Middletown transcript., 1905-03-11

."Talking to- the Signor?" she echoed,
and there was a note Of terror in her
voice She caught my arm impulsively
with her thin hand. "Ethel, have moth
ino to do with him He is bad man r.
she whispered, but she turned away as
the Sgnor shuff1ed over the threshold.
Dinner was a very uncomfortable meal.
The Signor talked incessantly to me and
ignored Lady Verriker completely. Now
and again he made some remark to her
in Italian, which it was evident, from his
manner, was exceedingly disagreeable.
She watched us nervously, and reminded
me Of nothing so much as of an animal
which is caught helplessly in a trap. |
tried to draw her into the conversation,
and explained to her what the Signor
was saying, but the Italian seemed to
delight in frustrating my efforts. Now
| and again he even succeeded in making
me forget my hostess, TO- he threw aside
| much OF his brusque manner and proved
very brilliant and witty conversation
alist.
During the meal | remembered that
Lady Verriker had had something to
tell me when | had met her before din
ner, and | reminded her Of 1t in English.
| She colored and glanced nervously at the
| Signor.
| 'tIt-it was a telegram from MIR. Hull.
oir-Sir Reginald has met with slight
accident, and is not able to lease New
| York yet"
but you look quite pleased about it"
said. "Are you not sorry that you will
have to stay here longer than you ex-
pected to? You are only staying until
he comes-aren't you p
'I-I don't know !"-and she looked
down.
glanced involuntarily across the table.
As. | met the Signor's gaze, he dropped
his eyes at once. | continued to crumble
| my bread unconcernedly but my throat
was dry and my heart was beating fur
iously. For | mad seen that the Signor
had understood what Lady Verriker and
| had said. He understood English
| All that evening sang and played as
usual and talked to the Signor in French
without in the least conveying that |
knew his ignorance of English to be
assumed. He was certainly wonderfully
clever and perfect actor, for he never
once betrayed himself although I laid
one or two traps for him. If it had not
been for that one glance, | should never
have imagined him to have been any
thing but what he had pretended to be.
We retired very early, and | was the
first to 60 to my room. When ] reached
it, remembered that / had left brace.
let on the piano, and turned to 60 down
stairs to get it. | had reached the head
Of the staircase when / saw Lady Verri-
ker and the Signor standing and talking
in the hall. I could not hear what they
were saying but she was evidently ex-
postulating with him. She clasped her
hands and looked at him piteonsly but
he turned away impatiently. She tried
to detain him. He uttered an oath and |
pushed her violently from him-nay, he |
must have struck her, for she fell heavily |
against the wall. But he walked away
without even looking round and she, |
sobbing bitterly, rose to her feet and |
came YEARLY up the stairs.
I turned and fed noiseessly back to |
my room but then and there | formed |
resolution about which my mind had |
been wavering all day.
CHAPTER VI.
| slept very little that night. / was
starting up continually and imagining
that heard Lady Verriker call or some
one move in the corridor. About four
O'Clock | gave up all idea Of further rest
and got up, for | felt that should know
no peace until | had put into force the
resolution which had formed on the
previous evening.
When had dressed l drew back one
Of the curtains and seated myself by the
window with my writing block on my
knee. It was delightfully."- fresh bright
morning. Thesun was shining brilliantly
on the lake, and many birds were flying
to and fro across the gardens. opened
the easement gently and leaned forward
upon the sill to inhale the fresh sweet
air that poured into the room. As | did
50 heard the sound Of footsteps upon
the gravel path which was directly be-
meath my window, and / drew back
instantly.
| heard Anne's voice, with a note of
anxiety in it, ask
rs it safe for you to be out? Has she
gone?'
And the soft low voice which had
heard once before replied
"Yes-with much weeping and tribu-
lation. Remember that she is laid up
with nervous headache, and keep the
girl out OF her room. She won't be back
until evening. What pretty girl it is,
Anne! I only wish that circumstances
were such that could become acquainted
with her."
"You leave the girl alone-the stuck
up little mink that she is, giving herself
the airs of duchess !''-and even at that
moment almost laughed, for Anne's
tone was Enthusiastically jealous. II wish
you'd come in-some one might see you."
"Oh, there's no fear OF that No one
knows that | am here. I say, Anne,
couldn't you introduce me to Miss Foth-
erglll as your nephew? It would help t.
relieve the monotony. and | don't alto
sether fancy remaining in her Oh.
there's no fear T. he continued, evidently {
IN answer to warning from Anne. .'Sne
has kept her window fastened and the
curtains drawn ever since nv attempted | i
entrance the other night. | never was SO
surprised in my life as when saw her !.
start up. | gave her ladyship start !,
100 with laugh which set nv nerves
l.