The Hood River glacier. (Hood River, Or.) 1889-1933, 1902-01-24
CHAPTER IL.

sharp haste, leaves them alone with
their new relative, Gregory Dysart.
CHAPTER ii.
Vera. going quickly forward, moves to-
ward an armchair at the upper end of
the room in which a figure is seated She
sees an old man, shrunken, enfeebled,
with a face that is positively CHASTITY, be-
cause of its excessive pallor; living
corpse, save for two eyes that burn and
CLEAN and glitter with an almost devilish |
brillancy.
80 you've come,r he says, without |
making any attempt to rise from his
chair "Shut that door, will you? What
a vile draught! And don't stand staring
like that, it makes me nervous"
His voice is cold, clear, freezing. 1t
seems to the tired girls standing before
him as if breath of icy air had suddenly
fallen into the hot and sitting room.
"Vera, | presume" says Mr.. Dysart,
holding out his 1.-THE white hand to permit
her to press it. "And you are GriseldaI
| need not ask what lunatic chose your
names. as | was well acquainted with
your mother many years ago..
81 feel that | must think you at once,
Uncle Gregory. for your kindness to us,
saws Miss Dysart, gravely, still standing.
"Ay, ay. You acknowledge that" says
he, quickly. Il have been your best
friend, after all, ehF
You have given us a home," continues
Miss Dysart, in tones that tremble lit
tie. But for you"
Eyes, yes-go on" He thrusts out his
old miserly face as if athirst'for further
words. "Bnt for me you would both
have been cast upon the worlds highway,
TO live or die as chance dictated. To me,
TO me YOU are indebted for everything.
Won owe me much Each day you live
Won shall owe me more. have befriend-
cd YOU; have been the means of saving
you from starvation.
IL so corpse-like face could show signs
of excitement it shows it now, as he seeks
TO prove by word and gesture that he Is
their benefactor to an unlimited extent.
The hateful emotion he betrays raises in
Griselda's breast feelings of repugnance
and disgust.
II have consented 10 adopt you," he
goes on presently, his cold voice now cut
ting like knife. "But do not expect
much from me. 1t is well to come to a
proper understanding at the start, and
so save future argument. Honesty has
made me poor. You have been, | hear,
accustomed to lead a useless, luxurious
, existence. Your father all his life kept ul
most extravagant menage, and, dying,
left vOu paupers." He almost Kisses out
the last cruel word
Grselda starts to her feet.
! "The honesty of which you boast is moi
everything" she says, in a burning tone
LET me remind you that courtesy, too
has its claims upon you"
"Hah! The word pauper is unpleasing
e it seems" says he, unmoved Before We
quit this point, however, one last word
You are beneath my roof; l shall expect
1 you to conform to my rules. see no one
= | hermit no one to enter my doors say,
\ my son. | will not have people spyini
out the nakedness of the land, and specu
lating over what they are pleased to cal
- my eccentricities. They will have mi
d rich, but am poor, poor, tell you. Al
y ways remember that
Cfriselda's features having settled them
. selves into a rather alarming expression
/ Miss Dysart hurriedly breaks into tn
conversation.
IF you will permit us" she says, faint
ly, I'VE should like to 20 to our rooms, t
o Isrest little. 1t has been a long journey
a Her uncle turns and touches the be-
!. near him, and Immediately. so immedi
ately as to suggest the idea that she ha
3 been applying her ear to the keyhole
le woman enters.
ID "You are sngularly prompt he says
N with lowering glance and sneer. "Thi
d is Mrs. Crunch" turning to Vera, I'm
housekeeper. She will see to your wants
ID Crunch, take these young ladies ava!
re NY nerves." with shudder, "are all III
y strung to the last pitch"
a! Thus unceremoniOusly dismissed Mis-
Dysart follows the housekeeper from th
IN room, Griselda having preceded he
Id Through the huge dark hall and up ii
he wide. moldy staircase they follow the
~ guide, noting as they do so the deca
e. that marks everything around.
n She filings wide a door for the girls
e enter, and then abruptly departs withot
rs offering them word or glance. They al
is thankful to be thus left alone and il
ed voluntarily stand still and gaze at eaC
other. Vera is very pale, and her breai
H. is coming rather ftfully from between b
n parted lips.
lg HE looks dying" she says, at las
's' speaking with a heavy sigh. and goir
: nearer to Griselda, as if unconscious
ne seeking a closer companionship. did yC
ny ever see such a face? Don't you thir
hs he is dyingY'
he who can tell?' says Griseda.
ne might think it, perhaps, but for his eye
I l,l They"-she shudders-"they look as
ny they couldn't die. What terrible ey
they are! and what a vile old man alt
ou gether! Good heavens! how did he da
=. so to insult u.s. ] told you, Nera"-wi
u rising exctement-"l warned you tn
~ ne our coming here would be only for evil
~ ~ A moment later a knock comes to 4
"a door,
~ "Win you be pleased to come doy
Us stairs or to have your tea hereT d
mands the harsh voice of the housekee
ais er from the threshold.
80 Here" is on Vera's lips, but Griseld
the bold, circumvents her.
, - Down stairs" she says, coldly, "wh
at we get some hot water, and when y
Int send a maid to help us to unpaeS
IA trunks"
There are no maids in this hous'
lie. replies Mrs. Crunch, sanenly. "Iou mt
he either attend to each other or let me B.
all you"
stv NO maidsv says Griselda.
mr. "None," briefly.
ian "And my room? 0h-is tbs mine.
his Miss Dysau'sp
nx- Both yours and Miss Dysart's; sol
to IL it amt big enough" with derisi
the glance round the huge, bare chaoIber.
You mean, we are to have but q
en-, room between usY'
lly "Just that, miss. Neither more I
ith less. And good enough. too, for th'
leir as
rst Leave the room," says Griselds. W
hen a sudden. sharp intonation, so unexpe
Ter. ed. so withering, that the woman, az
ily. a surprised stare, turns and withdraws
uld
CHAPTER Ill.
A few days later the girls are slit
as in the garden. II is q beautiful d