The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1897-07-01


"ob, no, sir. it't not that. either"
What is It, then?"
MY lord and my lady are coming
home, unexpected"
"whew! You don't say So Why. I
heard from my sister only n week ago,
and there wasn't a word about their
returning then"
But my lady has had a sudden chill,
and his lordship wants her to see her
own doctor as soon as may be. Here's
the letter, sir; I've just got It,"
with that Mrs. Mason handed her
visitor the letter from his lordship.
Yes, this is unexpected, indeed" Mr.
Reginald said. as soon as he had mas
tered the contents of his brother-in
laws note. Tomorrow night, eh?
You'll have all your work cLs out to
get things ready by then"
80 1 was thinking, sir; and-and
=" she paused.
"Yes?"
Gould you help me, sir?" Mrs. Ma
son asked diffidently.
I'm afraid I'm very little use dust
ing furniture, still"
"Oh. sir, 1 didn't mean that" the
housekeeper replied, quite shocked at
the implication.
How can l help you then?'
why, sir, / was thinking, II you
could go to the bank and get the plate
chest it would save me a good deal of
time and trouble
Certainly I will. IL thatll be any
assistance to you. Sure 1 can do moth
ing else?"
mo, sir. thank you very kindly,
that's all I require"
Then I'll be off," the young man re-
piled, taking UP his hat, and swing
ing himself out of his deep arm chair
at the same time.
you shall have the plate here in an
hour" he said, as he reached the hall
door, 'if that's soon enough?"
quite soon enough, thank you sir"
In another moment Mr.. Reginald
was half way down the step: in one
more he was in cab, bound for the
bank.
True to his word, in httle more than
the time specified the young man had
returned. Two men from the bank
accompanied him, and with the assist
ance of these the chest was soon safely
deposited in the hall.
There you are, Mrs. Mason" cried
faction the work that had been so ex-
pediently accomplished, adding cheer
fully: Nov, if there is anything else
I can do for you, you've only to tell
me-"
There is nothing elese; thank you,
sir"
"Then I'll bid you good bye for II e
present I'll be sure to come and see
.se-tn ftn,- Ip nt.Y.fxy Voc
You were going to say something
Mr.. Crawford added. his quick eye no.
ticing kind of hesitancy in Mrs. Ma
sens manner as though she desired
to say something, but did not know
how to say 1t. What is it, Mrs. Ma
son?"
spoke out.
"Mr. Reginald-sir," the old lady be-
gan, don't you think all this is very
stranger"
What is very stranger"
my lord and my lady returning 50
unexpectedly"
"Well, / should think so, perhaps. if
IL were any one else than my sister
and her husband that were concerned -
he replied, smiling; but you know by
you know, too, how attentive he is to
her slightest wish"
but there must be plenty of good
doctors in Paris, one would think"
Plenty, 1 should say. But to Lady
Wilmington, it seems, no one can cure
her but her own. And apparently his
lordahip-and, oddly enough, the Paris
doctor, too-are Of the same way of
thinking.
Mrs. Mason spoke her next words
slowly as If considering how to put
her next question.
II suppose, sir-there's no doubt
It's all right?"
'All right?" the young man repeated,
in surprise. "Why, of course it's all
right" he went on reassuringly. What
should be wrong?"
No answer.
What should be wrong?" Re asked
| apprehensively.
That's just what don't know, sir"
the housekeeper replied at last. but
i feel ureasy-and that's the long and
the short of it, sir-uneasy."
I'm afraid the dull weather is hav-
ing an effect on you, Mrs. Mason"
said Mr. Reginald, laughing; gloomy
thoughts are depressing you. Get to
work, my dear lady-or rather, see
that the young women under your
charge do theirs, for no one wants to
see you overexert yourself-then you'll
have no time for idle imaginings, Ill
warrant you!"
Yes, sir, perhaps that would be
| best!'
I've no doubt about it! Well, I
mustn't advise you to attend to your
duties and keep delaying you ut the
same moment, must 1? I'll make my
self scarce-and l dare say you'll be
| glad enough to get rid of me-"
So saying, Reginald Crawford once
| more took leave of The housekeeper