Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1902-06-12
CHAPTER VII.

MISS VI eStSi, Sdlu OH ICuuOlpL
one morning, will you take message
from me to Mrs. Harper? l promised
to be at Bernham Woods by eleven
O'Clock, and it is nine now; SO that
have not time to see her myself"
81 will take any message you please
Sir Rudolph I replied, grieved that
he altogether ignored his wife, who
was. present.
She looked up, with deep shadow
of pain in her eyes.
Tell Mrs. Harper that l expect my
brother Mr.. Uric Culmore, this even.
ing, and that he will remain a few
weeks. 1 should like the blue rooms to
be prepared for him" The blue rooms
were two very charming apartments in
the west wing, near to Sir Rudolph s !;
one was used as a sitting-room, the
other as a sleeping-room. ASK Mrs.
Harper to see that a writing-tab1e is
placed in the sitting-room, continued
Sir Rudolph; my brother will want
to study while he is here"
He bowed and went away. Lady
GILMORE came up to me, and once
more | noticed the excessive whiteness
of her hand, the pallor of her face. She
clutched, rather than held, my arm.
Kate she cried, in a low terrified
whisper, Kate, what does this mean?"
Il do not understand you, Lady Gull
more" said.
why is he coming, of all the people
in the world? Uric Culmore-why is
he coming? II am sore afraid"
afraid of what?" l asked Surely
not of Sir Rudolph's brother?'
Eyes, of him." she said What is
he coming for?''
ITO see Sir Rudolph, and rest most
probably" l said.
DO you think SOP" she cried eagerly.
DO you see nothing else in it,"
What else could there be?" asked.
He is barrister, and very clever"
she said.
THAT has nothing to do with IT,
answered, laughing.
But she continued to tremble, and I
left her to attend to Sir Rudolph's
orders.
Mr. Uric Culmore coming," said
the housekeeper. Il am glad!"
''DO you know him?" asked
Eyes, miss. He came to Brooke Hall
while I was there, and I liked him
very much. | am glad he is coming.
He will be sure to bring some kind of
change to this miserable house"
Then he has never been to UlIa-
mere?" l asked.
No" she replied. "The last time
he came to Brooke was to attend the
funeral"
A funeral is an everyday matter,
and it did not occur to me to ask
whose it was
when he was at Brooke Hall, all
was right between Sir Rudolph and my
lady" continued Mrs. Haryer. 81 re-
member that they both drove with him
to the station. He will be surprised in
deed when he sees how matters stand
here; but l think he will improve them.
Both Sir Rudolph and my lady are
much attached to him.
| remembered the white face and
the frightened eyes of Lady Culmore,
and l doubted if this were the case so
far as she was concerned.
On the evening of the 9th of May
went cut for a short stroll through
the grounds. Dinner was delayed until
halfpast eight, on account of Uric
Culmore's expected arrival I wan
dered down the lakeside, and stood
there watching the gold of the Iabur-
mum, the blue of the lake, the sippling
green foliage, the brown distant hills,
until | was lost in admiration. It was
the chill breeze coming from the lake
that roTsed me. l had been absorbed
in trying to penetrate the mystery of
the baronet's household, and l found
that the time had passed rapidly. |
hastened back to the house; and, as |
stood outside the porch, which was
hidden by great masses of white Jas
mine and climbing roses, I heard a
strange voice say:
You have visitors at Ullamere, Ru-
dolph?"
NO" was the quick reply, 1--WE have
not"
There was one of the loveliest girls
have ever seen in my live down by
the lakeside" added the strange voice.
Il saw her as she was crossing the
bridge-a brunette, perfect in her
way
Miss Forster" said Rudolph, quiet.
ly.
And who is Miss Forster?" asked
the unknown
She is, as you say, a most lovely
girl, and she is as good as she is love.
ly. She lives here at Ullamere as
companion to Lady .Culmore
! Then l heard a light laugh.
+ 4 should not have thought you
would have allowed that You were
always companion enough for her"
l hurried away, the conversation was
not intended for me; and surely he
the stranger, must have been mistaken
/ in calling me a lovely girl! Why. al
school the other girls were always
teasing me about my dusky hair ant
dark eyes! Of course this must be
Uric Culmore. l longed to see his
face, for his voice was both rich anf
musical. l was young, and no one hac
ever praised me, no one had ever paid
me any homage. My heart thrilled
with delight at this tribute to m,
beauty
Then the dinner-bell rang. fel