The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1893-08-27
CHAPTER NXVI

MISS A1tllNNtit'h Nl4t 10 A'Llf' W 4shit' w
see YOU in her private room. Did you not
understand my previous message
Nelly. for it was she, rose slowly, a
tall. slim figure, robed in black, stately
and apparently Sef-reliant
'.Have I offended you, Miss MinchinH'
she asked, and there was q tremor in her
voice
Offended mel Oh, dear no, " was the
indifferent reply.
Tone, more than words, implied that il
would take a better person than Nelly to
have the honor of causing her offense.
Because you have been too good to me
altogether, " said Nelly quickly, for me TO
see you-you angry or hurt and not en-
deavor to remove the cause of my ofense.
I"
Her arms are nearly round Miss Min
chin, when that young lady pulled her
self away with Jerk, and said
"Once more, must l tell you that the
Baroness awaits you in her private
room -
Il am going, replied Nelly; "but, oh,
you might let me kiss you as you did
when you first brought me here. You
were so kind and gentle then. Tell me
how have offended. 1t has been all IN
intentional, l assure YOU
But Miss Minchin, with her small head
held daintilly in the air, moved away,
and vouchsafed no reply, Nelly had no
choice but to relinquish hope of recon
ciliation for the present.
The baroness sat in her arm chair in
solitary state.
"You have been long, Miss Henstock,"
she observed reprOvingly.
She was a remarkable looking person,
or rather, to speak more correctly, her
attire was so. Had she been less than a
baroness in her own right, her style Of
dress might not have struck one as sin
gular in that it was of a cut and fashion
such as our grandmothers affected fifty
years ago. There was the neCkerChief
crossed on the shoulders the mob cap
with its huge borders and long wide
strings tied in a large bow under the chin;
broad band of black like a phylactery
or, as Miss Minchin irreverently dubbed
it, mourning plaster-encirced the fore
head, hiding fully three parts of 10.
While over the eyes were gigantic spec
tacles, thick silver-rimmed. Lady Mary
as she loved to be Called-was troubled
with weak sight Sometimes she wore
dark blu" losses 1t will thus be under
stood tn; but little of the Baroness's face
was expOsl4 Had she been parsonage
of less exalted rank. or had there been
have been pardoned for suspecting it
there. There was none. True, a heavy
blight hung over the Baroness de Lucernes
life She passed it in retirement, and
saw very few beyond her home circle and
that but on rare occasions None In
fact save those connected with the sad
tragedy that had blighted not only her
own existence, but that of her dearest and
only son. BriarwOod was large, commo-
diOus, and luXuriously furnished house.
In HOrace's time a large establishment
had been kept. Since then the baroness
had come into her own title and several
magnificent estates OF whatgood was il
all to herr None. She dismissed most of
her retainers, and principally lived in one
suite Of the mansion-the smallest
wing completely cut off from the more
gorgeous and modern part of the building.
There she ate, slept and breathed her life
away. Nelly's heart ached for the bar
oness. She had been six months at Briar-
wood, and knew the one dark stain that
hung over Lord Lanes escutcheon: vet,
deeply as she sympathizcd with her en-
ployer, she scarcely knew whether she
loved or dreaded her most Lady Mary
had two moods, one stern, the other de-
pendent. Nelly never knew in which she
should find her. If she could only always
be in the same it would not have mattered.
Nelly could have accustomed herself TO
ClbuHI uOOu. IL was the NdFlaDleueSS. the
uncertainty, that tried her.
Owing to this said uncertainty, Nelly
stood and awaited the baroness to speak.
Sometimes she was expected TO sit, some
times TO stand Silence ensued. Nelly
looked round the room. 1t was COMPARE
lively small, and only moderately well
furnished formerly it was used as the
nursery, and afterward the schoolroom,
and its furniture remained the same A
small fire b1llsupd IN the 70 n
sunshine warmed the room. Nelly knew
its surroundings by heart. She had spent
many hours on and off there but it always
seemed TO her as a prison
Whose week is it," asked the baroness
at last. in slow, deep tones: yours or
Miss Minchin'sl"
mime, Lady Mary
"Then how comes it that Miss Minchin
answered my bell when last il range
Because II was writing "a letter,
Lady Mary, and-and she came before
was aware"
One of my distinct rules is that you
and Miss, Minchin exchange work and
rest alternately. I found the require
ments too heavy for one hence my sole
reason for employing two companions II
this rule Is not observed I don't see why
should not dispense with the services
OF one 80
Nelly's heart grew sick with fear
and suspense She knew well whose ser
vices would be dispensed with If she
had not been entirely happy at Briar-
woodland not felt at home there shrank
somewhat from the chains Of servitude,
she had been housed and well fed-paid
more than enough to dress we'll, and was
safe sheltered Oh! surely she was not
going to be cast on the cold cruel world
again2
Another of my rules, proceeded the
baroness, lis that no letters are sent
from here. You knew this, Miss Hen
stock. When Miss Minchiu brought YOU
back from London with her it was with
the distinct understanding that you were
relationless. On that point my decision
was absolute
so I am, Lady Mary, declared Nelly,
pathetically. Il am quite alone in the
world, save an aunt, whom | have never
seen, and don't know even where she
lives. l lost her address once-once
when it would have been invaluable 10
me; later On when I again needed her
help went TO the place indicated. and
AMI she had left. The letter I sent was
but short business one TO Langley
Bruce ] but repaid 80 he lent me-"
Langley Bruce ~ echoed the Baroness:
"the name seems familiar Brucet'W
Nelly went red all over her face She
had spoken incautiously in mentioning
names. No one ever desired more than
DID she TO hide all connected with her
dlsgracetul past. The Baroness seclu-