The Washington herald., 1906-11-20

W DuIiDgnam company.
who loved the quietness and retirement
Crimea square-its name hinted at its age
was a kind OF backwater into which
drifted human dereicts. a few yards
away the main thoroughfare roared with
life and pulsed with vitality, but the
dwellers in the square lived as In the en-
chanted wood of the sleeping beauty.
No 81 was the house occupied by Sir
Simon, and it was distinguished from its
neighbors by coat Of white paint. Its
spurious, smart air was quite out Of keep
ing with the neighbOrhoOd. ana Sir Simon
made irOnical remarks when he saw its
attempt at being up-to-date. But the
house was small, and although furnished
in a gim-rrack way. was good enough for
q months residence. Moreover, since he
paid no rent. this enhanced its value in
his avaricious eyes. 1t may be men
toned that the servants Of the owner-a
cook. a hOusemaid. and a ge-boy-had
stopped on 70 oblige Sir Sim0si, and were
ruled over by Mrs. GilToy. much 20 their
disgust, The housekeeper was by no
means a pleasant mistress, and turned
their intended holiday into a time of par
tioularly hard work.
1t was about the servants that Mrs
Gilroy spoke 10 her master one morning
shortly after the occupation of the house
Sir Simon, accurately dressed as usual
and Cooking like a character out Of Dick
ems as delineated by PhiZ was seated
beside comfortable fire supping cup Of
plaSmOn cocoa, as containing the most
nutriment IN the least expensive form
While enjoying il, he mentally calculated
various sums owing from various tenants
about which he had come TO see his law
yers.
The room was Of no great size. on the
ground floor. and had but TWO windows,
which looked out on the dreary, untidy
gardens. Like the exterior Of the house,
1t had been newly painted and decorated,
and was also furnished in a cheap way
with chairs and tables, sofas and cabi-
nets attractive to the uneducated eye.
but detestable TO any one who could ap-
preciate art. The scheme Of color was
garish and. but that the blinds were
pulled halfway down. 50 as 10 exclude
too searching a light, would have Jared
on Sir SimOn's nerves. Lucy Randolph,
who sat reading near the window. shud-
dered at the neWncss and veneer OF her
surroundings, and thought Tegretfully Of
the lovely, mellow old Hall, where every
thing was in keeping and haIlowed by an
uquity. All the same this too brilliantly.
cheap room was cosy and comfortable.
bright and CHEEKY. and a pleasing con
trast % the foggy, gray, damp weather.
Perhaps il was this contrast which its
decorator had desired 20 secure
Mrs. Gilroy. with folded hands. stood
at her masters elbow, tall, thin. silent.
demure woman with dOwncast ewes.
Plainly dresseTd in black silk. somewhat
worn. and with carefully mendad lace
she looked Ike a lady who had seen
better days Her hair and ewes. and
skin, and lips. were all Of a drab color
BY no means pleasing, and she moved
with the stealthy step OF a cat Indeed
the servants openly expressed their
opinion that she was one. and she Ger
talnly had a somewhat feline look. But
with all her s0ftness and uun-like meek
ness, an occasional glance from her light
eyes showed that she could scratch when
necessary. NO one knew who she was
or where she came from. but she looked
Ike q woman with a history. What that
was only she and Sir Simon knew. and
neither was communicative. Lucy Ran
dOlph hated her. and. indeed. no love was
lost between the two. Mrs. Gilroy looked
on Lucy as a pauper living on Sir Simon's
titt- anu -s4l@0 teratltiFtftA regarded
silent hOusekeeper as SPY. Each annoy
ed the other on every occasion in that
skillful way known 10 the sex. But the
VAR was carried on out Of the old mans
sight That autocrat would speedily have
put an end 10 IL had they dared to skir-
mish in his presence.
Well. well, Well'' snapped Sir simon
who talked something like George III iu
reiterating his words. What's the mat
ter2 What2"
Il have 20 complain Of the h0usemaid
Jane. sir"
Then don't 7 pay YOU 10 keep the
servants quiet, not 20 bother me with
their goings-on. Well. well, weu," some
what Inconsistency. What's Jane been
doing2"
Receiving a follower soIdier-one Of
those new young men who are going 10
the war"
An Imperial Ye0mano" put i'm Miss
Randolph. looking up with interest.
Yes, miss responded Mrs. GiIroy. not
looking round. Cook tells me the vo5ng