Lincoln County leader. [volume] (Toledo, Lincoln County, Or.) 1893-1987, 1905-12-29

upon the S0utnern slope OI range OF |
-moorland hills that frown-
ed gloomily down upon it from above,
and f1at-terraced gardens, well laid out
and well kept surrounding it; but upon
the slopes above the solid white stone
building, the trees became sparser and
were more stunted in form and height.
till at last they melted away altogether
among heather and clumps of grey rock
into the sterner landscape of the moors
overhead.
The woman at the lodge, upon Mrs.
Talbot's request that they hight be per-
mitted to so over the house and to eat
their luncheon in some corner of the
park, had returned bewildered answer
that they had better inquire up at the
house of Mrs. Succurden, the housekeep-
er.
They drove up to the door, the fyman
got lumberingly down from his box and
rang the bell; it changed loudly and jar
ringly out into the silence. Then they
waited.
In few minutes lady made her ap-
pearance. very tall, upright old woman
in a white cap tied under her chin, and
with spectacles on her nose. Mrs. Tai
bot began her story over again; they had
driven over from Smackton might they
be allowed to see the house and to eat
their luncheon somewhere in the park
Mrs. Succurden looked suspicious and
doubtful; tourists were her detestation.
"Mr. Desmond is a friend of mine"
added Gertrude; 81 am sure he would
allow me-"
"Of course, ma am, that makes a off
ference" replied Mrs. Succurden more
graciously; mot that there's much to be
seen, and the house has been so long
empty-still, if you would care to see it,
ladies'"
The ladies did care to see it, and
promptly descended. As Mrs. Succurden
had told them, there was little or moth
ing to be seen in the interior of Keep
pington Hall. There were handsome
suites of rooms opening one out of the
other, few family portraits of doubtful
merit, a good deal of old china stored
away behind glass doored cabinets in
such heaps that it could hardly be seen,
and miscellaneous furniture that was old.
fashioned without being in any way
beautiful.
This was Mr. Brian's own room,"
said Mrs. Succurden; 'the only time he
stayed here he lived here entirely. He
was here for three weeks after his poor
uncle's funeral, and that is all the time
he has ever stayed at Keppington since
he became its master" And then the
old woman sighed. "Eh, dear! it's a
sad house now, when one comes to re-
member the past, when all the young
ones were about and there was noise and
laughter from morning till night; but it's
no wonder he hates it now, poor fellow,
no wonderv'
"Why does he hate it, Mrs. Succur
den?" asked Gertrude.
And then Felicia at the window asked
question, too. SIS that the church
down there among the treesW
"Yes, miss" replied the housekeeper,
that is the church, and that yonder is
the gable of the vicarage All! and that
is a changed house, too, nowadays! q
stranger there with a sickly wife ami q
tribe of noisy children-so different"
Meanwhile Gertrude leaned her elbow
upon the mantel shelf; before her was
a picture frame of dark wood with closed
doors shut to with a tiny gided key.
Something, she knew not what made
her suddenly inquisitive concerning this
frame. She glanced round; Mrs. Sue
curden and Felicia stood with their backs
to her, looking out of windows; she turn
ed the tiny key quickly and opened its
doors. Before her was a painted minia-
ture of a young girl in a riding habit
wearing an old-fashioned felt hat with
birds wing at the side; the face was
exceedingly beautiful, the eyes large and
dark, the features regular, the lips full
and very sweet, and hair too was dark,
and the figure appeared to be tall and
perfectly symmetrical.
"That is Miss Gray" said the voice
of the housekeeper behind her. Ger
trude started and shut to the little door
almost guiltily
But before they left the little study
Felicia lingering behind had time tc
make one or two private observations.
"Do you think" she whispered ia
| Gertrude while they waited at the open
doorway that led into the gardens, when
Mrs. Succurden had gone in quest of the
man who was to take her place as
cicerone; "do you think that there is q
Mr. Succurden about, Gertrude?"
Impossible to say-whyW
Because somebody has been sitting in
that room, l am convinced, just before
we went into it. Did you notice the
newspaper on the floor? and a pen in the
inkstand was wet and the blotting book
was awry, and, oh, my dear, didn't you
notice the strongest smell of smoker
'"Well, l thought | did, certainly. Very
likely some man servant, who appropri
ates his masters sitting room. Hush
here comes the old lady. When do you
expect Mr.. Desmond and his bride back
Mrs. Succurden"
II doubt if Mr.. Brian will ever bring
her here to this house, ma am, and in
any case they are abroad for year,
| hear If Won will walk out into the gar.