Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1892-03-03
LOVE FOR A DAY.
CHAPTER XIII-CoNr1NuED.

the drOWSy, musical mum OF the DceS as
1.-The bee betrothed to the broom"
The birds were silent; there was but q
faint murnlur of the wind; the house was
strangely still Many of the servants had
gone to the Abbey to he in attendance. l
could hear quite plainly the rush of the
river in the distance, ana the tapping OF OF
twice l .ancied that heard a most unusual
sound-whether it was a laugh. q scream, or
q moan, could not tell. for it was gone
almost as soon as heard. went down to the
library in search OF something that need
ed for my writing. On the grand staircase
met Lady Severnes maid, Martha Clyde,
and felt sure that she had the key Of q
bedroom door in her hand. She was taking
some soup, thought upstairs. for she was
carrying covered basin. Martha had al
ways grim smile for me. was enc of her
favorites. stopped impulsively.
How is Lady Severne this morning" |
asked All the smile died in moment. A
hard, cold impenetrable look came into
the honest face. Il am sorry she is i'll,
continued.
''She is not"-''ill " the woman was going
10 say, | am sure; but she checked herself
and substituted well"
Il nm sorry" l said; ',lor knew she
wanted to see St. Ninian's What is it
cold or headache?"
II must make haste" replied Martha,
ignoring my question; cher ladyship is
waiting" and She brushed past me with far
less ceremony than usual. "GOOd-mOrnlng,
Miss she added hastily, as though she
knew she had been abrupt.
An hour atterward l had finished my
writing and begun to pack the parcels OF
clothes that Lady 1orkc had wished me to
Send away.
My rooms were in the part of the house
called the Queens wing" Lady Yorkes
suite of apartments was in the centre OF the
building; while the rooms set apart for the
guests were in the western tower. Some OF
the clothes l wanted were in one OF the
wardrobes in spare ROOM Crossing the
tower, was struck by the unusual silence.
There was no sound of visitors or servants,
but profound stllness-no hurry OF loot
steps, no voices. =,
went to the cedar-room, opened the
wardrobe. found what l required, and was
on the point OF reclosing it. when | heard
a sound that almost troze the blood in my
veins.
Was it cry, a shrek? l could not tell
only that it was llnearthly in its horror.
knew by the sound that it must have come
from Lady Severnes room
Half frantic with Tear, the next minute l
was rapping at her door.
wv nat ~ the llhllcl, Lduy
cried "Are you ill? Are you hurt?"
There was a moment of deadly silence.
turned the handle OF the door, and found
that it was securely locked
who is there?" Martha Clyde called
out.
1T is miss Chester. What is the mat
ter, replied.
.'Nothing," was the curt reply
"But Marcia, l heard Lady Severne
SCREEN. am sure she is ILL., DO let me in.
The next moment Martha had half-open-
ed the door and saw her face; it was white
and angry-yes and alarmed.
"Miss Chester" she said-and the effort
to speak calmly was great one-'do not
try to come in You will only make things
worse Believe me, there is nothing the
matter. Lady Severne is often hysterical.
She is not ill; hut she would be annoyed II
she knew you were here"
l went away; but retained my own be
lief that the scream heard was not hyster-
cal. wondered if Marks vile could be
mad: but l was not aware that people could
be mad one day and sane the next.
found that Lady Severne did not leave
her room that day; nor did she join the
dinner party. Lady Yorke apoIoglzed for
her, saying that she had taken cold through
being out on the terrace on the previous
evening, but that she hoped she would be
better on the morrow. saw Marks face
twitch and his lips CULVER. but he spoke no
word. There was murmur OF regret: TOR
several of the gentlemen present there could
be no attraction that evening.
When the visitors retired. | remained to
give Lady Yorke report OF all that she
left for ME to arrange, and then told her
of the unearthly noise that l had heard
coming from Lady Severne's room.
ibid you really hear this yourself, Miss
CHESTER" she asked
Certainly, just as have told YOU Lady
Yorke"
HAD any one been in those rooms,
would they have heard it in the same
fashion," she asked.
Then" she said, speaking to herself
rather than to me, lit must be seen to at
once. Poor Mark"
did not like to say any more; but l
went to my room more unhappy than ever
about Mark, more puzzled than ever about
the mystery surrounding his wife.
Hooked forward with some curiosity to
seeing her the next day; but at breakfast
time came the apology-Lady Severne did
not feel we'll enough to come downstairs:
Marks face was study, yet no one seemed
to notice it except myself: The knowledge
that there was mystery in the house was
painful to me. Lady Yorke too seemed
tressed. saw tears in her eyes; and, when
we were alone, she sighed frequently and
deeply, as though she had something on
her mind.
In the evening, just before the dressing
bell rang, to my establishment Martha
Clyde raped at the door of Lady Yorke's
boudoir
She wanted Ito speak to her ladyship
most particularly" but she would not keep
her long. went away and left them to-
gether.
During dinner saw that Lady Yorke
was quite unlike herself: nervous, agitated,
unequal to the occasion, and more than
once she glanced imploringly at Lord Sew
erne.
Dinner over, was not much surprised
when servant came to say that Lady
Yorke wished to see me in her boudoir at
once. l went. had never seen the mis-
tress of Westwood lood so sad or so distress
ed before.
"Just turn the key in the door, Miss Ches
ter" she said. want few minutes con-
versation with you without Interruption
did as she wished. and then stood be-
fore her, wondering at her agitation. hel
pale face, the sorrow expressed in her whole
demeanor. She wrung her hands, began to
speak and then hesitated.
''The fact is, she said II am at loss
what to say or how to begin. I feel the