The Montgomery advertiser., 1908-10-26

T think you have a couple of witches indoors" remarked the guest. Dear me! I cannot imagine why. in old days. people always built in hoi- low facing north" she observed, stand ing still ana surveying the Grange. sIt is a good solid edifce. and old; but if lived here, I should go mad! Happy thought why not let 1t for a private lunatic asylum? The house is substantial. and the walls are high and safe.' Hester merely laughed, and said, q must admit that the Grange is not cheertul the very leaves seem to trem- ble. and the trees to sigh"
 Well and so you've been thinking of Paul?" observed the old lady un- expectedly.
 No. not' colouring to her hair at this sudden attack.
 But certainly! You have nothing else to dol You don't paint, or write or compose. You have no society," but he Is here with you all day long. Of course, the ideal Paul! Oh. you need not deny 1t! We'll you must come away with me. and put the faith less Paladin out of your head and heart-yes"
 T suppose he Is still at Biarritz?" asked Hester timidlv.
 T am not sure. and I am not in- terested The Duauesa has departed; there Is an idea that she was i'll, or there was some family fracas, no doubt. her debts! An, there Is belll My eight-mile drive has made me ferociously hungry: I declare I have quite country appetite"
 When the ladies entered the dining room. they found Jane already estab- lished, carving away at a piece of cold corned beef. in shape resembling the rock of Gibraltar.
 Clarice bare-armed. was in attend ance: In one hand she held dish of potatoes, in the other. one of yellow cabbage.
 As Mrs. Tudor seated herself, sho east an anxious glance around-was this all the fare? She was by no means greedy old woman, but her appetite was small and delicatel Ac- customed to dainty food and French dishes. she had cherished visions of a real country feast-tender young chickens. sweet boiled bacon, peas. new potatoes, followed by fruit tart and quantities of thick, rich cream. But this menu was meagre 4fideedl-- the beef so hard, 1t might have been wood; the potatoes old, and soapy.
 As Clartce filled her glass with water. Hester said apologetieally-
 T am so sorry have nothing to offer you-no wine-I don't take 1t, you know; and there Is nothing to drink in the house.
 The old lady, accustomed to her glass of claret, glanced over at Miss Jubber and said
 There you are mistaken my dear Hester: when We were in the Miss Jubber's sitting-room, I noticed sev- sral bottles of gin--Hollands or Gen. eva. you knowr'
  said Jane firing up, "and the doctor has ordered her stimu1ants--her cir eulation is so bad"
 Really. asserted Mrs. Tudor in a polite tone: then turning to Hester, in confidential aside. "of course. that will account for her complexion--it re- calls a Spanish sunsetn'
 Jane Jubber was at a loss to un- derstand this, comparison. Being an ignorant woman, she feared to make some blunder: for all she knew, Na Spanish sunset IcIght be white. or blue, or yellow. In England 1t was red. Of one thing she was confident, that this sharp-faced, spying, prying old body intended tO be rude.
 Jane measured the intruder with her eye, and summed her up as a poor hanger-on of Hessie's. She wore a mushroom hat tied under her chin with wide strings, plain black gown with A hands merely a wedding ring. and one of plain carnelian. her only ornament "a gold eye-giass--seIdom out of her eye!
 So. here was the home. and the wo- man who had crushed the effervescence of poor Hester's naturally expansive nature, and blighted her youth Mrs Tudor was saying to herself. Oh. the pity of 1t! Mrs. Tudor also noted and envied the excellent appetite of Miss Jubber, to whom the corned beef seem- ed deIectabIe. Well, ,2her2own hopes. and possibly those of Hester, were based on the sweet-here it uame! She felt a shock sweep through her when much burnt, gluey taptoca-pudding made its appearances thing she new CT touched! As the little hungry lady sat stiffly at the board, with her clean plate before her, her heart sank and her indignation rose At last she said:
 "I cannot compliment you on your cook, my dear Hester! May l pre- sume on the privilege of an old friend and inquire if this is the kitchen din- ner7"
 'Be good enough to put your ques- lions to me-" said Jane, helping her. self violently to half the pudding. T never knew that 1t was considered manners for company to pass remarks on their vittles!'
 "Oh, I really beg your pardon" re- Joined the guest with exquisite po- liteness. "Of course, I forgot! l sup pose you are the cook?"
 'No, certainly l am not" Jane an- swered angrily.
 'Oh, then the housekeeper. con- cIude? Hester, my dear, if you think of living here. you must procure a neUy staff of servants-YOu look as if you did not get enough to eat!'
 "Why, she's drinking tea and eat ing bread and butter all day long" cried Jane. As to new stan. there win he no new servants here In my tine." she announced. with acrtd self, assertion. ,., < But is not this Miss Forde's house?~ Inquired the old lady. in a dulcet voice
 Part of 1t only; her rather leIt II also to my sister and me-tor llIe'
 Indeed! and may l ask who pays the wages and the billsY
 Well, you are a rare one Tor ask ing questions! but don't mind saying that MT. Levin pays the wages ana allows six pounds week Tor the house bills! ...y, heated Mrs Tudor with little scream pointing a tragic finger at the black ened pudding. well. some one must be pocketing a fortune.
 some one pocketing-do you mean that for me?' burst out Jane in fury. Miss Hessie, you sit there like a stuck pig, and listen to this talk What do you mean by bringing such folk into your fathers house? First the French baggage; Low this insult