The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1901-02-03


| He filings the boots at them and they are
| quiet. Yes. it is queer house and / am
| afraid of the reptiles. By the way, miss
would you not like me to clean your boots
| for you?''
why SOP" ] asked, My face had turn
ed white and my teeth were thattering.
Her words unneryed me considerably.
| shan't have them. Now miss, l think you
have everything you want"
| She left me. and | dressed quickly as
! could AS ! did so my eyes fell pom a
a special affection. They were polished I'D
| brightly; no boots could be more beauti-
fully cleaned. What did Jessie mean?
what did she mean. too. by speaking of
| Lady Sarahs wild fits?
| L went downstairs to find Lady Sarah in
| n genial humor. She was smiling and
| quite agreeable, Sambo did not wait at
| breakfast. and IN consequence We had a
| pleasant meal When 1t was over she took
NV hand and led me into her morning.
| room.
Come here" she said. ct want to speak
| to you So you are David's choice, Now
| listen. The aim and object of my life ever
| since | lost my husband has been TO keep
| David SINGLE
What do you mean?" asked
| What | say. / love my son with q pas
sion which you. you little white Great ure.
| cannot comprehend. I want him for my
| self entirely. You have dared to step In
| you bave dared to take him from NE. But
/
won't keep him long. You would like to
know why-I Will tell you. Because his
love for you Is only the passion which
man may experience for a pair of blue
eyes. and a white skin. and childish figure.
1t as water unto wine compared to the
love he feels for me. He will soon return
to me. Be warned in time. Give him up"
81 cannot / said.
You won't be happy here. The life Is
not your life. The man is not the right
sort OF man for you. In some ways he Is
half a savage. He has been much in wild
countries in lands. uninhabited By civil
I lied people. He is not the man for vou
nor am the mOther-in-law for you. Give
him up. Here is paper and here Is pen.
Write him letter. Write It now, and
the carriage shall be at the door and you
will be taken to Wilton-from there you
can get a train to London, and you will be
safe. little girl. quite safe
You ask the impossible" I replied: Il
love your son..
She had spoken with earuestness. the
color flaming into her cheeks her eyes
very bright Now her face grew cold and
almost eaden in hue.
have given you your choice and
way of escape she said. 'Tf you don't
take the Offer 1t is not my fault" She
walked out of the room.
what did she mean? | stayed where
she had left me. / was trembling all over
Terrors of the most overmastering and
unreasoning sort visited me- All / had
lived. through since | came to Longmore
now Hooded my imagination and made
me weak with nervous fears. The reptile
house-Lady Sarah-Sambo's strange be-
havior-Sambo's wicked giance-Jess,e's
words. Oh, why had / come? Why had
David LEFT me alone In this terrible place?
got up. left the room, and strobe into
the grounds. The grounds were beautiful.
but | could find no pleasure in them. Over
and over the desire to run away visited
for David's sake. He would never forgive
me If left Longmore because l feared
his mother
The gong sounded for lunch. and I went
into the house. Lady Sarah was seated at
the table; Sanbo WAS absent
''Darkey is M
'Darkeyl'' I exclaimed.
Yes the black snake whose bite kills
In six minutes. Sambo is with him; he
and l have been giving him some medl-
cine. / trust he will be better soon. lie
is my .favorite reptile-a magnificent
] made no remark
am afraid you must ainuse yourself
as best ycu can this afternoon" she con-
tinued, for Sambo and | will be engaged
with the snake. L am sorry cannot offer
to send you for drive. but two of the
horses are out and the bay mare is lame
| said | would arnuse myself and that I
should not require the use of any of the
horses, and she left ME
i did not trouble to go on the Plain. I
resumed my restless wanderings about
the place. 4 wondered. as / did so. il
Longmore could ever be a real home to
me, As the moments flew past / looked
at my watch, counting the hours to
David's return. When he was back sure
~ the intangible danger which | could not
but feel surrounded me would be over
At O'Clock Sambo brought tea for one
into the drawing room. He laid ii down
with peculiar expression
You Will he sorry to hear missile he |
said. that NISSAN Ross not coming back /!
tonight. The Ilau spoke in Il queer kind |
of broken English.
/ sprang to my feet. my heart beating
Sorry. missile, business keep him-teIe- |
gram to missis; rot coming back TN |
morning. Yah. missile. why you stay
What do you mean?" asked.
The man had a hazel wand in his hand |
had noticed 1t without curiosity up to |
the present. Now he took II and pointed |
It at me. As he did so he uttered the |
curious word 'Uliinka." The Evil glitter
IN his eyes frightened me so much that L
shrank up against the wall.
What you doing that for?" 7 cried.
behind him.
right away tonight. Nlssis no we'll
Darkey no wel'-Sanbo no we'll No place |
Tor missile with blue eyes and fair hair.
say 'Ullinka.' and 'Ulinka' means dead
this fellah magic stick. Missile run to |
Wilton. take train from Wilton London |
Short track cross Plain-missie go quick
Did Sambo open wicket gate and let her
90. Missile GO soon
DO you mean it?' | said
.'Yowi-yes."
Il will GO | said You terrify me-.
AN have a carriage7'
No time, missile Old missis find out
Did missis wish it-missie go quick |
cross Plain short track to Wilton. Moon
;ome up short time"
Il VIII CO.. ! whispered.
Missile take tea first and then get
he m ha nj ,ffI |
missile come downstairs"
Il did not want the tea. but the man
'rought me cup ready poured out.
one cup strengthen missile. then short | ,
rack cross Plain straight ahead 10 Will |
on Moon in sky. Missile safe then from | ,
Id missis, from Darkey, and from Sam
I drank the tea, but did not touch the |
AXE and bread and butter. ! went to my !
Dom. fear at my heels. In my terror / | {
orGot to remark, although | remembered | /
well afterward that for some eXtraordi-
AIRY reason most OF my boots and shoes 5
ad disappeared My little favorite pair OF I
rown boots alone wss waiting for me I !
mt them on, tuttoned them quickly. put I
II my fur coat and cap. and with my /
urse In my pocket ran downstairs No I
natter what David thought OF me now. e
here was sCne hing terrible in This house J
AN unknown and Understandable fear-I
aust get away from Lorgmore Ut any 5
ost. '
Sambo conducted me without IA word v
own the garden and out on to the Plain I
trough the wicker-gate. Ii
Quick. miss,e." he said and then he | Il
an'shed from view. shutting and locking {
he gate behind him. I
1t was perfect evening, still and cold t
he sun was near the horizon. and would 7
Don set, and full moon was just rising. | |
determined to walk briskly. | was | 2
trons and active. and the distance be- 7
.yeen Longmore- and Wilton did NOT | Z
fph ION he Itufr, "a In