Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1892-05-26
CHAPTER &.
MY LADY MouENs

Scarborough house was a tall, gaunt
stone mansion, with a certain massive
stateliness which impressed outsiders
with its solemn grandeur. It needed
not the stone grifins conchant on it's
broad steps to tell You that some great
family resided there, even if you were
net subdued by the dignif1ed bearing of
the hall-porter, or the splendid livery
and gigantic proportions OF the foot
men, who lounGc,l in it's broad door
way with a perpetual sheer on their
rcd faces for all who were not of blue
bkoOdcd descent.
For the most part the interior was, if
anything, more depressing yet aristo-
cratic than it's outside. for the rooms
were SO spacious that they resembled
more halls of assembly than the snug
apartments of an English home.
Bat there was one room, which was
IN eXception-a pretty, dainty apart
rnent, furnished with exquisite taste in
the most charming modern style. This
was my lady's bOudOir, devoted cspc-
cially to the mistress of the establish
rtent, and never entered under any pre-
text by any member of the family
without especial invitation.
Here one morning sat its fair owner,
q handsome, high-bred woman OF forty,
st;n in morning costume, though the
afternoon was waning. There was
4 flush of expectancy On her delicate
face and nervousness in her manner
which said, as plain as words, shat her
ladyship was ill-at-case, n mood which
her maid, who was in attendance, evil
IDENTIFY looked upon with no very agree
bic sentiments, for Lady Scarborough
had way of venting her discomfort on
her dependents.
Are ysr, sure, Annette, that you
told the groom of the chambers to an
nounce Mr.. COlburn as sooa as he
called?''
Quite sure, my lady"
And it is nearly four. and he is not
hero"
Just struck four, my lady, by the
clock CT the Horse-guards. think, per-
hcps-''
do not trouble to think. It is o bad
habit for q servant to have opinions,
ard disgusting to hear her express
them"
II am sure, my lady, t.
Will you hold your tongue, An
nette? Your chattering makes ny head
ache"
The girls lips parted, but no sound
came from them. She stood with
clasped hands, mute and motionless, as
much 4 slave ns Saxon hand-maiden.
who wore brazcn collar round her
neck with her owners name on il in
the days of the Heptarchy.
Now you are looking sullzy,gtrl, and
will
But what she would do to the unfor-
tunate maid, the world never knew, for
at that moment the groom of the cham
bers announced the attorneys arrival.
The frown cleared from the lady's
brow as the dapper little lawyer bowed
himself into the room, but there was q
tone OF reproach in her voice as she
badc him be seated
You are late, SIR" she said. In quiet
reproof.
For which accept my apology" he
replied, airily, not at all in the regret
full respect that family lawyer usual
y displays to distinguished client.
The laSly noticed this, and her hot
blood dyed her check.
1T seems to me-" she said, .sthat
your manner has changed of late. You
forget, sir, what you owe to me. Had
1t not been for me, remember you
would now be, as you were for years.
the servant, not the head of the firm
you represent
Quite true, my lady, but think /
have given Quid pro quo for your pat
ronage, and delightful as it would be to
my vanity to suppose that you were
simply instigated in your kind services
to reward merit, 1 cannot but think
that you have called upon me to re-
deem my obligations 1t was perhaps
for your own interests as we'll as mine
that you used your influence to pro-
mote my fortunes Your structures are