The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1898-03-23
LUCK OF LODORE.

i what is the Luck OF Lodore,'
/ Watty.'
\ look of terror overspread the
/ face of old Watty Gibson, the butler
! 1T Lodorc castle, when he heard the
question which his young master
nit to him just as dinner was ended.
A Bendin. over the laird's chair, he
q replied in a low tone SO that none Of
the numerous guests should hear:
.'Wlloesht, laird, dinna speir, and
1 Tor the sake o a that's guide dinna
ask to see it,
But his words had been overheard
4 lytlle next neighbor to Laird Henry
4 At the dinner table, and he said.
Family frcits again, Watty; good
q heavens, what q lot of rubbish our
4 :ol efathers did believe! What with
family ghosts in one gallery and
Il family skeletons in another and
a 'Lucks Of Lodore' hidden in places
you wot not of you have n lively
A prospect before you, Henry, my boy.
8 Why, your house is scarcely habit
a able. I know / wouldn't stand it,"
a What would you do, Jasper
a Keith:'
Il would let in the light of com
= mon sense on the whole bag and
"a baggage OF them, and I think in the
end you will find your worthy FORE
4 fathers have been kept out of the
best part of their mansion by a few
8 enterprising rats and MICE"
~ Jasper Keith, you know you are
talking nonsense. You are merely
a egging my cousin on to attempt the
solution of the Lodore mysteries to
crafty your own curiosity. Henry,
do not be influenced by him." re-
y torted beautiful Jean Arniston, who
a sat near.
MY fair cousin, whatever you
q say must, of course. be right. A
a pretty woman is always right. But
q nevertheless I will stick to the rats
81 and mice theory until I am convert
s. ed to & better" was Jasper Keith g
supercilious reply as the company
4 left the dinner table with the ladies.
j"Come, Henry, let's tale our wine
in the smoking room, and Clifford
and will give you your revengefor
81 mai 22OU we won from you last
# night"
= "ldinna like young Laird Henry's
ga look said the old butler when he
imagined he was alone with the 9TH
a rr servants clearing away the dinner
things. He's like ane that's fey,
81 and I'm sure I saw his wrath stand
3aln aside him in the ha' last NIGHT.
lies far owre chief WI that Jasper
& Keith that was fain to marry Miss
s] Jean. That mans here for nae guide.
hes gotten a face like the very dell
himsel'."
In place of the murmurs of assent
Ito bis sentiments from his fellow
- servants which he was always wont
10 hear a bitter, sardonic laugh fell
@4on big ea:. He started, TO e the
5uan OF whom he had been speaking
Standing beside him, having re-
burned to the dining room to recover
SEaa paper he had left behind.
Don't like me, eh, Wattys Look
200 much like his satanic majestyt to
please your fastidious taste, chr
N4&sorry l cannot change my features
obligo YOU" And again the cold,
Esalasplng laugh rang out from the
spale, bloodless lips Of Jasper Keith,
whose pallid face, jet black hair and
esard and glittering eyes justified
pc Watty's description.
The old butler vouchsafed no re-
I8@piy. He made all the haste he could
j. get away from close proximity TO
lne double of the devil" as Keith
3sas called. The latter was a distant
felatlve of the family and had been
rejected suitor for Jean Arniston's
@la nc But his failure to secure the
Efalze did not discompose him. He
s$ayceeded in establishing friendly
with Henry, and it was
8alspered was tine companion Of the
90ung laird in some of the most dis
aeeful Of the orgies into which he
: won't to plunge.
~uore castle was one Of those
\, old border mansions that
retain id their massive towers
oattlemented walls the MEM
Z ssss OF the stirring times when the
~iess reiver and the stark moss
/, were making the history
] mas descended in ballad and ro-.
d aee. Standing at the head of one
sne ~gloofniest glens in the Lam
'-ioor bills and perched on the