The Republican journal., 1901-09-19
SEALED ORDERS.

crumbs to the peacocks.
Up the avenue came a rattle and
trip of horses: the peacocks fled shrek
ing down the great white steps, and
the lady's skirts were half hidden in a
gay whirl of feathers. She laughed a
little to herself and then looked with a
little dread at the carriage roof piled
with trunks.
How do you do, Polly"
The visitor was a stout woman, elder
1y, and of the kind who pry. She hop
near relation.
ut was very kind of yol to ask me,
Aunt Elizabeth" she said. She never
allowed poor Bess to forget that she
was her aunt by marriage.
Bess put up her hand to the flying
golden hair and smiled. The visitor
followed her look to where a lean man
was tramping up, dragged down by the
weight of huge portmanteau.
1T can't be Joseph she cried and
frowned
oh" said Bess quickly, q thought
you would amuse each other"
t was her duty to ask these relatives
once year, and she had thought to
take them both at gulp. But the ar
rivals glared at each other with eyes
full of deadly hate, as the man APP
preached, injured and hot and dusty.
why are you walking?" said the
hostess, shocked.
He put down his portmanteau with
an affected sigh.
Its nothing, my aunt. Simply the
lack of MammOn."
BesS was accustomed to thruStS like
that made by her late husbands people.
The General had been arbitrary in his
testamentary dispositions.
I'm so sorry" she said. 'The car
riage had to go to the other station for
Mrs. Cox, but | said cab"
''Theporter was very pressing, that |
should take a cab,' said Joseph, with
the air of having outwitted an interest
ed party; but l caught up my bag and
slipped through the upper gate. l can't
afford
You would not have had to pay for
it said Bess. Il ordered the cab to
bring you"
OH in rueful gasp.
Bess turned toward the hall.
Come in and have tea before you go
up to dress" she said, with perplexed
smile. Poor things, they hated her, as
she knew: but it was awkward to find
that they should also hate each other.
They followed her in, walking far
apart.
Anybody dining with you tonight"
asked Mrs Cox casually, as she stirred
her tea.
Il asked Dalcarres.'
The enemies eyes were lit with a
sudden CLEAN.
John Gordon of Dalcarres was stand
ing. tall and shy, among the dim lights
of t1l 6,alY- If pmnfV.
but there was slight culver in the
curtains shutting in the little writing
den beyond. He heard strange sound,
like sobbing, behind the glimmering
Indian reeds. He had begun to march
forward, and then he had stopped
afraid
He was big man, with strong arms
and a little stoop in the shoulders-not
a writing stoop, but the kind that
often comes with leaning over horse,
as a long man will There was no
mistaking John Gordon's seat in the
the saddle.
He took a long stride at last-eager
unsteady-across all the gay litter of
this woman's room: but his step had
been heard already: the woman inside
had lifted her head with a start. He
reached her in an instant parting the
jlllSlIlS ltttt0,
why were you crying" he said alb
rupty.
ut was nothing" said Bess. Tim
rather tired"
She looked straight at him, with a lit
tie defiant smile, but her lip was CULVER
ing back to tears. John Gordon took
both her hands determinedly in his;
his ears were startled yet with that
sound of bitter crying.
Look here" he said, "What is the
matter: Trust me. I'm all old friend
Mrs. Courage-Im an old friend. Per
haps-'
He broke off abruptly, waiting. Her
cheeks grew scarlet, and she could not
any longer look him straight in the
face; she turned away her rumpIed gold
Ell head as she felt his strong fingers
tight on hers.
oh" she said, don't mind I'm
just a coward. I've got those two in
the house, and they hate me so. They
would like me to die: they are always
watching, watching. l remember
heard-how eager they were once when
| was ILL.,
Why" asked Dalcarres. He re-
membered. There had been stories of
their Impotence. He had ridden ten
miles each evening, and waited in the
snow to catch the doctor. Had she
heard that, too?
Because of that awful money. Oh,
how | hate it,
A curious line came round John Cor
don's mouth, as if-But he held her
hands fast and listened.
II saw them look at each other" she
said, land their faces were simply MUIR
derous. If they can look like that at
each other because one of them might
get it-ohi how must they look at me-
1t frightens me. | see them wish
poison into the cup drink, and if l
should hear them at night creeping
creeping"
The little hands tightly clasped in
his were shaking. Was this the Bess
Courage whose pluck was famous, the
richest woman in the county, and the
most unattainable?
Laugh at me-" she said wistfully.
'Oh. laugh at me; but remember I'm
most poor woman and stranger,
and-and I'm all alone''
John Gordon felt sudden leap at his
heart; he put out his strong right arm
to fold round her and hold her safe
And then there was a high cackle be-
hind the reeds and Mrs. Cox sidled in.