Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-11-13
his heels, and therefore he cannot be Mr..

his heels, and therefore he cannot be ME-.
Drayton.
The stranger, whoever he is, passes quite
close to her; at all events sufficiently close
for her to see that he is tall man, we'll
set up, and that his hair is brown-dark
brown. It is impossible but that he must
have heard the sound of her chariot wheels,
but if so he has not cared to see to whom
they may belong, so that full view OF MS
face is denied her. Not that she feels much
interest in him in any way. He is not Mr.:
Drayton, evidently, and every thought OF
her heart is given to that old explorer just
at present.
No doubt this young man il friend OF
his stay ing with him at present What .
pity. She grows nervous again, and clasps
her hands together and leans back in the
fly, giving herself up prey to miserable
doubts Auntie had in a measure assured
her that Mr.. Drayton would have no guests
until August, the 10th or 11th. of August,
and she had told herself she would have
time between this and then to study his
household and get into the way of under
standing things and placing herself gener-
ally, But if he is beginning to entertain
already, why, it will be an ordeal, and she
dlsmissed-sent home in disgrace.
That word home! It braces her again and
strengthens her nerves. Home. Never
home again, whatever happens
And now another turn in the avenue, and
she finds herself at the hall door, and with
. heart that begins to beat wildly she gets
out of the stuffy fly and ascends the bread
flight of steps before her.
The door is open, and as she stands hesi-
tating her courage at the last failing her,
she has time to see the goodIy dimensions
of the spacious hall beyond.
Just as she is compelling herself to raise
her hand to ring the bell an elderly man,
evidently the butler, certainly not the foot
man, comes out of room, and seeing her
standing upon the threshold, pauses for a
second and then comes forward with little
old-iashioned bow.
sIs Mr.. Drayton at home?" she asks gem
tly, something in the old servitor's keen
but kindly face giving her strength
mo, ma am. Out. But it you will come
in 1 think can find him. He is just about
the place.
Pottering round the garden! thinks
Rhoda. Taking advantage of all the SUM-
shine to warm his old bones! The elderly
butler interests her. His tone is full of
reverence. He is evidently under the i'm
preston (and the knowledge comes to her
with mingled feelings Of comfort and fear)
tudI DIG 10 ucIc oS SuCot VI uasIci o.
What a handsome old man, with his grey
hair, and his bright dark eyes and his
courtly manner. Now, why had she never
been able to secure a butler like this? All!
No butler like this would have lived with
CASTOR q week. ''Other times, other man.
ners" And, of course, this old man and
his master had been boys together-the
former had been bred off the estate. There
were no such servants to be had now for
love or money; the last generation had de-
stroyed theml
A sense of honesty that Is more often
born in the old blood than the new, CON-
pels her to set herself and her position in
clear letters before this old man.
81 wish to see Mr.. Dravton on business, -
saws she, in calm, distinct tone. 'I have
come here to-day TOTO see if he would like
to have me as his housekeeper"
OF course, she ought to have said some
thing about whether she would suit him as
a housekeeper. That word "suit" came
back to her long after it had ceased to be
of any use to her--and She thought of it as
q word that should have been used. Her
own servants, and as rule she always en-
gagged the cook and the upper housemaid in
person, never failed to mention it, Yes,
she ought to have looked up the vocabulary
wanted for her purpose before starting on
her great emprise."
A look of amazement has gathered on the
old buffers lace. 1t is SO distinct (his
amazement) that she colors warmly
master will soon be in," says he slowly.
He is looking at her keenly, but yet there
is no smallest diminution OF respect in his
glance. With q pang of fear she knows
thai he has seen her through. He has in
deed lived long enough to recognize lady
under any conditions, and RhodS wonders
anxiously what will be the result of this
discovery on his part
But there is no result Peter Gin the
lower regions, Mr.. Mangold) never prizes
upon her in any way from first to last dur
ing her stay at Kingsiands, and from first
to last, too, he treats her with all the re-
spect he might pay to high and valued
guest, Dear old Peter!
master is sure to be In to luncheon.
Will you please to step this way, ma'am?''
She follows him as he leads her to a small
sitting room on the lett side OF the hall; q
pretty room with bay window, and pref
tily furnished, too, but with the air of iso-
lation that lies on most rooms Git the
smoking room and the "den" be excepted) }
IN most bachelor establishments. 1t takes
a woman 10 make place cosv. 1t must be
a really bad old bachelor who would deny
this.
Peter draws out chair, huge armchair,
and bowling her into it, moves toward the
door. On the threshold, however, he
pauses, hens and haws bit, examines the
lock OF the door, presumably to see il it
requires oiling, and finally springs q last
question on Rhoda.
'.Housekeeper did you say, ma amp"
eyes," says Rhoda, despair seizing hold
of her. Why should he be so surprised,
unless indeed housekeeper has already
been engaged? With her tongue cleaving
to the root of her mouth she asks him o
question In turn.
"Has-Mr. Drayton got housekeeper
yet?"
"Oh, no, ma'am; certainly not. I was
only thinking that" He breaks off con-
tusedly. "May I bring you glass of
sherry, ma amp"
mo, thank you'll" says Rhoda, the smile
with which she adorns the refusal so brill-
ant. because of the relief he has given her,
that the old man retires dazzled,
"a housekeeper-she! May them that
own her be forgiven" says he to himself,
piously, as he closes the door behind him.
His face is study as he marches off to his
own quarters.
"He is a picture" says Rhoda, leaning
back in the luxurious chair that is an abso-
lutte comfort after the racketting endured in
the old fly, 'one of the old school. Oh, ii
his master will prove even halt as nice. All!
he has seen through me. 1 telt that. 1
knew it. That class is never to
be hoodwinked. They are the most
conservative of all They cling to