skin. Cry, cry all night /;
| by by ] bring skin; she laugh ha! ha.
! Bury her little face in the hair ard sleep
always nice since then. Now must have
it,"
/ saw very little of Miss Tarrant, as 1
now seldom joined the family, and then
only by Lady Doras earnest request
Sir Lional was Il thorough horsenan,
loving a horse as only an Englishman
can, and since his cousins arrival they
die, riding regularly TO hounds. Lady
/ Dora, who was OF an extremely nervous
disposition, seldom accompanied them.
Twas surprised one day to see Mrs. Dun
lap eagerly looking through the half
closed library door. Upon catching sight
OF me she fnotioned with her hand, at the
same time placing finger upon her lips
as ii to enjoin a silence.
! approached and saw nothing-or
nothing very startling as ! at first sup
posed-only Miss rarrant lying Hat, face
downward, upon a great animal skin
spread in front of the fireplace.
| looked inquiringly at Mrs. Dunlap.
watch" :" was all she said.
| did so, and SAW the girl take some
thing from her bosom and press ii de-
vouringly to her lips again and again,
whilst from her mouth came low, sensC-
Gus sounds. She rolled and laid partly
upon her side for an instant, then suC.-
denly springing to her feet walked with
long, gliding steps from the room.
The housekeeper, without the least hes
itancy entered, and bending over the rug
picked up q glove-evidcntly mans
and still retaining the shape Of long, sen-
der fingers. She held it towards me
''Iln know who's IL isp'i no -aI
shook my head.
''Sir Lional's,' she whispered. "Marll
my words, Miss Longnus, there will be
sad trouble at Glandour Court before
long. VIII you help me to keep our poor
young mistress in ignorance as long as
possible?"
What do you mean?'' l gasped.
''Just what / say. This woman is
charming Sir Lional away from his WIFE,
You are young, Miss Longnus, but ] am
an old woman, and have seen and heard
much OF the worid.''
''Oh! Dunlap? Surely she cannot be
so vile as that" l cried. surely you
must be mistaken"
'Mistaken? No, miss, not I: and for
why, pray, was she kissing the masters
glove and purring like a cat, the huzzy?"
However, in spite of Mrs. Dunlap's
suspicious, / could not credit such a
thing, and dismissed all such horrid
thoughts from my mind, believing them
to be simply an old woman's fancies.
Sir Lional had long promised little
Cyral a treat by taking him to London TO
see the animals in Regents Park. The
father proposed taking him, Miss Tarrant
and myself, Lady Dora, as usual prefer
| ring to remain at home.
The little fellow went into ecstacies over
the lion and tigers. In fact, every species
OF animals were represented.
At last we came TO the leopard'S cage
| Miss Intern, who was slightly in advance.
stood talking low and caressingly to the
largest of these animals-a huge beast of
| the hunting species. Nay, more than
that, she held her hand inside the cage.
The keeper hurried forward.
For Gods sake, madam, take care.
! These are the tiercest animals in the
park"
She laughed and shook her head.
''Tney will not harm me, see;'' and
placed her hand and arm far inside the
cage again.
The leopard came forward, and passing
| back and forth, pressed his spotted sides
against her hand, muttering at the same
! time a low noiSe-a sound of seeming
content
She slapped and stroked his neck, head
and back. The keeper, meanwhile, look
| ing Oh increduously.
| AS she laughingly raised her eyes for
! leopard, and my heart almost stood still,
| for her eyes and the animals were eX-
actly alille-the same shape, the same
| color.
| At that moment little boy, who had
| evidently escaped from his nurse or
parents, ran up TO the cage and seeing
| Miss Iarranfs hand inside the bars, inn
mediately thrust his tiny, chubby fist in
also. Instantly the leopard's huge teeth
met around the baby's wrist. The poor
child screamed III agony.
With wrench the savage brute pulled
the tender flesh from the hand, laying the
! bone quite bare.
The sight--inay / never witness such
another-made me deathly sick and faint.
Then followed horror and confusion
! The poor little fellow lay fainting upon
the ground. ! raised him gently in my
arms, the tears streaming from my eyes
at his sufferings.
/ Sir Lional, standing a few feet distant
conversing with friends, came hurriediy
| forward, fearing some evil had beiallen
| his own son. Then came the mother
almost crazed with grief, and pitiful i'll
| her woe and terror.
But she, Miss Tarrant. stood unmoved,
with even the semblance of Il smile, lurk-
ing upon her beautiful hard face.
The little fool" she nuttercd.
| | looked at her in horror, while the
! leopard, with his long, cruel. red tongue,
licked the blood from the floor and bars
of the cage,
Sir Lional very kindly offered me his
arm 10 the carriage, which /, being i'll and
faint, accepted gratefully.
But my nerves had undergone such 81
shock that for a week or more | found
myself confined to my bed.
CIr pUE,I, IV