Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1902-07-24
CHAPTER XxvI.
An Unexpected Guest.

Lord Littimer returned, as he de-
clared. with the spirits and appetite OF
q schoolboy. All the same, he did not
for one moment abandon his usual
critical analysis. He ratified on gally,
hut 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
Ter accent was only sufficiently Ameri-
can to render her conversation piquant.
you have always been used to 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. I might as we'll
ask you why your family is not here"
We 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 son?'
Eyes" said Christabel, without look
ing UP from the peach she was peeling.
II have met him.
Indeed! And what opinion did you
form of my son. may I ask"
IT rather liked him. He seemed to
me to be suffering from some great
trouble, andstrouble am sure that was
not of his own creating"
(Which means to say you feel rather
Torry for Frank. But when you say
the trouble was not of his own creating
you are entirely mistaken. 1t is not
nice thing to say, Miss Lee, but my son
was an utter and most unmitigated
young coun1rel. If he came here he
would be ordered t+of the house. So
far as I am concerned, 1 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 it not, that I should
have been very fond of that woman at
one time, just as it seems odd to think
that I should have once been fond Of
treac!e tart?"
Littimer spoke evenly and quietly,
with his eyes full upon the girl. He
was deceiving himself, but he was not
deceiving her for moment. His CAL
lousness seemed to be all the more
marked because the servants were in
the ROOM But Christabel could see
clearly what an effort it was.
"You love your wife STILL" she said,
so low that only Littimer heard. His
eyes flashed, and his face famed with
sudden spasm of passion.
care we to quarrel so early as this?'
ne whispered.
1T never quarrel" Christabel said,
coolly; II leave my antagonist to do
that. But I have met your 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 It,.
Do you grow these orchids yourself?"
Littimer 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 to the window.
Leaning eagerly forward, Christabel
could hear the sound of laloored 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 figure stood
poised on the ledge outside.
With quick breath and futtering
at her heart Christabel felt for the
switch.
at will be all right" she murmured:
"the other one will fancy that the light