Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1900-03-31


II am sorry, srr,~ he answered with
slight hesitation, that her ladyship
Is out at present What nama shall L
say when she returns?'
Mr.. Stanton" / unsuspectingly re-
piled, though 1t did dimly occur to me
that the man might have left me to
give him my card.
II am sorry" 1 hypocritically re
marked, not to see Lady Tressidy;
but L have come some distance. and
perhaps Miss Cunningham would spare
me a few minutes"
IL am afraid, sir."-stili sfammer,
ing uncomfortably-"tha Miss Cum
ningham Is away with her ladyship."
81 think you are mistaken about
that" boldly said. please be good
enough at any rate to Inquire"
Il am quite sure 1 am right, SIR he
went on more firmly. Miss Cunning
ham is with my lady"
There might be one way out, and
took IL.
81 will wait" I announced. until the
ladies return. Or possibly Sir Walter
"Sir Walter wont be here for day
or two" promptly responded the man.
AS for the ladies, sir, unfortunately
they are not expected back this eve
ming until-until the last train-too
late, as you can understand to receive
any visitors, as at all events they can't
reach the house until after eleven"
L will write a line on my card.
then, to be handed to the ladies, whom
I regret not having SEEN" l said with
what dignity 1 had at my command,
and stepping past him into the hall,
despite a visible CLEAN of consterna-
| ton In his eye, deliberately took out
| q pencil and card case, slowly scrib-
bl.ug a few words
conspicuously placed a sovereign on
the card as gave II to the footman. re.
marking quietly that would wish the
latter to be delivered in the presence
of both ladies If possible. Then /
| seemed to have come to the end of nv
resources, until desperate idea seized
me.
turned from the door and got into
the cab, which the footman politely
opened for me as If only too glad to
Speed the parting guest. The direction
ito the station" was given, the gravel
crunched under the wheels and horses
hoofs, the door at which I had been
received so inhospitably shut me out
or paradise, and no doubt the, servant
triumphantly watched me drive of.
! Halfway down the avenue. however.
thrust my stick from the window of
the rattle-trap vehicle and stopped the
coachman.
81 have forgotten something / CURLY
said. You needn't go back; wait here.
and I'll return in a few moments"
| The fly was standing Just out of
sight from the house, and rapidly leay.
Ing ii behind me. L strobe over the
frozen grass OF the lawn, taking n
shorter cut than the avenue would
have been.
The falling darkness had protected
me, 1 felt confident, from being seen
by anybody In the house as 1 crossed
the lawn, and 1 approached with a
holiness, which only left me as !
reached the window.
The curtain hung apart as before.
and I could see the fireplace. with the
lights and shadows travelling fantasia.
ca,ly along the polished floor and wall.
The white irradiated figure was no
longer visible, but, undiscouraged bv
this fact, l gently raped, trustina
that Karine might be in another mart
OF the room to which my eyes could
not reach.
But / knocked once twice. thrice
each time a little louder a little more
Iinsjstently than before, and There was
no response, no sound, no movement
After all, 1 was thwarted. and / had
but one comfort in the midst of gloom
II had not been easily repulsed. I had
done what 1 could, and mead not feel
a:terward, when l was far away. that
l had let myself be outwltted' ont.
generated, without an effort to resist
Fate had decided that 1 must GO n
| America without q word, without n
look into Karine Cunningham's eyes:
aud, drearily returning to nv waiting
cab, j commenced once more the tedi.
Gus drive TO the station.
| ITO be continued