Lexington gazette. [volume] (Lexington, Va.) 1871-1962, 1903-01-07
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handed her out of the family omni-
bus carefully, and the very prettiest
ankle and the tiniest shoe peeped
out for a moment as she stepped
down before one of the big hotels.
AS she tripped up the broad, car
peted stairs to her room there was
look of great happiness in her
eyes.
"And is my dear girl quite hap
py?" said Sir Robert. Young Lady
Lisburn-she was tall and pleasant
looking-turned to him affection
ately.
"Your dear girl" she said, ''has
had her worries in her life. She
had one big worry"
"How big"
Lady Lisburn widened her arms
to give an idea Of the size.
"But it's all over now, and l am
very, very happy"
"Perhaps," said Sir Robert-"per-
haps the dear girl will tell me all
about it some day."
"She may-some day." said the
young bride, flushing. Gust now
she is so contented that she doesn't
want even to think about it,"
The next morning they went off
to the Engadinc. 1t was two months
later when they returned, trunks
and portmanteaus plastered all over
with square and circular labels
Hotel Bellevue and Hotel Beau Ri
wage and lot of others. Both Sir
Robert and Lady Lisburn looked
very jolly and well.
There were letters waiting for
Lady Lisburn. She read them in
her bedroom. AS she saw the writ
ing on one of the envelopes she
grew red and then very white. She
perused the letter again and again,
with hands trembling and face
that looked into the mirror with a
frightened look. Then she turned
off the electric light and sank on her
knees and sobbed. They stayed in
town for some days. They drove
out a good deal, visiting, but young
Lady Lisburn looked i'll and out Of
sorts and scarcely spoke to her hus-
band. He seemed to be repealed by
her GOODNESS. Once or twice Lady
Lishurn tried to rouse herself, but
the look of worry quickly came
back, and her husband, placid and
even as he was, could not help feel
ing disturbed.
One evening in the latter part of
the week Lady Lisburn was sitting
at the open window of their room,
her face resting on her hand, look
ing out into the square and seeing
nothing.
A page boy entered with a for
eign message. She opened it, read
the typewriter words and crumpled
quickly the sheet in her hand as Sir
Robert came in.
81 want to say something to you,
Robert" she said in a shaky voice.
He came over to her.
81 want to 60 away from you for
few weeks"
"a few weeks ?" he repeated
blankly.
"a few weeks. Unless you want
me to be miserable woman all my
life, you must let me do this. Let
me 90, and when come back | shall
be quite jolly, and | shall love you
more than ever, and we"-
"My DEAR" said Sir Robert, "you
are perfectly unreasonable! You
are not yourself"
UNFORTUNATELY am" interposed
the young wife sadly.
"0r you wouldn't dream OF pro.
posing such a preposterous thing.
Now, love, just you go to bed early
tonight and have a good rest, and
you'll be all right in the morning
of you don't let me go, Robert,
/ shall never be able to rest again.
| shall be nothing but a curse to
YOU and a misery to myself for all
nv life. Do let me CO."
"My dear love-" said Sir Robert,
rising with a very decided air, III
you absolutely refuse to tell me the
motive for your disappearance l alb
solutely refuse to let you CO."
"Then then | must 60 without
your permission" She said this
without defiance and in the hum
blest way. j.,
Sir Robert went downstairs and
stood at the hotel door for a few
minutes, smoking his cigar rather
quickly. Then he turned and went
to the telephone room and looked
in the book and rang up. Lazy
Lisburn, white and set off face, re-
turned to her room and prepared
for her journey.
1t was IA surprise to Sir Robert to
find in the hall not ten minutes lat
er the man for whom he had tele-
phoned. He was a burly, scarlet
faced man, and he gave his card to
Sir Robert with an awkward, fat
bow, "Fhomas Bester, Fayre, Swee-
yer & Co., Inquiry Agents"
"Come into this room, MIMI.
| Bester."
Mr.. Bester wiped his boots with
particular care.
"You'd like something to drink
perhaps"
Mr.. Bester pulled his waistcoat