Gilpin observer., 1905-04-20

open the door for her, when Lady
Dwight said:
"Stay, Rosemary"
She turned and came back.
Rosemary, this is Master Quentin
Waters, of whom you have heard me
speak," she said. To me, my niece.
Mistress Rosemary Allyn"
The lady made me a low courtesy.
returned 1t with quite as low bow,
my hand upon my heart. Thus was
introduced to my Mistress.
"Lud, Aunt! not the gallant high
wayman with whom you danced the
minuet?" she cried. Know, SIR" she
continued to me, "you were honored,
indeed, Lady Dwight is the toast of
five counties around for her grace and
beauty"
NAY. Rosemary, was, my dear.
was." she admitted with pride. THAT
time is long past-long past. now
yield my place to you, my dear"
when you are no more, dear Aunt
Elaine" she said. kissing the still
smooth cheek of her aunt, mot till
then shall bear the palm"
"And, Rosemary. you certainly
know that this gentleman is not the
highwayman, but he who escorted me
into London after the robbery" she
explained. you would not expect to
meet a highwayman here-you are
but trifiing. as usual"
"Oh, lud!" she calculated, what
mistake" To me, "Wilt pardon me?"
with pleasure" 1 answered; "for
he was a gallant slip Of fellow"
Without doubt" said she. Aunt
quite lost her heart, and If he be
brought to London to hang on Ty-
burn 'twould be the ending of her, I
do believe
Hush, Rosemary" cried her aunt:
cease your tittle-tattle."
you know, Aunt Elaine, you did
say that he had both grace and dar-
ing, and was SO handsome" she con-
tinued. unheeding. ooh, to meet
man like that some day-our London
ers are but women dressed in mems
clothes"
'It is hard to obtain favor in Mis-
tress Rosemary Allyn's eyes," I said.
"And you can do not else than let
thy tongue run, Rosemary. let it run
to purpose" said Lady Dwight, gent
ly Get thy lutte and sing for u.s."
The spoiled beauty made a moue at
me as she took her lutte from the cor
ner nearby She sat down facing US
and began to sing, lightly touching
the strings of her instrument with her
| fingers.
But had I wist before kist.
bo had been Ill to win.
| / had lockt my heart in case of gowd.
| And pinned it with siller pin"
Lady Dwight now took the oppor-
tunity to ask me many questions
about my home. She should have
stopped that silvery babble flowing
| from those wine-colored lips of my
| love had she wanted rational answers.
You said you came from what part
OF England?" she queried.
did not at first hear her and she
| had to repeat her question.
| "The southern part OF Sussex"
managed to say.
"One of the Waters of East India
fame?" she asked.
mo, l believe we do not boast Of
descending from that branch of the
family" | murmured; Waters of
Long Haut."
Your father" she whispered. "is
he dead? | cannot bring him to
mind"
NO madame" I answered, but he
has not been in London for years
Roderick Waters"
| And I myself were dead and gane
| And the green grass growing over me-"
The sweet voice sang on; my eyes
were glued to her face. With little
cry she flung down her lutte. I fol-
lowed her glance of distress. 1t rest
ed on Lady Dwight. fallen back in her
chair in a dead faint.
For second there was great ex-
citement, maids rushing hither and
thither with smelling salts. wine and
spirits; calls for chirurgeon. Upon
the lady's regaining consciousness
made my adieus, with Rosemary's
anxious face before me and her words,
What did you say to her?-she has
not tainted SO in years." ringing in
my ears.
(To be continued)
|