The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1896-08-09
MRS. COLCHESTER.


come here
The two men looked down at a hand
some carriage which an English-look-
ing coachman was just driving up to
the hotel opposite.
1t was an open carriage, and in it
were two ladies, one quite aged, the
other some % or % years old Hers
was a glorious face. Vinton's coun-
tenance lost its weary look, and a
flash of admiration came to the eyes
OF kemDenfel, who had seen many
beauties.
The ladies alighted and followed
their servant into the hotel, thus dis
appearing under its arched entrance.
The two men turned and looked at
each other. Vinton drew a long breath
ana exclaimed:
Pray heaven she has come to stay"
over KemDenfelt's face was thrown
the mask OF an impenetrable reticence;
he laughed slightly, and said:
behoIu the ennui ulsslpaGed!"
What disa greeable thing would not
such a face aissiDate!" cried Vinton.
Have you any idea who she is?"
Not the slightest; only she is doe.bt-
less an English woman
L am proud to be her countryman,
said Vinton; but she is very dark for
an English girl
Yes; out Inere is that in the man
ner which betrays her country"
You observed closely" remarked
Vinto1; then added more carelessly:
Tomorrow I'll run over and renew
my acquaintance with the little Eng
ish widow who lives in the hotel OPP
posite; she is NOT ugly herself, by any
means; I'll pick up some sort of in
formation concerning unis unknown.
By the way, that pretty Mrs. Ware
took quite a fancy to your distingue
majesty
Kempenfelts lips curled.
I'm sorry not TO reciprocate; she is
very handsome, but 1 don't like wild
owS-that is-to marry them
Don't fancy the idea of being a sec
ond love?" questioned Vinton, taking
his hat. Nor 1, exactly; but, most
any kind of a love would do for me.
Goodbye, old fellow; come up 10 my
rooms and I'll give you some wine al
most as good as this
Vinton sauntered out, and Kempen-
felt took up his book again, sat down
by the window, cast a momentary
glance opposite and then went to read
ing.
IIc SdIIle SNSLAllS ASulipSH4SlL was
strolling careleSS4y by the Rhine.
The glow in the west was still bright
the river cleaned molten and splendid.
On its banks people wandered slowly
UP and down chatting gayly or gaz-
ing with subdued faces at the Rhine
glory.
With absorbed face Kempenfelt look
ed dreamily over the water AT last he
became aware of child playing near
him, little girl of 4 years, richly dress
ed. At a distance sat a woman, whom
Kempenfelt thought to be the child S
nurse. He watched the childish mo-
tons of unconscious grace. She was
playing near the river, and often stoop-
ed to pick up a pebble and throw 1T into
the water, watching it splash with
shining eye.
Its the Rhine! It's the Rhiner' she
kept saying to herself, in a way that
made kempenfelt think she had heard
people speak admiringly of the liver
She went nearer and nearer The riv-
er's edge. Kempenfelt was about to
call to her to be careful, when her
foot caught and she went over the
somewhat steep bank into the river. A
shrill scream broke from her lips as
she fell. The woman came running
down with pale face; Kempenfelt had
already jumped into the river and was
swimming toward the child.
His expert. powerful strokes soon
brought him to her. and he turned and
swan back to a more sIoping part of
the shore.
Where is her home? 1 Will carry
her." said Kempenfelt imperatively.
Her mother is up here" asid the
woman. and turned and ran in the di-
rection she had said
Kempenfelt followed rapidly. The
nurse led the way to a sort of summer
house. In it were two ladies, one of
them sewing; the other reclining with
a book in her hand at the empowered
door of the arbor.
Kempenfelts usually calm heart gave
a. quicker throb. In the lady at the
door he recognized the one whom he
had seen arrive at the hotel the day
before. Without word she stepped
forward with extended arms and took
the child from him
The nurse burst into violent cries of
alarm. Kempenfelt turned his head
toward her and said: BE quietv in
such a tone that she instantly subsiI-
ed; then to the lady, who had sat down
on the grass and was chafirg the wrists
and temples of the child:
The little girl is living; she will
soon recover" he said in a tone of GER
tainty, with the sweetness of sympathy
in it.
Even as he spoke slight flutter of
the eyelids and tremor of the mouth
showed that he had judged rightly. At
that moment the little girl called
"Motherp'
Sharp as a knife stroke that word
went through the heart of Kempenfelt;
till then he had fancied the child to be
the lady's sister-anything but the
daughter. He let fall the hand and she
hastily drew a cardcase from her peck
ct, handed him her card and said: Call
and see US at the - hotel"
She turned to the little girl and KEN
penfelt turned away, put on his coat
and went rapidly to the hotel.
Late that night Vinton came in, flush
play He tossed off his coat and sat
down.
who in the deuce is the woman over
opposite?" he exclaimed. 81 droppad
in this afternoon to see Mrs. Ware, but
she was not at home. This evening
L went a little while to that grand in
strumental concert that had been so
much talked of. Who should be in one
of the boxes. superb in beauty and dress
but that very lady! I tell you, Kemp
enfelt. it's a face to swear by"
Kempenfeit concealed the irritation he
felt.
did YOU know who was with her?"
he asked.
mo; two or three ladies. She paid no
attention to the audience, but seemed
absorbed in the music" Vinton rose.
''Tll see her before I'm twenty-four
hours older" he said, at the door.