The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1898-01-16
CHAPTER V.
Loreen, Lucetta and William

have received an impression of Miss
Knollys that would in a measure have
eounteracted that made by the more
nervous and less restrained Lucetta.
The dignified reserve OF her bearing,
the quiet way in which she approached
and above all the even tones in which
she uttered her welcome were such as
to win my confidence and put me at my
ease in the house Of which she was the
nominal mistress. Rut that look! With
that in my memory | was enabled to
sec below the surface of this placid ma
tIlrc and in the very constraint she put
On herself detect the presence of that
same secret uneasiness which had been
so openly if unconsciously manifested
by her sister.
She was more beautiful than Lucetta
in form and feature, and even more
markedly elegant in her plain black
gown and fine lawn ruftles, but she
lacked the evanescent charm of the
others smile, and though admirable to
all appearance was less lovable on Il
shcrt acquaintance She had not had
as much suffering as Lucetta.
But this delays my tale, which is one
of action rather than reflection. | had
naturally expected that with the APP
pearance Of the elder Miss Knolys |
would he taken to my room but on the
contrary she sat down ard with an
apologize air informed me that she
was sorry she could not show me the
precise attentions she wished. Circum-
stances. she said, over which she had
no control had made it impossible for
them to offer me the guest chamber
but if [ would be so good as to accept
another for this one night she would
endeavor to provide me with better
accommodating en- the morrow
Satisfied of the almost painful nature
IF their poverty and determined to sub
NIT to privations if necessary rather
Shan depart before [ had penetrated the
mystery of this remarka bic household,
FASTENED to say, with what | hope
laS sincere good feeling, that any room
would be acceptable to me, and still ex-
pecting to be taken up stairs | began
to gather up my wraps, but MISS
KuCllys again surprised me by saying
that my room was not yet ready; that
they had not been able to complete all
their arrangements, and would | make
myself a home where I was till even
ing.
AS this was asking a good deal of
woman of my years, fresh from rail-
road journey and with natural habits
of great neatncss and order, felt
somewhat disconnected. but hiding it
for the reasons before given L laid
down NV bundles again and endeavored
to make the best of the somewhat try
ing situation.
Launching at once into conversation,
I began, as with her sister. 10 ialk
l., II 7,fAt l. n
save in the Vaguest way, why Mrs.
Enollys had taken her journey abroad
which had ended in death and burial
in a foreign land | had heard she had
gone abroad for her health. which had
begun to fail after the birth of Lucet-
Ia. but as she had gone unaccompanied
by her husband or children there was
much that it would be so interesting
for me to know concerning these events
which l felt that these girls might be
willing to tell me, but Miss Knollys,
Intentionally or unintent1onaliy, asSum-
ed an air so cold at these we'll meant
questions on my part that L deSlSted
from pressing her and began to talk
about myself in a way which | hoped
would establish really friendly relations
between us and make it possible for her
to tell me later, if not at the present
moment, what it was that weighed so
heavily upon the household that no one
could enter into it without feeling the
shadow of the secret terror that en-
vcloped it.
But Miss Knollys, while more atten-
tive to my remarks than her sister had
l;ecn, showed still by certain unmi:tak-
able signs that her heart and interest
were anywhere but in that room, and
while | could not regard this as throw
ing any discredit upon my powers of
pleasing-whfch have rarely failed
l,.aN -G,-tso a n hnit n
most-I still could not but experience
the dampening effect of her manner 1
went on chatting, but in a deSultory
way, noting al that was odd in her I'M
accountable reception of ne, but eivir 6,
as l firmly believe, no evidence of my
concern and rapidly increasing curiOs-
ity.
The particularities observable in this
nay first interview with these interest
ing but by no means easily to be under
stood sisters continued all day. When
one sister came in, the other stepped
out, ard when dinner time came and [
was ushered down the bare and dismal
hall into an equally bare and unattract-
i've dining room it was to find the seats
laid for four and Lucetta only seated at
the head OF the board.
Where is Loreen?'' I asked wonder
ingly, as l took the seat she pointed out
to me with one of her faint and quick
~ NdiliSHlIS SillleS.
She-she cannot come at present"
my young hostess stammered with the
least glance of distress at he large
hearty looking woman who had sum-
m0ned me to the dining room.
An l murmured. thinking that
possibly Loreen had found it necessary
to assist in the preparation Of the meal.
and your brother?"
II was The first time he had been
mentioned by any of us: [ had shrunk
from the venture out of a motive of
pure compassion, l think, and they had
not seen fit to introduce his name into
any of our conversations. Consequently
| waited her response with some anX-
iety. having a secret premonition that
in some way he was at the bottom OF
my strange reception.
Her hasty answer, given. however,
without any increase of embarrass-
ment, somewhat dispelled this suppo-
sition.
"Oh, he will be in presently" said
she. William is never very punctual."
But when he did come in | could not
but see that her manner instantly
changed and became almost painfully
anxious. Though it was ny first meet
ing with the real head of the house she
waited for an interchange of looks with
him before giving me the necessary in
PRODUCTION, and when, this duty passed.
ne TOOK his seat at the table her
thoughts and attention remained so fix
ed upon him that she well nigh forgot
the ordinary civilities of a hostess. Had
1t not been for the woman 1 have spo-
Ken OF, who in her good natured atten-
uon TO my wants amply made up for
the abstraction of her mistress. / should
nave Jared i'll a this meal, good and