Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1899-06-03
MRRF }tRMlh hF0N'S ROMANCE
John STRANGE WINTER.
Copyright, 1898, by the Author.
CHAPTER XI.
ON THE TOP OF THE TIDE.


One of the rules of Alan Stacey's life
was that when he took a holiday it
should be a real holiday. He was not
one of those persons who combine bust
ness with pleasure and make themselves
an annoyance to their friends by keep
ing the bogy of work ever present with
them.
They left London Immediately after
the wedding. going by slow and easy
stages to Italy, and for three long, de-
licious months they reveled in luxu-
rious happiness. Alan Stacey made
travelling so easy. He was content to
travel for pleasure; he detested people
who made it business
"No, my dear sir, he said one day
to an enthusiastic American who was
badgering him to go and see an Etrus-
can tomb 81 have not gone. and do
not mean to 60.
"But. my dear sir, it is your duty to
60; ycu ought to go; you ought to i'm
prove your mind; you ought to see all
that there is to be seen This is Won
derful specimen. real old Etruscan
tomb. You may never have another op-
portunity of seeing one SO perfect and
interesting
81 don t care, said Alan Stacey dog
gedly. II came here to enjoy myself
with my wife My wife doesn't care
about tombs, and I don't care about
tombs. All the Etruscan tombs in the
world will not be the smallest use to
me. They do not interest me, and they
do not please me, and refuse to be
badgered into meditations which only
irritate and annoy me. Do you 60 and
look at the tomb and stay there. I shall
not complain. shall never grumble at
your choice of habitation.
"Poor thing He means we'll, said
Mary when the energetic sightseer had
departed.
~ dare say he does," Alan replied,
with laugh. "but l wish he'd go and
mean we'll somewhere else. Let US move
on. You said yesterday that you would
like to 20 to Bella Villa. Let us 60 to
Bella Villa and lose him."
They worked their way home from
Italy at last, returning by way of the
Riviera, and the middle Of May saw
Mrs. Alan Stacey settled in the beauti-
full old house at Fulham, with what
was practically the world at her feet.
How happy she wasl She had been
used to think that. no matter what fate
awaited her in the future, the horror.
the sickening dread. the terror. the re-
pugnance the shuddering misery. of the
past would always be with her. But 1t
was not So Time, the wonderful ply
sician, taught her to forget, and by the
time she found herself installed in the
Fulham house she might, so far as her
feelings went, have been Mrs. Alan
Stacey for ten years instead of little
more than as many weeks.
On the very first morning after their
arrival home she sent for the housekeep-
er who had been left in charge of the
Sycamores at the time Of their mar.
riage
81 sent for you" said Mrs. Stacey
gently, "because it is better that we
should begin with a clear understand
ing of how we mean to go on. You will
quite understand '';at as | shall con-
tirue to help Mr.. Stacey with his work
I shall have no time for housekeep-
ing. You understand Mr.. Stacey's
ways, his likes and dislikes. He has
been admirably satisfied with you in
the past, and l would like you to know
now that I desire to make no change.
So long as you continue to satisfy your
master you will satisfy me. You will
please continue exactly as you have
done heretofore-your accounts. your
menus. everything just as before. Oc-
casionally may make suggestion to
you if there is some dish that l should
like to have, or if we are having visit
ors may like to make some little al
terations in the menu. but as general
rule I do not wish to be troubled with
any housekeeping arrangements.
The housekeeper. who was a French
woman and thoroughly knew the value
of a good place, thanked her mistress
and assured her of her fidelity and de-
votion.
Then Mary rang the bell, and when
John came in answer to the summons
she told him to shut the door; that she
wished to speak to him.
"John," Sue said, 81 have just been
talking to Nine Boniface and telling
her that wish your masters marriage
to make no difference in the domestic
arrangements. You have satisfied him
for many years, and hope you will
continue to satisfy him for many years
longer. I may have to give you few
orders, but on the whole I wish you to
continue precisely as you have always
done"
"You would like to have the key of
the cellar, ma ann" said John politely.
He had no more intention of giving up
the key of the cellar than he had of
giving up the use of his senses, but to
make the offer was the highest compli-
ment he could pay to his new mistress.
Mary laughed outright. 'No, John,
she said; 81 do not think the key of the
cellar would be of very much use to me.