New-York tribune., 1901-04-28

corners; the plaster had fallen in patches from
me ceilings; the knots stood in knuckles from
IA me worn hooring; the windows were broken
Inc air was heavy with the odor of a deserted
iiouSe-a compound OF dust and must and mil
NC, ana some indescribable SAVIOR of the dead
Ihh1pltanfs, who had slept there for SO many
!tafs' and died at last. Presently the doctor
i'dSslhS through a doorway. felt as though he
.iau "aihed INTO dream. A green light, ftering
through the leaves that pressed upon the pane
ho%eu iu no wall facing him, but a sandy
oii4h OF earth with projecting, gnarled roots
->eEer IN his life had the doctor that
Iipresslon stronger upon him. of having
Zen the place before, thar at that moment
tie knew that stairway opened downward ON
ihe left side of the room, against the wall and
mere 1t was He peered down the broken steps
mo 4 dusky, earth hoored chamber The chill
"I the place made him shiver: if he had been
mere before it Was in dream. a dream which
bat not the dream
Jacomb walked smartly back through the
s"uilulNS chambers, conscious of a certain icy
IdtS III ms blood and of 4 disagreeabl. fancy
that he was being followed by a noselass some
Ihins, that lodged him when he turned 10 look
out ~ :he sunshine he reflected that this kind
q thing came ffom oVerwork. He had 4 pa sing
hotlnn that the Old house basking IN the sun
shine its battlenents and t1lisTad ,bir,nslts
salient uDOn the hard blue sky as though cut in
cardboard, was looking at hlm from half closed
eyes, with the insoTutable Pierrepoint expires
hand.
Jacomb was a dabbIer in water colors. and
the next day found him lettering in the galleries
of Starnins House, satchel IN hand. He had the
bind aUcacity of the amateur. and he c3ntem-
plated the picture Of Lady Pierrepoint an ring
lets and point lace with intent to transfer that
elaborate work OF his own little block
The haf closed eyes returned his gaze s.deiong;
the vivid lips were parted: the hand Che artist
had taken pride TO display that fine ard soft
IelilD5Ip iaS III conscious unconseousness upon
the silken knee. completing the innuendo of the
whole effect The doctor was at q loss to con-
strue its meaning, but he turned his ad
he perceived in the instant divination OF a first
glance the problem challenging him in living
face and form. a girl stood regarding him
he
opened upon space OF sunshine. Tne impress
sion came and went: even as she stepped for
ward Jacomb lost the transient likeness of the
pictured expression
Il hope" said the young lady, that you like
my pictures"
The doctor. apologizing for his presence there
noted that her hair the color of wheat
straw. contrasting with the brown eyes and eye
BLOWS He thought her slight figure TOO thin
for heT cs5e. which might have been twenty
NJ 81 el.' she said in answer to his apollo
gles' fstGrned unexpectedly. Pray do not
let me disturb you"
She left him. and Jacomb after polite delay
quilted the house As he crossed the fore court /
Miss PlerrepOint, who was walking the ter /
race that lay below the windows OF the ruined |
wing, came toward him.
do you sketch? 1 hope, If you find any sub
Jects in the grounds. you VIII sketch there "a
much you like, she said. with a shy friend
ness Have you seen the outside Of the house
as well as the inside
Miss Pierrepont led him from the terrace
fWhere little Towering plants sprang in the
creVices) into the formal garden Of fantastic
yews. leaden statues Of Cupids. and rose alleys:
a patterned setting in which the flower beds
shone like jewels
The place is beautiful said the solemn young
doctor. 'T3ut-dont you find il lonely
ITS not what l call lonely house. Houses
different. you know. Some have kind
Of desolate air, though they are full of people:
but here. though the house is empty it never
feels uninha bited. | don't know why-One has j
feeling. Besides she added Il do live
alone l have companion. Poor thing. she has
just lost her mother, she has gone home for a
few days
OF those few days the doctor resolved 10 make
the most How easy to establish himself,
sketch book knee, in the shade: how natural
for Miss PierTepOint to pass that way: how
facile the transition from little casual
Eersation tea in her boudOr, adjoining the
disused wing. and from informal din
ner in the hall. the dCor open to the summer
night. And indeed, high did the doctor, with
A sober delight. perceive that he had risen above
the initial footing Of the casual traveller, after
three four days
They leaning upon the stone Dalustrade
of the terrace. The sun had gone down in a
clear radiance behind the wooded hills; shadows
crept from the coverts of the garden: the noise
If the river flowed through the Stiffness u
current through quiet lake
Il love this hour said Miss Pierrepoint. 1T
is worth all the long day to come TO it at las-to
fear more the heat o the sun
Jacomb. who great reader admired
the originality of the sentiment. Il suppose"
he said you often walk here in the evening""
Not when il grows dusk. / afraid of the
dark in the country. IL is so large and mys-
terious and solitary: you can hear every little
nd car