Omaha daily bee., 1901-03-10


pleasant town. Maidstone, and the clergy
I'm informed, extremely active and sym
pathetic"
ITS very ugly house" remarked Nine
Zabriska, throwing away the photograph
OF Winterhurst with gesture of decided
refusal
MIR. soyd stroked his sleek hair and
smiled deprecatingly
with residences as with-er-ladies
beauty is only skin deep" said he. N
| thoroughly modern residence, madam-hot
and cold-south aspect" He stopped
| suddenly, perceiving that the queer, dark
little woman in the big chair was laugh
ing at him.
"Oh, | know she interrupted. her great
black eyes still deriding him 81 don't want
big place" she explained in English, with
foreign touch about It. There's only
myself and my uncle, Major Duplay. Hell
be in directly. / expect, and we've no more
money than we want Mr.. Sloyd "
This explanation of her position had the
effect Of making Sloyds manner rather less
norid and his language less fowery.
Among second-class but eminently gem
teel residences" he began II could conh-
IDENTIFY recommend"
where's this?" she interrupted picking
up another photograph aud regarding 1t
with apparent liking Looking at the foot.
she read along, "Merrlon Lodge" property
Of the Right Honorable Baroness Tristram
OF Blent." she looked up sharply at Sloyd
"Ye-es, ye-es," said sloyd, without much
enthusiasm. "A very pretty neighborhood
"a few miles from Blentmouth-risin
place, Blentmouth. And it's cheap house
small, you see, and old-fashioned.
He waited, for her to speak again. but
she had turned thoughtful as she sat finger.
ing the photograph. Presently she began
to smile and said: Find out about Merrion
Lodge for me, MIR. Sloyd"
He began to gather up his pictures and
papers.
"Is Baron Tristram alive?" she asked,
suddenly
sloyd recovered his air OF superiority.
Her ladyship is a peeress in her own
right" he explained.
She's not married, them
"A widow. madam"
And wasn't her husband Baron iris
tram"
Her husband would not have been Lord
excuse me, madam, we say Lord-Tristram
Of Blent Her son will succeed to the
title, of course. The family reside at Blent
hall only few hundred yards from
Merrion Lodge.
81 don't understand the family arrange
ments," remarked Nine. Zazriska, "but |
daresay shall learn 1t all il | 60 Good
morning, Mr. Sloyd''
Sloyd was making his bow when the door
opened and a man came in. lie was tall
erect and good looking. Both air and man
ner were youthful. although perhaps with
trace of artihce. He would pass for 90
on a casual glance, but not longer one
My uncle. Major Duplay," said the little
woman This is Mr.. Sloyd, who's come
about the house. uncle"
Duplay greeted the house agent with grave
courtesy and entered into conversation with
him, while Nine. Zabriska relapsed again
into an alert silence and watched the pair.
The last thing that Nine. Zabriska-the
style sat oddly on the child-like face and
figure, but Nina Zabriska at the age of %
had been a widow three years-desred to
do was harm; the thing she best loved TO
make was mischief. The essence of mis-
chief lay for her-perhaps for everybody
in Curiosity it was to put people in the
situations in which they least expected to
find themselves and to observe how they
comported themselves therein. AS for hurt
ing their interests, or even their feelings
no; she was certain that she did not want
that; was she not always terribly sorry
when that happened as 1t sometimes and
quite unaccountably did? She would weep
then--but for their misfortune. be it under
stood, not for any fault of hers.
1t would be fun to choose Merron Lodge
as her summer home. first because her uncle
would wonder why In the world she took
1t. and secondly, because she had guessed |
that somebody might be surprised to see
her there. So she laid her plan even as
she had played her tricks in the days when |
she was an odd little girl, and Mr.. Choder-
ton, not liking her, had with some justice |
christened her the Imp.
Major Duplay bowed Mr.. Sloyd to the
door, with the understanding that full de-
tails of Merrion Lodge were to be furnished
in a day or two.
"And now, dear Nina" said he what
has made you set your mind on what seems
distinctly the least desirable of these
houses"
'Its the cheapest, l expect and want
to economize,'
People always DO as soon as they've
got any money reflected Duplay, in a
puzzled tone. "If you were on half pay, as
am, you'd never want to do it,
We'll I've another reason" This was
already saying more than she had meant
to say.
(Which you don't mean to tell me?"
certainly not
With shrug he took out his cigarette
case and handed it to her.
you and your secrets," he exclaimed,
good humoredly. Really, Nina | more
than earn my keep by the pleasure | give
you in not telling me things. And then
you go and do it,"
"Shan't this time" said Mr.. Cholderton's s
Imp. seeming not a day more than ., in
spite OF her smoking cigarette and her
smart costume.
Luckily I'm not curious-and | can
trust you to do nothing wrong"
well, | suppose So" she agreed, with
scornful composure. DID you ever hear
mother speak of a Mrs. Fitzhubert?"
The major smiled under his heavy
mustache as he answered, Never"
We'll, ! have said Nina, with world
of significance. 81 heard her first through
the door" she added, with a candid smile.
II was listening"
"You often were in those days"
"Oh. am still-but on the inside OF the
door now. And she told me about it after
ward OF her own accord. But 1t wouldn't
interest you, uncle"
mot in it's present stage OF revelation"
he urged, with a litth yawn.
THE funny old Englishman-you never
saw him, did you?--Mr. Cholderton-he
knew her. He rather admired her, too.
He was there when she rushed in and
never mind Old Choderton hated me