Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-12-04
CHAPTER XIX.
he had got hurt
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9th inside Of deadlier sort.
The trouble is at an end now, however,
least for awhile. The guests have come
have gone, and not single hitch was ther
In the entertainment OF them. Rhoda ha'
put forth all her strength, and had indeed
earned her wages
The dinners were unexceptionable, th,
breakfasts beyond reproach, the Iuncheon'
dream! She had no trouble, so far q
Peter was concerned. To the call she hac
made upon him he had responded enthu
Iiastically, as though she was queen rather
than housekeeper
The other servants had followed his lead
and even cook-that most refractory of all
human things-had given way beneath
e Rhoda's administration and obeyed her t.
the letter.
Now, at all events, there will be q rest
for day or two. Only a day or two. She
had seen little of Drayton during the week,
but Peter had told her there would be two
whole days during which no fresh guests
would be expected, and she had drawn g
long breath of thankfulness when she heard
1t. Indeed, she needed little rest
During the week she she had seen Dray.
ton but once, and then only for five min
utes She took great care to keep herself
well out of the way of his guests, lest by
any chance one should be among then whom
she had known in the past She liked to
call it ''the past" She desired most earn
estly to feel that she had put all her life up
TO this, behind her. And though she had
found out from Peter the names of the
guests, and had not found among them one
she knew, still they might know her by
sight.
''More people know Tom Fool than Tom
Fool knows, she quoted to herself, with
rather unmirthtul smile, and as a fact she
was we'll known as one of the beauties of
the past two seasons.
The one time sne did see Drayton was in
the evening. Feeling a little tired, and
longing cOnquering her to get into the cool
mists OF the growing night, she had escaped
into her taVorite haunt, the orchard, for
walk up and down the pretty paths for half
an hour or SO. At one turn she had sud-
denly found herself face to face with Dray-
ton.
Something in his manner told her that he
was here in search OF her, and instantly she
took alarm. She fastened her footsteps
"What is it2!'' she asked, little breath
lessly. There is something wrong! Oh,
am sorry was out You wanted me, and
I"
''Yes, wanted you" said he. His tone
was perhaps little dreamy. But if so he
was unconscious of It, He was indeed un-
conscious Of everything except the beauty
of the face looking into his. Surely it was
paler than it used TO be. There is nothing
30 very much out of the way" said he.
Nothing" smiling, ''thst need concern
anyone over much-nothing certainly of
sufficient Importance to disturb your usual
evening walk"
Was there a question In that last remark?
mot unusualp' said she, little coldly.
"What is it you wish me to do?"
"a mere trife. L came here only To-"
He hesistated; if he had said "oniv to see
you" he would have told the bare truth,
but his soul as Yet was not so lar awake
rs to make this clear even to himself Hon
estly he believed he was there to add to the
comfort OF Sir Hickman.
''It was only to tell you that Sir Hick-
man likes his chocolate at seven instead of
eight" he said.
'Is that alp" Rhoda's face brightened.
She felt sense of relief Nothing very
wrong at all events No fault on her part
But why hadn't he told Peter about this?
It would have done just as well, and spared
him the trouble of coming all the way to
the garden to seek her.
To seek herl
The words seemed to beat upon her brain.
''To seek herP' A thought came to her,
and with this sudden, fearful thought that
stunned her, came one, too, of joy, delight
and gladness! Such joy, and such delight,
rs never yet had been given by heaven to
herl Oh, what can it all mean?
She knew that she had grown very white:
Ihe struggled with herself, and conquered,
and raised to his face pale, but very still.
'Is that alp" she said. 81 shall see
to it."
"Alli Too muchI'' said he, touched to
the very hearts core by that sudden paIlor
Of hers, that had been so much greater than
the pretty whiteness of her teee moment
or two ago.
"Slr Hickman shall have his chocolate"
she said. She smiled, though still her face
was white. I think if Sir Hickman had
known what agonized moments his chocolate
had cost her he would never have asked for
1t again as long as his life lasted. 'Is there
anything else?" she said. A heavy sigh
escaped her, Her face was raised to his
Was ever face so passing fair? There was
no speck or flaw in her, he told himself |
Her eyes-large, starry, deep gray eyes
with just touch of green in them; such |
sad, sad eyes, were questioning him. Such |
: yeSt C6a Dlue eyes.
Thine eyes are like the sea, my dear
The wandring waters, green and gray
Thine eyes are wonderful and clear.
And deep and deadly, e'en as they;
The spirit of the changeful sea
Informs thine eyes at night and noon.
She sways the tides, and the heart of thee
The mystic. sad, capricious moonI
The words of Mr. Lang's exquisite trans
ation came to him as he looked at her
Well All that occurred days ago It
les behind her now with all the rest. but
strangely enough she refuses to let il lie
he holds it still in her hand, as it were:
he dallies with it most dangerously. II
Gems that it is impossible to her to cast this
lew sweet fear into the dull limbo that
lolds her earlier life.
To-day has broken joyously; nature in
unning riot with its sweets. Such a lovely
morning. All sunlight and soft sad winds.
nd the memories of dews just dead. It is
ow close on noon, and here in the orchard
he glad wild songs of larks and lipnets
remble through the louder songs OF the
turdy thrushes, There is o oder rushing |
4 velvet air among the seemed bushes,