New-York tribune., 1901-05-05
SEALED ORDERS.


r. Ramsay. in Chambers's Journal
Bess Courage standing at her door. Her
golden hair was flying, a little wild. round her
face; she gathered her black skirts with one
hand behind her, and with the other began fling
ing crumbs to the peacOcks.
Up the avenue came a rattle and trip of horses;
the peacocks fled shrieking down the great white
steps. and the lady's skirts were half hidden in
gay whirl of feathers She laughed to herself
and then looked with little dread at the
riage roof piled with trunks.
How do you do. POlly?''
The visitor was a stout woman elderly and of
the kind who pry. She hoped up the steps with
the bold air of a near relation
1T was kind of you to ask me- Aunt Eliza
beth" she said. She never allowed poor Bess to
forget that she was her aunt by marriage.
BesS put up her hands to her 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 portnanteau
oh. said Bess quickly Il thought you would
amuse each other
IL her duty to ask these relatives a
year and she had thought to take them both at
a gup. But the arrivals glared at each other
with eyes full of deadly hate. as the man ap-
preached, injured and hot and dusty.
shocked.
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;
10 10 the other station for Mrs. Cox but
said cab
The porter was very pressing that I should
take cab said Joseph. with the air of having
Outwitted an interested party; but / caught up
my bag and slipped through the upper gate, 4
! 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 il was
awkward 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.
I've asked Dalcarres."
The enemies eyes We're lit with a sudden
CLEAN.
John Gordon. of Dalcarres was standing tall
and shy. among the dim lights Of the drawing
room 1t was empty; but there was slight
CULVER in the curtains shutting in the little
writing den beyond He heard a strange sound,
like sobbinS, behind the glimmering Indian
reeds. He had begun to march forward. and
then he had stopped. afraid
He a big man. with strong arms and a
little stOOp in the shOulders-nOt writing stoop.
but the kind that Otter. comes with leaning over
horse. a long man Will There mis-
taking John Gordons seat in the saddle
He took long stride at last-easer. unsteady
across all the gay litter of this wonan's room;
but his step had been heard already: the woman
inside had lifted her head with a He
reached her in an instant. parting the jinglins
reeds.
why you crying" he said abruptly.
1T nothing said Bess. lin rather
tired"
She looked straight at him. with little de-
iant smile but her lip was qu,vering back
tears John Gordon took both her hands deter
mnedly in his; his startled yet with
that sound of bitter crying
Look here he said. What is the matter?
Trust me- I'm old friend, Mrs. Courage
I'm an old friend. Perhaps'-
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
rumpled golden head she felt his strong
fingers tight hers.
oh she said. don't mind. I'm just a cow
ard I've got those two in the house. and they
hate me They would like to die; they are
always watching, watching. / remember-I
heard-how eager they We're when L was
i'll
Why asked Dalcarres. He remembered
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 I
hate it,
A curious line round John Gordon's
mouth. as if But he held her hands fast
and listened
Il saw them look at each other she said
and their faces We're simply murderOus If
they can look like that at each other because one
of them might-Set it-oh, how must they look
at me? Ii frghtenS me | see them wish poison
into the cup drink and if should hear them
at night creepinS-creeping''
The little hands tightly cIasped in his were
shaking Was this the BesS Courage whosa
pluck was famous, the richest woman in th.