New-York tribune., 1905-01-20

Il wish John would home" said Mrs Car
risbrooke. for the nineteenth time since luncheon
If you would let me light the lamps and draw
the curtain. Miss Aggte," said Ferguson who hav-
ing been nurse to Margaret Carrisbrooke's mother
before her could not get used the fact that her
mistress had for several years now had right 20
a more matrony title. IF you would let me draw
down the blinds pull the curtains well across and
light the lamps you wouldn't feel so nervous Sit
ting here in the dusk like that is enough to make
any one feel spidery. I'm sure
Ferguson. I've got no patience with your cried
Aggie Carrisbrooke You think nobody can think
but yourself and you can't think bit You know
perfectly well that lamps can't be lit without oil.
and that there's gas and no electricity in this
horrtd old ramshackle cottage How selfish men
arei I hate men,"
And little Mrs Carrisbrooke looked more like
Miss Aggie" than ever, as she shook the curls
out Of her eyes IN which two angry teardrops were
pearling and rubbed her flushed cheeks into flame
with a square inch OF Valenciennes-borGered hand
kerchief.
1t had seemed to the Carrisbrookes the jolIiest
and most unconventional thing in the world to take
Hambledon Cottage instead Of making the round
OF autumn visits which they usually made before
settling down in their cosey little fiat In Curzon
Street. The Cottage was a small one, comfortably
furnished. and had been built. Mrs Carr1sorooke
declared. when she first saw It, in the later days
Of Noah for it combined much Of the architecture
OF the Ark with several small conveniences which
long confinement in that structure must have taught
him 10 be useful
Both Aggie and her husband had the same
tastes; both were fond OF shooting. and the Cot
tage carried some good shooting with il. Besides.
both wife and husband were motor-ear enthuSi-
asts for the first few weeks at Hambledon time
few by very swiftly.
Then one day-the day Of this story-it occurred
to Mrs Carrisbrooke that they had seen enough of
one another that they were "a guestless and for
Iorn old couple" and she dispatched her husband
'out into the highways and hedges 10 bring guests
In other words. she sent him with the car 10 BAD
mington to bring back Florence and Jack Fotherln-
gay, who had been married on the same day as Iis
Carrisbrookes anc We're then e9sest $50 NJ
Florence can bring her maid saiu ME- oSI - -
brooke TO her husband ne left, "and she and
sides Which Dickson'f-Dickson was the chauffeur
will always lend hand. if necessary; And mind
/ 1t was past 5. and had been growing dusk since a
and not until too late dId Aggle Carris re
/ petrol from the village for the lamps that morning
oned 'PI pefro IN baTnH tmg k and in the morning
| when her husband started OF upon his guest hunt
/ fiji his tanks. and promised that he would order
| fresh supply for her in Hambodon as he passed
Manike. he had forgotten all about it: unfortu-
gasso did dd G not Know @ I that there was no lamp oil
and. in consequence. the house was lightless
Down. to the viIi%se. mum. mum. tor oil to a! @ n:
bG 4 9Gg sssS s Of s m here r tn tn te see fH M %
"Fergusson. 1 absolutely forbid yo% to go out out
| Do you think going 10 sit here all alone with
/ not a living soul in the house except Jasper'-Jas
| per was the cat-"while you go down to HambledoE
! and back again? Why. l should die OF fright! Tn
frightened as it is. This house is horribly lonely
and there have been all OF awful stories tI
! the papers lately about attacks lonely woneI
/ and What's that?'
That was branch Of the chestnut tree out II
! the lane which a gust of wind had blown against
the iron gate rattng it across the bars with rather
! uncanny sound I'm getting horribly fright
ened Fergy,'' said her mistress. But Ferguson
lady of the mother Britis
type, laughed at her. sat down in the armchair by
the fire. and drew Miss Aggies" head onto hei
! shoulder.
! Il do wish John would come back" remarked
Mrs Carrisbrooke again. 'Fergy, there's somebody
down at the gate leading into the lane-a man!
saw him, and he's trying to climb over. Oh. Fergy
/ Fergy we shall all be murdered in beds!'