The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1896-06-21

the house and have never done so. Would
you like to see it now?"
He accepted her invitation joyfully
Hilary met them in one Of the corridors
and asked where they were going -
am going to show Capt. Fountain the
carvings, she answered He knows
something about old things"
Then l wish you would tell me the date
of the over-mantel in my room" said
Mr. Hilary, and opened a door near them.
1t was that of his bed roOm-a large COM
modious chamber. situated as Fountain
had already learned some distance from
Mrs. Hilary's rooms.
There was a good deal of fine oak cary
ing at Essledon Grange though some of il
had been painted white, as the fashion
was in a certain recent barbaric period
Mrs. Hilary had restored the panelling
of the rooms in which she principally liv-
ed, but the less used portion of the house
had been left untouched. Fountain found
quite enough of interest to justify an ex-
ploring expedition, but Mr.. Hilary declin-
ed to accompany the two remaining in
his own ROOM They went to the upper
story and to another wing, inspected a
priests chamber" and viewed some fad
ed tapestry in one of the guest chambers
Then Mrs. Hilary took her companion
back to the corridor on which Mr.. Hilary's
room opened. The door was closed and they
went on to the end, and then she turned
down another corridor cutting it at right
angles-a much shorter passage which
contained but two doors. She stopped a
one of these, but did not open it.
These are my rooms" she said, look
ing at him fun with strange clear ex-
preston IN her eyes. This is the door of
may boudoir. l will not show It to you
now, but / will do so tonight when all
the house is quiet and every body asleep
If you wish"
He met her gaze which seemed to probe
his very soul, and answered quietly. Il
understand and l thank you. The fumes
of the wine, but the goblet untasted. That
is what you meant 1 will come"
Fountain felt that evening-so he him
self told In his dairy-like young knight
about to keep his vigil of Initiation He
babe Mrs. Hilary goodnight, and again their
eyes met in unspoken understanding when
their hands clasped. Mr. Hilary retired
early. His manner was strange, abrupt
and jerky, Fountain thought, but his good
night to his guest was sufficiently cordial
Fountain was to leave early on the follow
ing morning.
The corridor was all in darkness between
twelve and one o'clock, but the door of
Mrs Hilary's boudoir was slightly ajar
Fountain knocked very softly and She
presently opened its wider, standing be
fore him in the white clinging dress She
had worn at dinner.
Come in" she said, very gently. It
was a small room with a deem window at
one end-one of those high heavy windows
peculiar to the house The curtains which
fell before it were a little open and stirred
as the door closed again. Mrs Hilary ex-
planned that a fire had been thoughtessly
lighted, and that the room had been Op-
pressively hot. There were a great many
books, and there was writing table set
in a recess beside the fireplace IT was
here, she told him, that she had written
her books. Everything about the room
suggested her individualty-all the dainty
refined belongings-the literary properties
the quaint bits of tapestry and rare
prints prints, that she pointed out to him. A door
opened into room beyond which was
her bedroom; and she showed him that
too, with that sweet serenity and calm as
sumption of his interest in all her associa-
tons His heart was beating wildly, but
not by word or gesture did he betray his
emotion at being admitted into this, to
n IF1 Of M ~ l. II
sit by her side and put her hand in his
and they talked of how their affection
should endure as long as both should live,
Of its pure purpose, of its tender grace.
They talked of this strange fantastic test
of herS-of the sentiment which had die
tated it-of the curious position which in
the worlds eyes would be so compromising
and which should never be repeated It
was enough that he should think of her as
of her trust which could be given to no
other. And then she told him the grim
pathetic story of her miserable marriage,
of her husbands almost insane fits of bru-
tality which had forced her to live a sepa-
rate hfe-of her unquenchable resolve to
remain true to her ideal of duty
They were talking and sitting thus when
a step sounded stealthily in the passage
He did not hear it, but she darted up in
terror and slipped the bolt of the door,
Hardly had she done so when the handle
was tried and Mr.. Hilary's voice sounded
open the door, Elizabeth. 1 wish to
Mrs. Hilary gazed agonizedly into her
lovers eyes. "He will kill you" she
whispered, and there is nowhere for you
TO 60"
Fountain glanced round, calculating his
chances of escape, and then a thought
struck him. At any cost she should not
be compromised. He was thinking of her
not of himself. He leaped to the window
and disappeared behind the curtains.
you cannot" she whispered hoarsely
There is no iedge-no balcony"
II can" he murmured, land I will
Open the door and say nothing. Trust
me-"
He closed the curtains behind him.
stepped on the window seat, and let him
self down outside the window his feet
dangling in the air. his fingers clutching
the window-sill, which was level with the
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