The Morris County chronicle. [volume] (Morristown, N.J.) 1877-1915, 1908-10-27


civilization has prescribed as dis
grace to our common humanity.
But Mrs. Leslie Somers did not
weakly give way to anxiety She
suspended her suspense as it were,
and lessened it by determined effort
to keep her mind fixed on the hap
piest possible explanation Of what
had occurred.
She told her servants that she va5
afraid her husband had lost himself
on the heath, but that another gentle
man had gone to look for him in
case some accident had occurred,
which, however, she did not think
likely, though he might, Of course,
have sprained his ankle-it was very
rough walking out there, as they
knew, and in tnat case it would take
him some time to get home-an ex-
PLANTATION SO natural and plausible
it imposed upon herself, although it
only occurred to her when the neces-
sity to say something arose.
From that moment she waited,
with hope in her heart, and some
show of patience, but still the time
dragged on by feet of lead, and every
now and then the recollection of the
bright and happy morning occurred
to her with pang-and who could
have dreamed that in SO short time
all would be changed!-bu still, of
course, she caught herself up, there
was nothing to fear.
In fact, she quite expected DR..
Mansell and Leslie would be laughing
with her over the incidents of the day
at dinner that very evening, and
while she thought of it, she would go
and tell the cook to prepare for a
guest. But it was o'clock and they
had not come; what could be keeping
them?
With all possible dispatch, how
ever, Dr. Mansell did return, but not
with Leslie, and not alone, either, for
Lord Wartlebury accompanied him.
Lord Wartlebury was a man of sew
enty, fresh for his age and vigorous,
with large, well shaped head, be-
tokening a finely balanced brain, and
bald save for a frienge of gray hair
at the back; piercing, dark eyes, reg
ular features, clear cut still in spite of
his age; a gray mustache, waxed at
the ends; good teeth, though some
what discolored, and the air and car
riage of a soldier accustomed to COM
mand.
His whole appearance suggested
health, both of body and mind; you
would have said man with twenty
years of life before him, and power to
enjoy every one of them; and the ex-
preston of his countenance, while it
must have commanded respect, even
had you not known who he was,
would also have inspired confidence
and that liking at first sight which
rapidly ripens into affection. This
was the effect produced on Mrs. Som
ers, whom he further fascinated by
mixture of courtly grace Of manners
and kindly Difference which was ire
sistib1e.
The two gentlemen found her
dressed in a plain dark travelling cos
tune, ready for any emergency. Her
hair was bound round her head in
thick, dark glossy curls, which looked
as if they had been arranged less for
ornament than for neatness, which
would last out long journey should
she be obliged to take one.
Her manner was cool, composed
and resolute; her face, pale; her eyes,
unnaturally bright, but steady. I'm
der ordinary circumstances she would
not have attracted much attention.
She had good hair, good eyes, good
figure, small hands and feet, strong
teeth, and was altogether good look
ing, but not beautiful.
Yet she was interesting in appear
ance and intellectual, two lasting
charms which a man like Lord War
tlebury would appreciate at once and
prefer to mere animal beauty, how
ever striking. She was refined, too,
both in mind and manner, another
charm rarer than any, and as pow
erful, and apparent in herwhole per-
son and dress, in every look and
gesture.
Lord Wartlebury understood her at
once.
He saw the slim grace of girl in
her appearance, but the strength and
confidence of the woman of the world
in her character, and something be-
yond in her department generally,
which promised depth of passionate
earnestness which would stand her in
good stead in trying circumstances.
II ventured to CALL" he said, when
DR.. Mansell had presented them, "and
hope you will not think me oficious.
If there is anything at all can do TO
help you, l should be really glad"
To be Continued.
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