The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1897-06-05

NoAht iiitO lilt didN IuS IOpIll. SIt
said when her inspection was over. Il
will introduce you to Mr.. Crosmont. My
name is Alma Crosmont. Yours is DR."
She paused and looked down. knitting
! her brows as if she had forgotten. More
astonished than ever, the young York
shireman supplied the information in
| low voice.
"Armathwaite-F Armathwaite"
! She repeated il after him slowly. how
! ever. as if the name was new to her. Just
where the hall narrowed suddenly to half
its first width there was a door on the
left which the lady opened, and Arma
thwaite followed her into large room.
In an armchair by the fire. with his back
to the door, sat middle-aged man. who
was reading by the light of a candle fixed
to his chair. AS the door opened he said
in kind voice, 'Well, little one, and
what have you been up to now and he
held out his hand without turning round
or putting down his book. Armathwaite
was much struck by this circumstance.
| There was Il warm, lovins sympathy in
voice. action and manner, which charged
the whole atmosphere of the old room
with the fragrance OF home.
I've brought a gentleman to see you,
daddy"
The book was put down at once, with
start of surprise The newcomer came
forward, and the lady said, simply:
Or. Armathwaite-Mr Crosmont."
Not her husband surely" thought
Frank
Mr. Crosmont rose. taking off his read
ing spectacles hastily. and held out his
hand. He was a man of middle height,
with a beard and a fringe of reddish hair
turning rapidly gray, undistinguished fea
lures. and mild, dreamy blue eyes.
II dare say you know DR.. Armathwaite,
that a stranger in this part of the world,
at this time of the year. is worth a kings
ransom said he, with evident pleasure
at the meeting, which was, it was also
easy to see. quite unexpected on his side
But if you once let the world know
how they may expect to be treated here,
YOU will be ovCrrun with them" said
Armathwaite, gratefully.
Mr.. Crosmont glanced inquiringly at the
lady, who seemed for the moment rather
disconnected; at least, she answered with
her eyes cast down.
Il was at the corner of the road by
the lake, when | saw some one making
straight for the water; in another mo-
ment he would have been in, would you
mott she ended. turning appcalingly to
the young doctor.
Indeed | should" said Armathwaite.
earnestly. Il had lost my way altogeth-
er You saved my life"
But what We're Won doing out there hr
the lake on a night like this" asked Mr..
Crosmont not at all satisfied.
"Oh. never mind, daddy; it was only
one of my pranks; these high winds al
ways get into my head, you know, and
blow all the brains away"
Were you waiting for Edwin ?" he then
asked, in a wy gentle and sympathetic
tone.
She hestatcd like a school girl. then
raised her head with what seemed to be
an impulse of aightforward, almost de-
faint, honesty.
mo"
Him. I thought not" muttered Mr..
Crosmont, and then he turned gain to the
visitor do you know the lake country
WE'LL" he asked. 1T is rather a risky
thing to travel about here at night if you
do not"
at is my first visit, and l can't hope to
see much of it, for tomorrow afternoon |
must be in Glasgow
The end of the long. wide dining table
nearest TO the fire was laid for dinner for
one person. Was there some third mem
Der Of the household whose presence was
a discord?
up here in the wiIds one must make
friends with the beasts, or be solitary
It's a dull life. can tell you" spoke the
old gentleman. as the lady left the room.
Il hardly think | should find it so un-
der the same circumstances For bach
elor living by himself it would be drcary
enough. But with a charming wife
and
Did you think the little one was my
wife, asked Mr.. Crosmont. with evident
pleasure Il wish she were; though au-
tumn and spring don't go we'll together.
| am Uncle Hugh. She is my niece. my
niece by marriage and my child by affec-
ton. | would walk into the lake for her
any day. Some day shall walk her hus-
band into the lake. if he doesn't look
out he added in grun comment TO him
self. which was little embarrassing to
his nearer. There was pause of a few
seconds. during which Mr.. Crosmont re-
membered that he was speaking in para
hlcs, and explained briefly, in his usual
abrupt manner: My nephew is Lord Xii
DOMAIN 5 agent: he's n good boy enough,
but he gets his head a little turned, up
at The Crags. between my lords conf
dences on the one hand, and my lady'S Oh
the other. In fact the big house takes
the color out of the little one. YOU see
| suppose it's natural enough. but its n
pity; and one can't say a word to him.
because. of course if one does it is ali
zeal for his employers interests; and they
really have been very kind to him Still.
it's n pity.
Armathwaite thought 50, too. and felt
hied with compassion for the soft-eyed
wife, Obliged. III the zenith OF her beauty
and charm. to fall back upon the com
panionship of middIe-aced relation Of
her husband when she should have been
enjoying the devotion Of the husband him
self. He was trying to evolve q remark
which should show enough. but not to1
much. of the sympathy lie felt. when
sounds Of a mans angry voice and mans
heavy tread were heard in the hall.
That is my nephew" said Mr. Cros-
mont shortly.
Armathwate rose to his feet. feeling
very uncomfortable. For he recognized
the voice as that Of the man who had been
driving Lady Kildouan's sleigh when she
dropped her handkerchief. and whom.
from the livery he wore. be had taken for
the groom Little is he knew OF the du-
ties OF an agent 10 a country gentleman
Armathwaite felt certain that the wear
ing of the latter'S livery must be less than
optional. and he had an awkward con
viction that he had been an undesired Wit
ness of the fact that the pranks Of Miss
Dighton and Master Ned had not ceased
when the former became Lady kiidouau
and the latter agent to my lord"
CHAPTER ".
The door was thrown open roughly. and
Mr.. Edwin Crosmont, stalking in with the
amiable expression Of an enraged BULLDOG. |
stopped short on finding himself in the