Los Angeles herald., 1906-05-20
AFFAIR AT THE INN -
@K ~
~ lF1E

"Ah, how he is suffering now!" she thought,
and so thinking. Knocked
The door swung back, and the red irelight
rushed upon her. It came from little porlor
behind the bar
The proprietor Of the inn stood against fiery
background and looked at her.
What can ! do for you, madam" he asked.
lie had been a nobelman's valet, and knew
good manners.
"Oh, Mr. Shaw" said Mrs. Brcnchley. 81 was
here last summer with-my husband. | have al
ways remembered the place, and now, as | was
passing through"
PRAY, come in, madam. Did you walk9 No
fly at the station? Too bad Allow me- And
Mr.. Shaw took Eleanor's bag. "Nou will find
fire in the coffeeroom," he continued, as his
guest entered and he shut out the icy night
"At this time of year we haven't many visitors,
but think we can make you comfortable
Eleanor murmured something, she scarcely knew
what, and entered the coffee-room.
The walls were panelled but the old black
oaken beam which supported the ceiling bad been
whitewashed There were pictures of bibli-
cal one of historical and one of local interest.
the last being the uortrait of a large landowner
in the neighborhood. There was deep chair
standing in the shadow of the chimney, and into
it Eleanor sank, with feeling of relief.
Soon the fire warmed her Some tea was
brought and while she drank it preparations for
her comfort went forward in the chamber above.
In happier days, the quaintness of her sur
the genial influence of the fire, and the
simple hospitality of the innkeeper would have
given her keen pleasure. Then Paul would have
been there, too. Paul was a wonderfully enter
tanning man. All, how mistaken she had been in
himl
Mr. Shaw, she thought regarded her with
some Curiosity. He had himself brought in the
tea, and he now hovered, respectful, yet reluct
ant, in the doorway
"You won't think me mpoite, madam" he
said, eff ] say as how | wouldn't have known
you again? I've the worst eye for KNOWN per
son again My missus remembers every one
comes here, I tell her, but I'm always taken
up with one thing OF another that, / assure you
never knows who's who Is your good gentle
man WE'LL ma amp
This sudden turn from the declamatory to the
was almost too much for Mrs.
'He was well when / left-oh, yes he was
well" she said, rather wildly. Then, Il should
like to go up, Mr.. Shaw and take off my things"
Certainly, madam But dinner? How about
dnner?" he persisted. We've nothing extra
good at present, l very much fear In the fish
line, now, perhaps you couldn't relish such a
umble thing as whiting? Mrs. Shaw was cook
to Lord Polwheede before we married, and she
can make a sauce which would be perfect dis
guise for the commonest fish. What | always
say is, you make a reglar good sauce, and it
don't matter a ha porth whether you're eatn'
salmon or sprats"
Anything will do for me- said Eleanor, cscap-
ing from the torrent of his words. She wished
that the frost had bound them like the streams.
The old room upstairs was like what she re-
yet strangely unlike. The dimity cur
tains glowed in the freight. The lattice was
fast closed, and behind it the snow had begun
to fall.
It was so bitterly cold that Eleanor wrapped
her head in a black lace scarf to ward off the
oangs of neuralgia, which began to assail her.
As she put the finishing touches to her simple
gillette she heard wheels gathering on the stones
If the inn-yard. The voice of the landlord sound
ID few moments later in the hall below.
Eleanor hesitated in the doorway, at the top of
he old stairway, and she had no decided
% descend than Mr.. Shaw approached.
His face, honest and apologetic. was grotesquely
lighted by the faring candle which he carried.
"Oh, l was just comm up, madam" he said.
There's a gentleman arrived this moment and
don't like to send him on, for the nearest inn
S five miles away, and the SHOWS faln' thick.
Would you be much put about if he was to dine
n the coffee room?" Seeing from Mrs. Brenchley's
ace that she was rather put about" he added,
n wheedlesome voice. "You see, ma am, we've
nothing else to hotter, without the gentleman
ats in the kitchen, or be'ind the bar, which [
aaV cOuldn't ask him"
Eleanor's kindness of heart prevailed
eyes, he may dine in the coffee room, Mr.
Shaw. | have no right to pfevent it, even if /
yished," she added, beittling her concession.