Middletown transcript., 1904-09-17
CHAPTER /


asked. She was swinging her hat in her
hand in spite of her companions re-
peated warning that she would take cold
in the evening air. "1ou needn't be
uneasy about me-" she said. 81 seldom
wear hat in the country and never take
cold. want to know all about my
neighbors as soon as possible, and you
can tell me, therefore
Therefore you tolerate my company Z"
the young man asked.
"Oh, not is, of course, because | like
YOU SO much that do that, " the girl
answered, with subdued laugh, and she
glanced at her companion out OF her
wonderful eyes.
There was something strange about
Kilmeny Richmond's eyes. Whether
they were blue or black no one had been
able to discover, because she never looked
long enough at any one for him to lie
quite sure; perhaps it was the black
lashes which made them look SO dark,
for there was certainly blue in their
depths. Kilmeny's hair was as black as
her lashes and her teeth were as white
as snow. As she walked along, as grace
full as young leopard, she made pic
ture which might well have turned the
head of any man, as it lad plainly done
in the case Of the one beside her.
II don't want to be liked" he an
swered- - -''anything but that"
Hated, perhaps p
81 should prefer it. But you asked
me who lives in the house on the other
side of the river. 1t is MIR. Daryl. lie
is an eccentric old man lives alone, has
no connection with any one, as far as
we can see visits nowhere, and receives
no visitors. He is, if not actually morose
at least exceedingly unapproachable."
II should not hesitate over the word
He is morose. Was lie ever married p
~ believe SO, but it is so long ago that
the memory of it is forgotten. lie had
brothers and relatives once on time
but every one without exception, SO the
story runs, turned out badly and became
disgrace to society"
"And he is left alone ?'
Eyes. One brother was killed in the
hunting field just before he was about
to contract marriage with some woman
of whom all well-disposed persons dis,
approved. Another, who was welded,
met his end in duel, and the news Of
his fate killed his wife. A sister, who
married a man of notorious character,
committed suicide to escape from the
misery of her life two more disappeared
wears ago, and the news of their death
in poverty and wretchedness was brought
here long after. One still lives, but she
and Mr.. Daryl have not spoken for twenty
years. The story Of the family is black
record without one relieving point"
''His wife she may have been good ?'
Christopher Warrender laughed at the
genuine anxiety and interest in Kiimeny' s
tone.
81 am sorry to disappoint you, but she
was by no means good. She was vain,
shallow, frivolous woman who disap-
pointed him in every particular, and
whose only merit was that she died be-
fore her extravaganza ruined her hus-
band. There was son who grew up to
copy the vices OF his family, and, like
them, to meet violent end"
Kilmeny stopped, and, leaning against
tree, surveyed Mr.. Daryl's house, which
was now visible through break in the
trees opposite to them. 1t was solid
structure Of gray stone, and might have
been handsome if anything had been
done to enliven it. As it was, framed in
by thick trees, destitute OF flower beds,
with no signs Of habitation except light
wreath of smoke escaping slowly from
some chimney in the rear, ii seemed the
fit abode Of the disappointed and embit-
tered man who dwelt i'll it. There was
shade OF pity in the girls eyes as she
withdrew them from the house and turned
them on her companion.
He is not morose," she said, ''and, if
he is unapproachable, it is only what is
to be expected I mean to see this Mr..
Daryl some day and TO know more about
him."
Christopher Warrender's reply was
prevented by voice which broke in
suddenly on their conversation.
Il presume you did not observe the
notice at the entrance to this walk warn
ing trespassers off my grounds?'
The young man turned quickly at the
sound, and confronted the newcomer,
an elderly man leaning on stick. He
had naughty and forbidding air, and
his look of stern annoyance did not melt
as Kilmeny eagerly took the blame OH
herself.
SIT was my fault" she said. "AIr
Warrender wished to come in by the
gate, but l preferred climbing over the
stile. l had no idea that there was any
harm in it,"
"And | certainly should not have
dreamed of bringing Miss Richmond this
way if l had had any idea that it
was forbidden. l have walked by this
path for years, and l never saw any
notice warning me that was a trespasser.
"rhe notice was affixed by my orders
to-day. If you had come in through the
gate you could not have failed to see it."
"We can then only make amends for
our intrusion by going out-by the gate"
the young man said.
"Certainly-it was for that purpose
that informed you. If | had had any
doubts of the propriety of still further
shstting out those around me, the short
sketch of my family history with which
you favored this young lady would have
decided me. Whatever people may say
outside my gates as to me and my affairs,
they shall not again have the opportunity
of retailing their gossip within my hear
ing"
stIt wos MT uoesin y; EiImanv hroLa