The Somerset reporter., 1901-11-07
A Hlghwayman's
Juliet e ~ @
A Celebrated Authors
Weird Fancy.
BY ARTHUR t. QUILLER-CoUCH.
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The house in question was what
Peter the Scholar (who corrects my
proof sheetsl calls one of the rusinurby
sort-the front facing a street and the
back looking over turfed garden,
with a lime tree or two, a laburnum,
and lawn tennis court marked out,
its white lines plain to see in the star
light. AT the end of the garden a door,
painted dark green, led into a narrow
lane between high walls, where, if two
persons met one had to turn sideways
to let the other pass. The entrance to
this lane was cut in two by wooden
post about the height of your hip, and
just beyond this, in the highroad,
George was waiting for us with the
dogcart
We had picked the usual time-the
dinner hour. 1t had just turned dark,
and the church clock, two streets away,
was Ginning the quarter after 8 when
Peter and | let ourselves in by the
green door | spoke Of and felt along
the wall for the gardeners ladder that
we knew was hanging there. a simpler
job there never was. The bedroom
window on the first floor stood right
open to the night air, and inside was
faint candlelight Pickering, just as
careless maid will leave it after her
mistress has gone down to dinner. To
be sure, there was chance of her com
Ing back to put 1t out, but we could
hear her voice going in the servants
hall as we lifted the ladder and rested
1t against the sill.
"She's good for half an hour yet"
Peter whispered, holding the ladder
while BEGAN to climb: but if | hear
her voice stop I'll give the signal to be
cautious"
l went up softly, pushed my head
gently above the level of the sill and
looked in.
1t was a roomy place, with great
half tester bed. hung with curtains,
standing out from the wall on my
right. The curtains were of chintZ. a
dark background, with flaming red
peoples sprawling over it, and the
farther curtain hid the dressing table
and the candles upon it and the jewel
case that confidently hoped to stand
upon it also. A bright Brussels carpet
covered the floor, and the wall paper,
remember-though, for the life of me,
can not tell why-was a pale gray
ground, worked up to initiate watered
silk, with springs Of gilt honeysuckle
upon it.
l looked around and listened for half
minute. The house was still as death
up here-not a sound in the room or in
the passages beyond. With a nod to
Peter to hold the ladder firm lifted
one leg over the sill, then the other,
dropped my feet carefully upon the
thick carpet and went quickly around
the bed to the dressing table.
But at the corner, and as soon as
ever / saw around the chintz curtain,
my knees gave way, and l put out
hand toward the bedpost.
Before the dressing table, and in
front of the big glass In which she
could see my white face was an old
lady seated.
She wore blaze of Jewels and low
gown, out of which rose the scragglest
neck and shoulders | have ever looked
on. Her hair was thick with black dye
and fastened with diamond star. Be
tween the two candles the powder
showed on her cheek bones like -four
on miller's coat. Chin on hand she
was gazing steadily into the mirror be-
n fri I
time to note that a glass of sherry and
q plate of rice and curry stood at her
elbow among the rouge pots and
powder puffs.
While | stood stock still and pretty
well scared out of my wits she rose.
still staring at my image in the glass,
folded her hands modestly over her
bosom and spoke in a deep, traglcal
voice:
''The princer'
Then. facing sharply around, she
held out her thin arms.
You have come-at lastr'
There was not much to say to this
except that | had. So | confessed 1t.
Even with the candles behind her |
cOuiu set HtI eyes EloNiu E ilht uoE .,
and an uglier poor creature this world
could scarcely show.
rs the ladder set against the win
dow?"
"Since you seem to know, maam,"
said l. at S."
"Ah. Romeo. Your cheeks are ruddy
your peoples are too red"
"Then I'm glad my color's come back;
for. to tell the truth, you did give me
turn just at first. You were looking
out for me, no Doubt
; my prince," She stretched out her