Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1898-05-26
CHAPTER Y
III -r-i.-..-

Mr. Erds,ev1" she -ueri1d
Pardon ne Tor Etruding upon yOI
Miss Dtusmore," he returned, IN
sw1a. low voice. which one rarely
hears from --azcu..Ec lips. Ny bus
luess is a-Eca. {. 10 tLi5 am al Gp-
plicant for che situation Of steward on
your estate. Gl5 IN saEicls = know
If there H. any pc5zt thil'ty Of occurring
Z: sor. should your decision hs diverse,
r-4st aud some Other resource"
He paused. cad Lesley bowed. not
knowing what TO say.
He went or quietly
"Of course, J an Granger to you,
Miss DiGanore, but come well recon-
mended. ard believe myself TO he real
II fitted for the rcsition Ee kind en-
curh TO glance over these papers and
II You WI. take The trouble 20 COM
munlcate with The gentlemen named
therein. / think you VIII find all sat
isfactory
He laid some folded papers in her
band Lesley glanced them over with
genuine surpriss They were recon-
mendetlons ci the highest order, stat
ing that John Ardsley was thoroughly
educated and fitted Tor the position Of
trust which be sought, that circuu-
stances having rendered 1t necessary
FOR him 10 seek employment Il would
be. considered q personal favor to the
gentlemen whose names were append
ed should Miss DinsmoTe see fl to
submit her estate 20 bis management
And the signatures were those OF some
of the highest dignataries in Washing
tou, and in the surrounding country.
Lesley folded ths papers. when they
we're read, GaG glanced rehectiveiy az
the applicant Her heart beat with
the same strange, wild thrill, that she
had experienced the night preceding
when she had dreamed Of this very
man. ana yet sho had never met him
before. He was graceful, refined
courteous, q gentleman born and edu-
Gated, one could soc that at & glance
and Lesley's gray eyes wandered in
voluntarily to the shapely white hands
one Of which rested on the carved back
OF 2 gold and crimson chair The
bAl SCI u eltsl-~~ Ab4tO WGA. A4-A o. GiAt a
slight smile crossed his beautifully
curved lips.
7 uEderotald. Mas Dinsmore, be
observed. You are wondering il I
have ever worked before. am
ashamed to say that have never done
anything Ia the way Of labor Never
tneIess. I aIn now reduced by unfore-
seea circumstances to earn my daily
bread, AID If did not believe that l
an fully capable OF attending 10 your
interests il th!a matter, rest assured
! would not seeh The situation
There wa5 tone IA his voice,
5trais isht.cfward. and manly, with q
tinge of hautour, which appeared TO be
demanding rather than seeking. Il
seemed ~ the sirl s5 though she van
ted ~ study aim, and know his nature,
and gUage him morally and mentally.
And there cane home TO Lesley Dins-
more6 AearJ-standing Ia the pretty
gold and crimson room-that perfect
spring morning a conviction that she
stood face to face with hei destiny
Il will Icy the matter before my
lawyer. FIR. 4rosley," she said at
length, speaking With an effort and
II you will kindly call again to-mor-
row evening, you shall know the re-
suit"
He bowed gracefully and with few
chosen words OF thanks, took his de-
parture leaving the testimonials in
lesley hands.
She carried them straight 70 Lawyer
Grey5on. who examined them atten-
tively That day. telagrams were fly
ing ovey the wires 70 the different geu-
tlemen whose names we're affixed TO
the document; the answers, in every
instance. corroporsted the indorEe-
rlents. and John ArdsIey was appoint
ed at once steward and general busl-
ness manager Of tho great Chadwicke
estate
Mrs Greysou had decided to remain
for an indefinite time, as chaperon to
the young heiress; but the old lawyer,
with DR.. Dudley, left Chadwicke Hall
the next day. and returned to the
scene Of their professional labors.
l1NiiA hlA Nhio A4AaANs Luz Alllt lltu KcDt
her own room; but when at last she
learned through her maid, OF the de-
parture of the gentlemen. sho came
down stairs. and sent a curt MESSAGE to
Lesley, that she wished 20 see her In
the library. Lesley obeyed the sum
mons, and found Mrs Chadwicke. look
ing like a statue IN her deep mourn
ing robe, awaiting her.
81 am about to leave Chadwicke
HALL" she began. icily, my own house
my lawful Inheritance | have been
robbed OF my righte. insulted. and de- |
fed under my own roof Listen to me.
Lesley DinsmoTe, 1 shall never cross |
the threshold OF Chadwicke Hnll again, |
until ! come back to my own. until |
return it's mistress! An, you smile. |
and thina. I suppose. that am conse-
quontly bidding Il a long farewell. but |
do not be too sure, Miss Dinsmore; you (
know not upon what a procipice you
are standing; at any moment you may !
go over to everlasting destruction. I
shall do all in my power to bring about
that ruin, believe met"
Lesley arose, with q dlgnifed ges-
ture. !
Your threats. madam" enc said.
with quiet ecorn. trouble me very
little. Right Is right, and viii always
prevaill"
"Humph! Then l am safe; for my
cause 10 the right one, and You VIII
0Dd, ultimately, that It VIII prevail
an Mr5. Barton Chadwick"
She hesltated, for a low. sneoring |
laugh foil on the silence. At her eide
was aa open window, but 10 one wa9
visible She grew white to the very
ips.
i am Mrs Barton Chadwicko! sho
'epeated, boldly, but the sweet. bell
Ike voico trembled IN spite Of her ef-
ortg TO be calm. and this Ia my
lome. You are but an interloper, who,
~ some trick of the law, have secured
but it will not be for long.
Believe me, Miss Dinsmore, &c wiz not
,e for longl / swear IL"
She glanced, as she spoke. toward
he open window. Her face grew aab-
n white. her eyes d!leted Wildly. and \
Ter breath camo in quick. painful :,
.asps
"Who-is-that-mang" she faltarS
Lesleys eyes followed hers. audt sbo !
aw Mr.. Ardsley lounging upon u rms
lc seat, half-smoked cigar he' r,son |