Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1896-01-09

it. 1t dwelt in her memory only
as resting place between the old,
dreadful life, which she wondered
sometimes now to think had ever ex-
listed. and the new. pleasant life, which
had become so familiar to her. But to
go to Abbotsville, and spend six weeks
in Carmen's company. without any les
sons to learn, was the first real holiday
that Margaret had ever enjoyed, and
she was wild with delight at the an
ticipation.
I'VE will have on end of fun" ex-
claimed Carmen, who, at sixteen, was
developing into handsome young
woman; "for Uncle Frederic scarcely
ever moves out of the library; so we
shall have the house to- ourselves-and
there is such a beautiful garden, and
fields, and a farmyard, and cows and all
sorts of things you have never seen be-
fore"
To poor Margaret, indeed, whose Wis
ions of the beautiful had alternated be-
tween the paving stones of Covent Gar
den and the rocky arena of Miss Prism's
''park-like grounds" the change from
Blackheath to Abbotsville, a fine old
building of red granite, dating from the
fifteenth century, was like a glimpse
into the fairy land she was so fond of
reading about and specializing on. The
deep glades by which it twas surrounded,
carpeted with ferns and wild flowers, in
the shadow of which the speckled deer
stood timidly to drink, were a marvel
of beauty to the tewn-bred girl, and
the Monks Walk, said to be three hun
1rn1 Ill 10 I1.o0 bod
grown until they met and embraced
each other overhead, filled her with de-
licious terror without knowing the rea-
son why. It was on a glowing August
afternoon that the girls arrived at Alb
louisville, and a carriage met them at
the station and conveyed them in state
to the mansion. Here, to Margaret's
surprise, they found luncheon spread
with all ceremony for themselves alone.
How funny!" she exclaimed; edo
you live here all by yourself, Carmen?
Is there nobody in the house but you
and me?''
"Oh. there's uncle, of course, but he
never takes luncheon" replied Carmen,
with her mouth full of cold chicken /;
I'VE shan't see him till dinner, and
who orders everything, and will look
after our clothes and trot us off to
church on Sundays. But otherwise, as
told you at old Prism's, We shall have
the place to ourselves"
''It Is delightful-enchant cried
Margaret, "just as if we were two prin-
cesses shut up in a magician's castle,
like Princess F1oralia, in the Fairy
Ring How I wish there was a mys-
| terry at Abbotsville- dread secret
| that no one ever discovered before, and
| that should be left for us to find out for
ourselves! Don't you, Garment"
/ But Carmen did not answer, and as
Margaret glanced up at her, she fancied
| she had grown red and looked annoyed
What nonsense are you two little
| ladies talking about?" exclaimed a
sharp voice, as there entered the dining
room, a small, withered-looking woman
dressed in a quaint, old-fashioned cos
| tune.
s"Ah, Webb, is that you?" replied Car
men, carelessly; here is my friend
Miss O'Reilly-you must put up sec
ond bed in the south room for her.
You can't sleep in the south room
| MISS CdT uplSU Tic HOUSE
keeper, quickly.
And why not, pray?-because it's
too good for us, / suppose"
"Oh, no, miss! haven't you always
slept there? But still"
well. I mean to continue to sleeI
there, and so does Miss O'Reilly. We
intend to sleep together, but you know
I can't stand anyone in my bed with
me-
81 know you're as fond of your ease
as you are of your own way, Miss Car
men, and that's saying a good deal fol
it. But what was Miss O'Reilly saying
as came into the room? We have Nc
secrets nor mysteries at Abbotsville
thank heaven, and 1 hope we never may
haver'
II was only saying how nice it would
be if there were one," said Margare
in low voice, for the little woman:
sharp way of speaking intimidated her
The voice. low as it was, seemed t,
strike Mrs. Webb's attention, for sh,
d turned at once to look at the speaker.
God bless my soulv' she cried.
what for?" demanded Carmen
|