People's voice. [volume] (Wellington, Sumner County, Kansas) 1890-1917, 1895-02-28
CHAPTER V.

One day, a week after his arrival.
Lord Hilton gave a dinner party to
some of his neighbors and tenants. I
entered the drawing-rOOm rather late,
and saw that, though there were many
guests not one was talking TO Lady
Alice. She appeared, however, alto
gether unconscious of neglect Pres
emily dinner was announced, and the
company marShaled themselves. and
took their way TO the dining room
Lady Alice was left unattended. the
guests taking their cue from the behav-
lor OF their entertainers. l ventured to
go up to her, and offer her nv arm.
She made me a naughty bow and
passed on before me unaccOmpanied. l
could not help feeling hurt at this.
and think she saw it; but it made no
difference in her behavior. exceDt that
she avoided everything that might oc-
caSion me the chance of Offering nv
services.
Nor did | get any further with LADY
Hilton. Her manner and smile re-
manned precisely the same as on orr
first interview She did not even show
any interest in the fact that her dauch-
ter, Lady Lucy, had joined her broth
ers in the schOOl-rOOm. l had an nm
comfortable feeling that the latter was
like her mother, and was not to be
trusted.
The neglected library was omen 70
me at all hours; and in it | often tool,
refuge from the drearineSS Of unSvm-
pathetic society. l was never admitted
within the magic circle of the family
interests and enjOymentS. If there
was such Il circle, Lady Alice and 7
certainly stood outside of it; but
whether even then it had any real in
side to it, | doubted much.
In the library l found companiors
more to my need. But even there they
were not easy to find; for the books
were in great confusion. | could dis
cover no catalogue, nor could I hear of
the existence of such a useless luxury
One morning at breakfast. therefore
l asked Lord Hilton if l might arrange
and catalogue the books during NV
leisure hours. He replied:-
do anything you like with thom
Mr.. Campbell, except destroy them"
One day had sent a servant to ask
Mrs. Wilson to come to me. had
taken down all the books from y bitb
ertO undisturbed corner. and had saot.
ed myself on heap of them. no donbt
a very imperSOnatiOn of the genius of
the place; for while | waited for tho
houSekeeper, l was consuming n NOR.
sci of an ancient metrical romance
After waiting for some time l glanced
toward the door, for l had begun to
get impatient for the entrance of nv
helper. To my surprise, there stood
Lady Alice, her eyes fixed upon mo
with an expression | could not under
stand. Her face instantly altered 10
its usual look of Indifference, dashed
with the least possible degree of scorn,
as she turned and walked slowly away.
| rose invOluntarily. An old cavalry
sword, which l had just taken down
from the wall, and had placed leaning
against the books from which | now
rose, fell with a clash to the floor. |
started; for it was a sound that always
startled me: and, STOPPING, l lifted the
weapon. But what was my surprise
when l raised my head. to see once
more the face of Lady Alice staring in
at the door! yet not the same face, for
1t bad changed in the moment that had
passed. 1t was pale with fear-nOt
fright; and her great black eyes were
staring beyond me as if she saw some
thing through the wall of the room.
Once more her face altered to the for
mer ScOrnful indifference and she van
iShed. Keen of hearing as was, l |
had never yet heard the footsteps of
Lady Alice.
One night | was sitting in my room.
deyOuring an old romance which I had |
brought from the library. 1t was late. |
The fire blazed brightly, but the can
dies were nearly burned out, and |
grew sleepy over the volume, romance
as 1t was.
Suddenly found myself on my feet, |
listening with an agony of attention. |
Whether l heard anything, l could
not tell; but felt as if l had. Yes; |
was sure Of it Ear away. somewhere