Lincoln County leader. [volume] (Toledo, Lincoln County, Or.) 1893-1987, 1906-02-16
ton" she said to herself often.

living with him. In this far-away vii
lage no records of the doings and say
i-.gs of the world had reached her ears,
and she certainly fattered herself that
her own retreat was absolutely unknown
to all save to her one friend. Colonel
Trefus.s.
And gradually and insensibly this one
friend became more and more to her
His unfagging devotion, his unwearying
kindness, could not fail in the end to
have some effect upon her. He never
spoke to her of love, but the atmosphere
of his love surrounded her. She did not
love him, but she learned to depend upon
him. 1t Is often said that heart can
be caught at a rebound.
Her solitude was broken by her par
lor maid, who tapped at the door and
desired to know if she might speak to
her. She was a sy-cheeked Yorkshire
girl, whose father had been a farmer,
but who had failed, owing to bad sea-
sons and high rents, so that his children
had all had to go out into the world and
earn their living. Polly Whafflc, as she
had been called in the days when she
idled her time over her fathers farm
gate. and when Edgar Raikes employed
his spare moments in making love to her,
had entered Mrs. Earle's service upon
her first arrival at DunstertOn, under
the more dignifed name of Mary.
Some six weeks ago Mrs. Earle had
been very kind to Mary's brother, whose
chest was delicate. She had undertaken
to support him for the winter in the
south of France, and by the help and
assistance of Colonel Trefusis, young
Whaffie had been sent out to an invalid
establishment managed by an English
sisterhood at Mentone. 1t was of this
brother that Mary came TO speak.
Il have had letter to-day from my
brother, ma'am."
Indeed, and how is he, MaryT
oh, so much better already, ma am,
and so grateful to you and the colonel
ior all your goodness to him." And
then Mary proceeded to enter into
detailed account of her brothers con-
dition and of his surroundings at Men
tone, which were all of great interest to
his benefactress. After which Mary
said, rather blushingly, And only think
ma'am, he met a friend there one day,
such kind gentleman whom we all used
to know at home, Mr.. Raikes, who lived
up at the Hall"
AT Keppington, do you mean?"
Yes, a'am, he was Mr. Desmond's
cousin, and he used to live there he
was there two years, | daresay, and he
was a great friend OF, mne," she added,
with little conscious simper.
Mrs. Earle fell to musing. Raikes,
Raikes, who was he? All, yes! she fan
cied she remembered family of that
name; many sons and many daughters,
whose mother was a needy widow, and
of whom mention used often to be made
at keppinton in years gone by. No doubt
this young man was one of this family.
He has been very kind indeed to
young George" continued Polly, "and
inquired so much after me; and then
he gave him three soveregns for him
self, so that George is quite rich now"
THAT was very kind of him." an
swered her mistress absently. And then
Mary left her, and she thought no more
of it; nor did it occur to her to ina CINE
that through the instrumentality of
George Whaffle it would be possible for
Brian Desmond to learn where 1t was
she was living. Edgar Raikes might
be his cousin, and he might also be at
Mentone, but that Brian should have
been bystander at the interview be-
tween the two certainly never entered
for moment into her calcula tions.
Eleven O'Clock struck. The last note
of the clock had scarcely rung before
she caught sound outside at the gar
den gate; the click of the iron latch. then
the slow swing of the hinge followed
by the clang of the gate as it fell back
again. Her dog put up his nose, and ut
tered low growl. Rosamond shut I'D
her book suddenly, and stood up. The
door bell rang.
She stood for a moment half uncer-
tain. Should she summon the servants
from their beds. or should she 20 to
the door herself?
At last, however, she opened the door.
There stood outside, upon the doorstep,
a man. wrapped in long, loose travel
ing cloak, with heavy cape to it.
When he saw her he made a half step
back, as though he would have turned
away.
WHO are you and what do you want
at this hour of the night" said Rosa
mond, summoning up her courage, al
though she was secretly somewhat un-
easy. And then he spoke, and she rec
ognized his voice.
Forgive me for coming at such an
hour. The train broke down; | have
walked five miles through the snow.
May | come in?'
She backed slowly from him into the
hall; great chill struck her soul,
sick sense of miserable helplessness.
He came in, divested himself of his
heavy cloak and of his hat, shaking the
snow from them into the porch. Her
eyes rested upon him almost with terror
and repulson.
"Why have you come to trouble me?"
she said to him. in a strange, hollow
voice, and yet she led the way back into
the warmth and light of her sitting