The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1893-07-22
A GHOST OF THE PAST.

was 30-something, and when you are
3O-something gravity comes. But he
was very much III love with his young
wife. He handed her out of the family
omnibus carefully, and the very prettiest
ankle and the tiniest shoe peeped out for
moment as she stepped down before
one of the big hotels on Trafalgar square
AS she tripped up the broad, carpeted
stairs to her room there was a look of
great happiness in her eyes,
"And is my dear girl quite happy
said Sir Robert. Young Lady Lisburn
she was tall and pleasant looking
turned to him affectionately
Your dear girl" she said, "has had
her worries in her life. She had one big
worry"
How big?"
Lady Lisburn widened her arms to
give an idea of the size
But it's all over now. and am very.
very happy
Perhaps" said Sir Robert, perhaps
the dear girl will tell me all about it
some day"
She may--some day said the young
bride, flushing. Just now she is so
contented that she doesn't want even
10 tnlnk ABOUT 1t.
The next morning they went off 60
the Engadine. 1t was two months later
| when they returned, trunks and port
| manteaus plastered all over with square
and circular labels-Hotel Bellevue and
Hotel Beau Rivage and lot of others.
| Both Sir Robert and Lady Lisburn look
ed very jolly and well.
There were letters waiting for Lady
| Lisburn. She read them in her bed
ROOM AS she saw the writing on one of
the envelopes she grew red and then
very white. She perused the letter again
and again. with hands trembling and a
face that looked into the mirror with Il
| frightened look. Then she turned off the
| electric light and sank on her knees and
sobbed. They staid in town for some
days They drove ont Il good deal, visit
ing, but young Lady Lisburn looked i'll
and out CT sorts and scarcely spoke 10
her husband. He seemed to be repelled
by her GOODNESS. Once or twice Lady
Lisburn tried to rouse herself, but the
look of worry quickly came back, and
| her husband, placid and even as he was
could not help feeling disturbed
One evening i'll the latter part of the
week Lady Lisburn was sitting at the
open window of their room, her face
resting on her hand, looking out into the
square and seeing nothing.
A page boy entered with a foreign
message. She opened it, read the type
written words and crumpled quickly
the sheet in her hand as Sir Robert
came in.
81 want to say something to You, Rob
ert, she said in IL shaky voice. He came
over to her.
II want to go away from you for a
few weeks
"A few weeks" he repeated blankly.
"a few weeks. Unless you want me
to be Il miserable woman all nv life.
you must let me do this Let me 90.
and when come back 1 shall be quite
jolly, and l shall love you more than
ever, and We
My dear" said Sir Robert, ..you are
perfectly unreasonable You are not
yourself"
Unfortunately L am" interposed the
young wife sadly.
'Or you wouldn't dream of proposing
such a preposterous thing Now, love,
Just you go to bed early tonight and
have good rest and you'll be all right
in the morning"
''If yon don't let me go, Robert. |
shall never be. able to rest again.
shall he nothing but a curse to You and
a misery to myself for all my life. Do
let me 60
MY dear love-" said Sir Robert. ris-
ing with very decided air" IF you
absolutely refuse to tell me the motive
for your disappearance, absolutely re-
fuse to let you GO
Then then must gowithout Your
| permission" She said this without de-
tiance and i'll the humblest way.
Sir Robert went down stairs and stood
at the hotel door for few minutes
smoking his cigar rather quickly. Then
he turned and went to the telephone
room and looked i'll the book and rang
up. Lady Lisburn, white and set of
face, returned to her room and prepared
for her journey.
1t was Il surprise to Sir Robert to find
in the hall not 10 minutes later the man
for whom he had telephoned He was n
bnrly, scarlet faced man, and he gave
his card to Sir Robert with an awkward
fat bow:
| THOMAS BEsTER
Fayrc. Swccvcr IL Co., Inquiry Agents.
Come. into this room, Mr.-Mr Bes-
ter"
Mr.. Bcster wiped his boots with par
| ticular care
You'd like something to drink per-
haps?'
Mr.. Bester pulled his waistcoat down
and coughed slightly and said that he
didn't know as a drop of whisky would