The pioneer press. (Miller, Hand County, S.D.) 1893-190?, 1902-07-24
CHAPTER xxvI.
An unexnected Gnest.

Lord LittImer returned. as he de-
clared. with the spirits and appetite OF
a schoolboy. All the same. he did not
for one moment abandon his usual
critical analysis. He ratified on gaily,
but he was studying his guest all the
same She might have been the typi-
cal American lady student; but he
was not blind TO the fact that the plain
muslin and lace frock she wore was
made in Paris, or that her manners and
style must have been picked up In the
best society She sat there under the
shaded lights and behind the bank of
flowers like as TO the manner born, and
her accent was only sufficiently Ameri-
can to render her conversation piquant.
you have always been used 10 this
class of life?" Littimer asked.
'There you are quite mistaken,
Chrisbel said, coolly. For the last
few years my existence has been any
thing but bed OF roses. And your re-
mark. my lord. savors slightly OF i'm
pertinent curiosity. / might as well
ask you why your family is not here"
sponded. II recollect IL caused me
great deal OF annoyance at the time.
And my son chose TO take his mothers
part You knew had a SOM"
eyes" said Christabel, without look
ing UP from the peach she was peeling.
IT have met him"
Indeed And what opinion did you
FORM of my son, may / ask?"
Q II.
me TO be suffering from some great
trouble. and trouble am sure that was
not OF his own creating"
(Which means to say you feel rather
sorry for Frank. But when you say
the trouble was not of his own creating
you are entirely mistaken. 1t is not a
nice thing to say. Miss Lee. but my son
was an utter and most unmitigated
young coun.irel. II he came here, he
would be ordered out OF the house. So
FAR as ] am concerned. I have no son
at all. He sides with his mother. and
his mother has a considerable private
fortune OF her own. Where she is at
present I have no idea. Nor do care.
Seems odd. does Il not. that I should
have been very fond of that woman at
one time. just as II seems odd to think
dnat y Snoulu nave ohSS fpSNAA $3.50 =
treacle tart?"
I.ittimer spoke evenly and quietly,
with his eyes full upon the girl. He
was deceiving himself, but he was not
deceiving her for a moment. His cal
sousness seemed to be all the more
marked because the servants were In
the room. But Christabel could see
clearly what an effort IL was.
20 off
no low that only Littimer heard. His
eyes flashed and his face famed with
q sudden spasm of passion.
fare we TO quarrel so early as thisT'
ne whispered.
at never quarrel" Christabel said,
coolly; ''I leave my antagonist 10 do
that. But I have met your son, and
like him He may be weak. but he is a
gentleman You have made mistake,
ard some day you will be sorry for 1t.
DO You grow these orchids yourself?"
Iittimer laughed. with no sign OF
anger Remaining. All the same, Chist-
abel could see that his thin brown hand
tainty. Somebody was climbing up
the ivy 10 the window.
Leaning eagerly forward, Christabel
could hear the sound of labored breath
ing. She seemed to see the outline Of
an arm outside. she could catch the
quick rattle OF the sash, she could al
most see a bent wire crooked through
the beaded edges OF the easement. Yes
she was right. The window swung
noiselessiy back, and figure stood
poised on the ledge outside.
With a quick breath and fiutterine
" at her heart Christabel felt for thu
switch
1T VIII be all right" she murmnred
sthe other one win fancy that the Ugh