Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1902-07-24
XVI.
An UNEXPECTED Guest.

Lord Littimer returned, as he de-
a schoolboy. All the same. he did not
for one moment abandon his usual
critical analysis. He ratified on gaily,
hut he was studying his guest all the
same. She might nave been the typi-
cal American lady student; but he
was not blind 20 the act 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
Ter accent was only sufficiently Ameri-
can to render her conversation piduant.
You have always been used to this
class of lifa2" Littimer asked.
There you are quite mistaken"
Chrisbel said, coolly. For the last
rev years my existence has been any
thing but a bed of roses. And your re-
mark, my lord, savors slightly of ira
pertinent curiosity. i might as well
ask you why your family is not here"
I'VE agreed to differ" Littimer re-
sponded. II recollect It caused me a
great deal Of annoyance at the time.
And my son chose TO take his mothers
part. You knew I had a SOM"
Eyes" said Christabel. without look
Ing UP from the peach she was peeling.
ct have met him."
Indeed! And what opinion did you
form OF my son, may | ask?"
ssT nathan ltko1 him Ia caaFnnd tn
me TO be suffering from some great
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. It Is not a
nice thing to say, Miss Lee. but my son
was an utter and most unmitigated
young coundrel. If he came here, he
would he ordered out OF the house. So
far as I am concerned, / have no son
Mt 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. hoes 1t not. that I should
have been very fond of that woman at
n time, just as 1t seems odd TO think
that / should have once been fond OF
kreacle tart7r
Littimer spoke evenly and quietly,
with his eyes full upon the girl. He
was deceiving himself. hut he was not
deceiving her for n moment. His call
aousness seemed to be all the more
marked because the servants were in
the room. But Christabel could see
clearly what an effort It vas.
"You love your wife STILL" h said,
20 low that only Littimer heard. His
eyes flashed, and his face famed with
q sudden spasm OF passion.
"Are we TO quarrel so early as this?'
ne whispered.
1T never quarrel Christabel said,
coolly; IT leave my antagonist to do
that. But I have met you son and I
like him. He may be weak, but he is a
gentleman. You have made a mistake,
and 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. Someb ody was climbing up
the ivy TO 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
noiselessly back, and a figure stood
poised on the ledge outside.
With a quick breath and fluttering
at her heart ChristabeI felt for the
switch.
ct Will be all right" she murmGred;
s't;se other one win fancy that the light