Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1898-09-22
CHAPTER III.-(ContinucdD

arrived Il, ClaNlon NlcaraSe. MISS
Ehotwor1hv proved To he little better
than a thorouyll-pacca tirt and advtn-
tureSS She went out boating. fishing
and walking at all hours with any of
the CluXton Young men who asked her,
hired horses and flies for drives. invlt-
ed her acQ,Elinancc> to the vicHrage.
rn,:crl Elsie into all sorts Of diSrrputa-
BILE Scr9lpcS. ana ut length SO diSmayed
kiu.lly-intentior, d Mrs. Gardiner by
her conduct that that lady was forced
to ask l.er to terminate her visit.
That Miss Chatworthy profe>sed her
self Obliged to do. she having promised
to spend fortnight With the Hattiel,lS:
and to IOrnc Road she Went. foolish
Mrs. Hatfield having regarded her mis-
conduct from ElSie's point Of view in
preference to needing the remonSt!an-
ces of Mrs. Gardiner. 4 piece Of folly
she had to regret when Miss Chatwor
thy had taken her departure at the end
of a month ard the bills she had in
Cured for confectionery. haberdashery.
boating and riding were sent to the
HattcldS for payment.
Elsie persisted in keeping up cor
rcSpondencc with Miss ChatW orthy
who appeared to have no home and 10
relations For eighteen months Elsie
reported her rs being At different
places. until at last. after Il short 81
lencr she received a letter announcing
that Miss Clatworthy had met cap
tain in the merchant service at Ports
mouth. who had fallen in love with her
and married her. Since then Judy had
only heard that Captain and Mrs. Bar
clay lived at Myrtle Cottage. Rich
mond. and thither. with anything but
pleasant anticipa1ions. she was bound.
She had little difficulty in finding the
cottagc-an ul-tidy-lookinS little place.
with an uncared-for garden. dlngy lace
curtains to its four windows. venetian
blinds all awry and Il very dirty door
step. However. a tidy-looking maid
servant answered her knock and stared
hard at Judith'S dark. pale face. under
the simple black hat and at her neatly
sloved hands and fawn-colored dress.
Having decided within herself that the
servant vas not very Intellectual. Ju-
di1h altered her original programme by
asking. imperatively
rs Mrs. ToWnshend within: -hOp-
ing to discomfort the girl aud cause her
to tell the truth: but she was very
much disappointed to receive for Il re-
ply:
Mrs. Townshend don't live here,
miss: / don't know the name at all.
Tat Mrs. Barca! lives hcrl-I wish
to see her. Is she within:''
"Ye-es. miss"--and the girls stolid
face grew very red-''but she won't sec
any one. especially if it's charity
1T isn't anything of that sort. my
good girl. Mrs. Barclay is-an ac-
0uaintance of mine. and l am sue she
will see me ut once Kindly show me
the way to her. And with all air that
completely subdued the girl. Judith
stepped over the threshold. and smil-
ing. half gloomily. half-amusedly, fol-
owed the girl to the nearest door. which
she flung open, saying. "A lady to see
YOU, mum" and shut the visitor in.
For moment Judy was only con-
scious that she was in the u.ltidlest
room that she had ever seen in her life.
The dingy curtains were looped up
ANYHOW. the communicating. chintz-
covered furniture was dusty and disar-
ranged. the gaudy carpet was Uttered.
and in the window. huddled up on his
perch was a misunderstanding canary
The cheaD-lOOking. open piano was
strewn with music. and some books and
knick-kancks on the small center-taDlc
had been pushed aside to make room
for a iapal ned tca-tray set for two per
sons. Just as Judith's heart gave Il
heavy thrOb as the thought struck her
that Elsie might have used one Of
those very cups. a voice behind her
said. mockingly:
"Oh. what surprise. Judy Hatfield,
as I'm Il living sinner lhave been
looking at you all this time. but have
only just discovered your identity.
How are you, Judith? Very pleased to
see you. But-excuse my rising. won't
you:-my spine is weak. and my doc
tor has ordered me to lie on my back
for eight hours day"
During this speech Judith discovered
that on the sofa behind the door lay
Mrs Barclay looked pretty. with her
thickly-lashed gray eyes, small features
and nice color, but as untldy as the
room in her faded pink silk picgnoir,
with dirty lace ut neck and wrists. She
held a paper-bound novel in one hand,
while the other was Imply held out for
her visitor TO shake.
make yourself at home. and come
and tell me all the news" Mrs. Barclay
resumed. with her customary qucknrsS
in talking: land don't mind me saying
Judith. that | find you very much al
tered. You are thinner than ever, The
cares and responsibilities Of that tami.
ly are making YOU look old before yOul
time. Why don't YOU cut it, and get
married: | should. III your place. Eow'>
my chum. Elsie! Bless her. ! jump Il
for joy when ] read in tn" pape: the
announcement Of her marriage; but il
wasn't kind of lr:' % emit sending INC
cards. | suppose. though. 1llll Some
body ToWnSlienl. Esq. Of Somewher,
in the North and somewhere else II
ClaXton. is Il cut abov! Il captain in Tho
mcrchan, service though woudn
have believed that Elsie would have
ever become proud.
Having made two or three vain 1T
forts to obtain Il hearing Judith fol
lowed Mrs. Gardeners advice ant
watched Mrs. Barclays face as Sin
chattered. There was Il So, smile Oh i
that the girl did NOT like and he rest
less eyes nevr.' met hers for Il second
Judith WA: so intent Oh watching IN,
trying 10 make up her mind whicl
would be the best way 10 set about he