The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1895-06-16
CHAPER II

During the rest Of their stay at the
Pension Gutsch." Mr.. Fame saw a good
deal Of the Allinghams. Moved by the con-
sideration that the artist was a man not
unknown TO fame, Mr.. Allingnam unbent
towards him as much as so important
a person could be expected to un5end.
and even condescended TO take a few Eek
cursions." such as he had once declared
he hated. in his new acquaintance com
pany They parted in AUGUSTINE.
and Mrs. Allingham to return TO Eng
land. and the stately attractions Of Duns-
combe Hall. Norfolk, and Fame TO make
a climbing tour in the Tyrol. They left
the "Gutsch" all together on the same
day, jogging down the steep deciivity for
the last time in the odd little cog-wheel
car.
1T is like coming down from heaven
said Rose Allingham. looking wistfulIy
up at the receding pine trees. bendng TO
and froe like tall plumes on the hight.
Let US hope we are not going to the
rival region laughed Fame. You
liked the "Gutsch" then, Mrs. Alling-
ham?'
Very much she answered.
1T is a fairly pleasant place for short
sojourn." said her husband. disparaging-
ly. Very monotonous. Of course. l should
never care to go there again"
Wouldn't you?" murmured Rose. tim
idly. "Oh. / should"
mo doubt!' retorted her husband, with
a hard smile. But then. you see.
shouldn't"
And he began TO read a London paper
two days old. which had arrived for
him that morning.
At Lucerne station they said good-by
to Fame. Mr.. Alhngham expressing his
hope in language that savored more of
command than entreaty. that the artist
would undertake his commission" in
October to sketch the various beauties
Of Dunscombe Hall.
LAS to terms" he said, loftily, Il think
we need not mention them, as nothing Of
that sort will stand in your way or mine.
Whatever you choose to fix l shall very
willingly agree to-"
The young man flushed a little, but said
nothing. Shaking hands again with Mrs.
Allingham, he presented her with pretty
bunch of Alpine blue gentians and edel-
weiss as a parting Souvenir" and lift
ing his hat, remained uncovered till the
train had steamed off.
If it were not for her." he unused. Il
would see Dunscombe Hall and its prig-
gish owner at Jericho before I'd go near
either of them. AS it is-well-Ill think
about it,"
September passed in a glorious blaze of
beauty and perfect weather; and by the
time October was a week old, his think
irg about it, had resolved into a definite
course of action. So that, on one solemn
and shadowy evening, when the smell of
falling leaves was in the air. and the N
dehnable melancholy of autumn darkened
the landscape even as a sad thought dark.
ems bright face, he was driven under
the frowning and picturesque gateway Of
Dunscombe Hall. and up the fine but
rather gloomy avenue of ancient elms that
led TO the stately building. The carriage
had been sent to meet him at the station.
and when he finally arrived and got out
al the door of the house, he was re-
ceived by a dignifed man-servant in dark
livery. who informed him that Mr.. AL
bingham had been obliged to go out for an
hour, but that Mrs. Allingham was wait
ing tea" for him in the drawing room.
To the drawing room he was therefore
shown; and such was the size and antique
splendor of that vast apartment, that
for moment he could scarcely perceive
his young hostess, who at the announce
ment of his name came forward to meet
him. And when he did realize her pres
ence. such a shock of pain went through
him that he could scarcely speak. The
change wrought in her during a space of
barely two months was so terrible that
he could only stammer out some unintelli-
gible words, press her small cold hand
and gaze at her wonderingly. She mean
while met his plying, inquiriug record
with gentle patience in her own eyes
see" she said, with faint smile, you
think am looking i'll. don't you? Yes
everybody does. 1t is quite true / am
not WE'LL fancy sometimes this place
slight SILVER ran through her-"does
not agree with me. 1t is very, very big
here she laughed-"and l am very small
I am sure a little woman ought to live
In little house to be comfortable But I
have a very good doctor-so kind and
clever. He says it is only want of tone
and a little heart weakness, that's ALL
Come and have some tea. There's a fire
at this end of the room"
She led the way to a sort of cosy cor
ner," where light and warmth were con-
centrated near a tea table set out with
Queen Anne silver and Sevres china, and
sitting in a low chair opposite her, Fame
watched her in compassionate silence.
If she had looked a child before, she
seemed more than ever one now-she had
grown so thin and pale and fragile that
It seemed as If the merest puff of wind
would blow her out of existence altogeth-
err Her little hands. waxen-white and
delicate, We're scarcely equal to the task
of lifting the teapot to pour out the tea
but as she busted herself with her hos
pitable duties, a faint color came into
her cheeks, and her eye sparkled more
brightly.
isn't this a huge room!' she said. as
she passed Fame his cup. IT'S meant for
hundreds of people. you know-people in
powdered wigs and court suits. l don't
think 1t accommodates itself to modern
life at ALL"
ut is indeed enormousv' and Fame
glanced up and down, and round about
him. 1.-THE ceiling appears to be fres-
coed"
"Oh, yes, it is wonderful. Quite horrid.
in my opinion-but Mr.. Allingham saws it
is marvellous. Any number of fat goddess
es and Cupids. You viii see it much better
by daylight We have no gas in this room.
because IL would spoil the fresco-that is
why it is always so dark"
To light il up we should have to nut
candles in all those four big Venetian
chandeliers; and each one of them holds
two hundred lights"