Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1897-01-03
CHAPTER II.
CHAPTER IL.
THE STRANGE BEHAVIOR OF DIR
SCOTT


| the prison of Mr.. Edermont was suffi-
! GENTLY odd to merit description. Lam
| bert Joad, the friend. factotum. and para
site of Dora's guardian, was short. stout
! man verging on sixty years. He had a
large bland face. clean shaver, and blush
red in hue his mouth was loose. his chin
! double. his jowl pendulous; and his in
significant nose was scarcely redeemed by
| two watery eyes of pale blue. few
tufts of white hair covered sparsely the
badness of his skull; and his ears, hands
and feet We're all large and i'll shaped.
He dressed in rusty black, wore carpet
slippers. and a wisp of white ribbon did
duty as a collar This last adornment
! limited at clerical vocation, and limited
| rightly for Lambert Joad was an unsuc-
cessful parson Of the Anglican Church.
Some forty years previously he had been
a college friend of Edermont's, and in due
course had taken orders; but either from
lack of brains. or of eloquence, or per-
haps from his Quilpish looks he had fail
/ ed to gain as much as a curacy. In lieu
| thereof he had earned n bare subsistence
/ by making notes in the British Museum
/ for various employers. and it was while
| thus engaged that Edermont had CHANGED
upon him again; out of sheer pity the
owner of the Red House had taken the
unlucky Joad TO Kent, and there permit
| ted him TO potter about library and gar
| den-a vegetable existence which com
pletely satisfied the unambitious brain of
| the creature. He was devoted to the god
who had given him this ease.
But the odd part of the arrangement
7 ~, bis
hanger-on to remain in the house at
night Punctually at nine Mr. Joad De-
took himself to the small cottage fronting
the gates, and there ate and slept until
nine the next morning, when he present
ed himself again at the library, to read,
| and dust. and arrange, and catalogue the
many books. For twenty years this con-
| tract had been faithfully carried out by
| the pair of college friends. From nine TO
nine daylight Joad haunted the house;
from nine to nine darkness he remained
in his tumble down cottage.
Being now on duty, he admitted Dora
! and her lover; and after closing the gates
| stood staring at them. with a book hug
| ged to his breast and a cunning look in
| his eyes. His swollen and red nose sug-
gested snuff: his trembling hands and
bloodshot eyes. drink; so that on the whole
| he was by no means pleasant spectacle
! to behold. Dora threw look of disgust
| on this desreputable, dirty Silenus, who
was her particular objection, and adj
| dressed him sharply, according to Gus
tom.
Where is Mr. Edermont?" said she,
stepping back from his immediate neigh
borhood; Il have brought DR.. Scott TO
| see him."
Julian is still in his bedroom" replied
this Silenus in a voice of surprising
beauty and volume; but he does not wish
to see anyone. least of all DOCTOR
ooh, never mind that, Mr.. Joad," said
Allen good humoredy. II come as a
friend to inquire after the health Of Mr..
| Edermont."
Il understand that" grunted the other;
you will make medical suggestions in
the guise of friendly remarks. So like
your father, that is"
My father, Mr.. Joad? Did you know
him?" asked Scott, considerably aston
ished
Yes: do not think" added Joad with
a spice of righteousness, that you had
that advantage"
He died when I was five years Old" re-
piled Allen sadly, $50 l remember him
very slightly. But it is strange that l
should have known you all these months
| without becoming aware of the fact that
you We're acquainted with my father"
"All this is beside the point" broke in
| Dora severely. Il want you to see Mr..
! Edermont. Afterwards you can talk to
ldr. Joad.'
II shall be glad to do So There are
many things l wish to know about my
father"
Then why ask me, DIR. Scott, when Ju-
liam is at hand?"
Mr.. Edermont refuses to answer my
inquiries"
! In that case" said Joad with great de-
liberation, Il should ask Lady Burville."
The young man was so startled by this
speech that for the moment he could say
nothing. BY the time he had recovered
his tongue Joad was already half way
across the lawn. Scott would have follow
ed him. but that Dora laid OBTAINING
hand upon his arm.
Later on, Allen" she said firmly; sin
the meantime. see my guardian"
But, Dora. Lady Burville's name again
hints"
1T hints at all manner Of strange things,
Allen. l know that as well as you do.
tell you what. my dear, the coming of this
woman is about to cause change in cur
| lives"
Dora, On what grounds do you base
! such proposition"
ION the grounds you know Of" she re-
turned distinctly Il can give you no
others But l have belief-a Fremont
tion-call it what you wll-that Lady Bur-
! ville's coming is the herald of change. If
you would know more, ask Mr. Edermont
who she is, and why he tainted ct the
sight of her"
BY this time they We're standing on the
steps of the porch, whence the wings of
the mellow red brick spread from right
| TO left, facing the sunlit lawn Square
| framed windows extended along this front
above and below. and an upper one of
these over the porch was wide open. As
Allen and Dora stood by the steps wild
! white face peered out and saw them in
the sunlight. Had they looked up they
| would have seen Mr.. Edermont, and have
| RETAINED from further conversation. But
| Fate so willed it that they talked on, un-
| conscious of a listener 1t was Allen who
reopened the subject of his new patient
J who had been referred to both by Eder-
mont and Joad in so mysterious a way.
after ALL said Allen, meditatively. ct
do not see why you should have a pre-
| monition of change That Lady Rurville