Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1906-02-17
CHAPTER xI.
THE FIRsr RIDE-

cot running water and a washstand.
and a bOot-bIacldng apparatus. For
the rest there were a few portraits or
fast horses. fighters, and toe-dancers
lthe adjective qualifying all threei)
which the senator's sporting groom
had collected and tackled 70 the walls.
For appearances sake. Mr.. James had
purchased a cheap trunk. Everything
inside was new. too. His silver mill
tary brushes. his silver shaving set.
and so forth and so forth. were in
charge Of a safe-deposit storage com
pany. alongside some ones family
/ jewels. The only Terminating things
he retained were his signet-ring and
his Swiss timopiece.
Have YOU had your breakfast. siry"
asked William. the stable-boy.
eyes. my lad Now. as Miss Annes-
ley has forgotten a. perhaps YOU will
tell me of just what my duties here
viii consist"
You harness. ride and drive. sir.
and take care of the metals I clean
the feathers ana carriages. exercise the
horses and kocp their hides shiny. II
anything is purchased SIR. we shall
have to depend upon your judgment.
Are you given TO cussing?"
"Cussing?" repeated Warburton.
Yes. sir. Miss Annosley won't
stand FOR It around the stables. The
man before you. sir. could cuss most
beautifully: and think that's why he
was fred. Az least, 81 was one reason"
Warburton smoothed his twitching
/ mouth. Don't you worry. william;
it's against my religion to use profane
language"
William winEed. there was an an
swering wink. aSs$ the two became
| FRIENDS from TIA, inumCni on.
"ill bet you didn't say thing to
Pirate. yesterday. when he bolted over
the wall with YOU.
well. / believe / did address a few
remarks Co Pirate which would not
| sound well on Jress-parace: but so
long as il wasn't within hearing dis
lance. William. 1 suppose # doesn't
matter"
NO, sir; l suppose not"
Now. what kind OF a master is the
colonel" asked Warburton strapping
on his English leggins.
We'll, it's hard TO say just now. You
see, I've been with the family ever
since / was six. The colonel used TO
be the best fellow I ever knew Always
looking out for your comfort, never
an undeserved harsh word. and always
a smile when you pleased him. But
he's changed In the last two years"
| "How?"
| He doesn't take any interest in the
things he used TO. He goes about as
II he had something on his mind; kind
OF absent-minded, you know; and for
gets tomorrow what he says to-day.
He always puts on a good face. though.
when Miss Betty is around"
"Ah. What night do l have off?"-
Of mind that a question like this
would sound eminently professional
In Williams ears
Sunday. possibly; # all depends on
Miss Annesley. sir In Virginia nearly
every night was ours. Here it's differ-
ent" William hurriedly pulled on his
rubber boots and gloves. grabbed up
the carriage sponges, and vanished.
| Warburton sat on the edge OF the
cot and laughed silently. All this was
very amusing. Had any man. since the
beginning Of time found himself in a
Ike position? He doubted IT, And he
was TO be butler besides, K would be
something 10 remember in his old age
Yet. once or twice the pins OF his con-
science pricked him. He wasn't treat
ing Nancy just right He didn't want
her TO cry over his gTacelessness; he
didn't want her to think that he was
heartless. But what could he do? He
stood too deeply committed.
| He was puzzled about one thing,
however. and. twist It as lie would
he could not solve il with any degree
Of satisfaction. Why, after what had
happened, had she hired him? If she
could pass over that episode ar the
carriage-door and forget IL. he couldn't
He knew that each time he saw her the
memory OF that embrace and brotherly
salute would rise before his eyes and
rob him of some Of his assurance-ar
attribute which was rather well de.
veloped in Mr. Robert, though he was
loath to admit It. II HIS actions wer,
a mystery 60 her, hers were none the
less so 10 him. He made up his MIND
TO move guardedly in whatever he did
to practice control over his mobile
features so as TO avert any shock o.
thoughtess sign of interest He knew
that sooner or later the day would come
when he would be found out; hut thii
made him not the less eager To cour
that day.
He shaved himself and was wipin,
his face on the towel when Celeste
appeared in the doorway. She eye,
him, her head inclined roguishly Il
one side. the exact attitude of a bir
that has suddenly met a curious ans