Waterbury Democrat., 1900-12-22
tcoFyrigh', 1soo. by A N. Kellogg Newspaper Col
 CHAPTER T.

O SR,e3@SA~ ~ tcofyrigh,, 1.oo. by A. N. Kellogg Newspaper Col
 CHAPTER I.
 There was a touch of the destroying breath of autumn in the keen wind which swept over LyndhuTst, an old colonial mansion on the Hudson near New York. The big trees on the ter raced lawn and in the dense wood be- hind the house were shedding their sere and yellow foliage, and ill the ex. tensive garden on the left of the en- trance not even a belated flower could be seen in the well-arranged parterres Here stood a marble statue, there a paying fountain; the entire aspect was cold and cheerless.
 Within the mansion quite different scene presented itself. A footman in livery stood in the vast hail; white capped, white-aproncd naid-servants moved about with soft tread and so- lcitous mien. Five o'clock tea was be- in. served in the quaint Elizabethan drawing room. A man less than 40 years of age, tall, handsome and with a military bearing, r>c!ined in a quaint Iy carved easy chair beIore the glowing wood fire with its old-fashioned brass fender and dragon-shaped andirons. The mans face was full, dark and round; his high, broad brow suggested considerable power of intellect; he wore no beard and his short thick hair was touched with gray He had but enc questionable feature; an expert rhysiognomist might have said that it was a pity such d strong face should be marred by mouth slightly in clined towards weakness. His wife, who sat near him, was handsome woman; she was perhaps as old as he. Her complexion was clear and good; her teeth were fine and even; between her parted lips they caught the red freight and threw it back broken into tiny gleams. Her hands and feet were small and well shaped, her body pos sessed an undulating ease of nlovemilt that gratified the visual sense of the beholder Her hair was dark brown, her eyes black and sharp, and these things. with the general contour of her shrewd face, hinted at French ex- traction.
 When the tea was brought in a young lady who had been playing Beethoven sonata on the grand piano in the large 1 bOw-windOw turned to another girl of about her own age wEo stood by her ready to depart.
 You really must stop for cup of tea. Lottie,' she said, laying her jew 1 eled hand on the arm of the visitor. l II am sorry, but I shall miss my l train if l stay even a moment longer; Rs it is l shall have to urge your coach | man o drive rapidly
 | .sGb Sl1rply yQ11 arc not cCipV Miss ! Dean,' protested Maj. Goddard. rising i and coming towards them. We really 1 see so lii tie of you. you know, andiwhen -ou do honor us ii is generally only 70 the extent of a pop call. l am really going to incite my ward to downright rebellion against you and all tho rest of her old school friends"
 That is right. Guardian" The plan ist smil, u d s she rose; you must stand by me. Lottie has such a nice time in the city that she is getting above such quiet retreat as this"
 "Oh, it isn't that" laughed the ac- cused. "i do enjoy it so much here and am coming to pay you a good visit before long. Really, l am looking for ward to it with a great deal of pleas ure."
 Well. until then we shall have a fruce," cried the ma jor, and he escorted . the guest to the door where his car riage was waiting. As he reentered the drawing room the expression of his wifes face riveted his attention. Mrs Goddard was watching Miss Briscoe, who had left the piano and was pouring the tea at the low brass table in the center of the room. The look she was giving his ward was so full of malig- nant dislike that the genial face of the major grew grave. He seated himself in the chair he had just left and eyed his wife attentively. Just then Miss Bris- COG brought a cup of tea to him.
 You'll find it exactly right, Guard ian," she said with q smile. ''I not only know the number but l now under stand the size of the Jumps of sugar you want"
 Ut is always right, Blanche, wher you pour it for me" He would have
 added further p.easantries to this had he rot felt the rigid stare of his wife upon him.
 ; You have nice manners, must say Mrs. Goddard suddenly jerlled out 'but presume you were taught in tha' Fifth Avenue school to serve gentle , men before ladies.'
 f The beautiful girl flushed to he
 wavy golden hair.
 "Oh, do pardon me, Mrs. Goddard,
 am so forgetful; Guardian looked st tired after his journey to town that r. r "Oh, it doesn't matter in the least : and this retort was emphasized b, !. Mrs. Goddard's rising, pushing pas t the girl and pouring her own tea. He , face was dark with suppressed rage a ', she took her cup to a window-seat be
 hind the piano and hastily drank it aft
 CT the manner of angry individuals. ] "Never mind" said Maj. Goddard t, + Blanche, who, with q look of deepenin: f embarrassment on her face. had takel Q a seat near him; never nina it can
 be helped"
 "I wouldn't have displeased her fo
 the world, cn--on your account, if fo
 nothing else. I do try my best to get O
 with her. but somehow l never mak = the slightest progress in the right d I rection. 1 am so awkward"