The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1894-03-30
i really do 60 to Scotland


see what wants doing. Good after
noon, Lady Garth!"
And so you really do go to Scotland
Tomorrow?
Raymond and Lady Garth were lean
ing across the gate that gave entrance
from the Dover house strawberries to
the home farm. Both were looking
straight before them through the fAnt
haze of the September twilight. The
Garth woods We're waving great yellow
and crimson banners in the evening
breeze, but the fields that had been
golden gay at the time of their meet
ing now lay stripped and dark before
them.
"Yes-I must. I've put the Lowmin-
sters off score of times during the last
six weeks, and-and-"
''You feel you want to go?"
81 feel ought to go. Besides, your
stables are well on the road to compile
ton now; the workpeople will be out
of them in a week. I've no reason now
for stopping on here"
His words died in sigh, then he
raised his two hands to his chin, and
stared harder than before through the
ever-raising mist at the sad, bare fields.
The girl at his side did not speak. but
he fancied faint sigh futtered to meet
his own.
Presently his eyes dropped and rested
on the pair of loosely-clasped hands
that Lady Garth had thrust across the
gate How small, how pale they
cleaned through the thick gray even
ing; they looked cold, too-like mar
BILE. Almost unconsciously he dropped
one of his own, and with the forefnger
touched her skin. Once. twice he
passed it from the dimpled knuckles to
the slender wrist. Then it stopped at
the root of her marriage finger.
'Why do you never wear wedding
ring?'
Lady Garth started from his side and
swiftly put her hands behind her.
"A wedding ring! l."
Her voice trailed into silence, only
Raymond heard her breath come in
hurried gasps.
Eyes! A wedding ringl Why don't
you wear it? You have no right to
leave it off. It's not fair-it's not right.
1t makes met makes man forget
that you have been married. Go home
and put it on at once. At once, / say,
BEFORE
He stopped his mad words. Perhaps
it was the sight of Nelrs wide, fright
said that which he must ever repent.
Then she shivered in the damp air.
''Come home, he said, quietly. Come
home, little sister!
The drawing-room was empty when
they entered, white-cheeked and chilly.
Nell, tossing her hat aside, walked
over to the tea table, while Raymond
wandered aimlessly toward his favorite
seat on the large sofa.
Nells back was toward him. What
pretty little figure she had! How
charming was the outline of her Shout
ders. and how sweet the turn of her
throat as she bent her sleek brown
head over the silver and china before
her! He forced his gaze away from so
fascinating picture and let his eyes
drop on some pieces Of scrubbed paper
at his side.
"Why, Nell, you might have told me
if there was anything wrong"
But nothing is wrong"
"Well, then, anything you wanted to
know. You must feel that it is pleas
ure to me to take all trouble off your
hands,"
II have no trouble; at least, none
that l." The brown head bent lower.
None that can help; and SO you
write to old williamson"
Mr.. Williamson! I want nothing
from him"
''Then why write to him?"
But have not written to him for
weeks"
ooh, yes, you have. Why, here is a
letter dated to-day, beginning Dear
Mr.. williamson and signed Yours
faithfully, Eleanor GARTH
With startled cry Nell rose from
her low seat, dashed across the room
and snatched the sheet of paper from
Raymond's hand.
Even as she did SO the door was flung
wide open and Poppy rushed into the
room, crying out: "Oh, Nell, I've left
all my letters lying about. Only
fancy"
The words died on her tongue. Dead
silence reigned in the room.
Then with strong, though gentle fin
gers, Raymond drew from Nell's nerv-
GUS clutch the crumpled letter.
SIS that letter yours?" He held it
before Poppy's eyes.
'I-I-wrote it"
For yourself, or for your cousin?
Spealp'
For a moment Poppy looked like
sullen child caught in mischief, then
she flung back her head defiantly. ~
wrote it for myself"
"Then you are"
Lady Garth-yes, / am you
brothers widow. My father made me
marry him for the title and money. l
hated being married, but I was afraid
of papa, and so it was done. And then
he-l mean papa-died, and after that
my husband, Lord Garth. And didn't
want to be grown up and ladyship
and widow, so Nell, my darling cous.
in, tried to help me out of it. We were
both christened Eleanor, and thought it
didn't matter. And now, suppose that
it's all found out we shall be-sent to
p-p-prison!" And, overwhelmed with
the dread vision that she had conjured
up, Poppy flung herself into Nell's
arms and burst into tears.
Lord Garth did not start for Scotland
the next day, He telegraphed yet an
other excuse to the ong-sutfering Lord