The Rice belt journal. (Welsh, Calcasieu Parish, La.) 1900-19??, 1908-08-28


You insult my friends" cried Car
rington, trying to give the conversa-
ton a different turn.
Il only follow your lead, my lord.
YES, | saw his consideration in
carrying you up the terrace steps
few moments after you eaYesdropped.
What heard you in the arbor?'
Not one word answered Ellen.
But saw you in the moonlight, and
that was enough, my lord. | swear
to you that unless you promise me
on your word that you will dismiss
Lady Cecily tomorrow | shall never
be wife to you again
II cannot be discOurteous to my
guests" returned Darlington with sud
den dignity.
"And does courtesy to your guests
involve taking them in your arms and
kissing them? Have you tried it
with Mrs Monbrant, or with the duch-
ess of Outward? Now, she, indeed,
would be a fit object for your kind
attentions"
There is one guest that I shall
dismiss in the morning. ay, two re-
turned my lord, white with anger.
And who are those, pray?'
"Strathgate and Seton
my friend and your friend. That's
well thought on, and you will have
me defenseless, then, at your mercy,
compelled to look upon your love-
making with that abandoned woman
But I'll not stand it. III go back to
America"
You would never dare
Would I not?" cried Ellen, man
fully. Watch me in the morning."
1t was one by the great clock in the
hall when she withdrew from her bou
doir and entered her own bedroom.
Opening a closet she drew therefrom
underneath a pile of feminine apparel
certain sailors dress which she had
sometimes used in cruising and boat
ing expeditions with her husband
since her marriage. and which she had
often used before in long cruises on
her fathers ships. There were stout,
heavy buckskin shoes, soft, wooden
stockings, trousers wide and flaring
at the knee and belted at the waist, a
soft shirt of blue, rough peal jacket.
Slipping off her own clothes, she trans
formed herself with rapid fingers into
a sailor lad. She undid her hair and
tied it behind in a mans queue. From
the same closet she took slender
sword and a pair of heavy pistols.
She went back softly into the bou-
doir and sat down at her desk. From
secret drawer she drew purse filled
with gold pieces, sovereigns of Eng
land On the table lay a cheque
book. Her balance at the bank she
found was trifle over 100000, the
amount she owed my lord.
Fortunately, there was another exit
from her suite of apartments besides
that which led through my lords dress
ing room. She unlocked the door and
stepped into the corridor
Deborah was a light sleeper. She
woke instantly, terrified beyond meas
ure to see tall, dark figure bending
over her. She opened her mouth to
scream, but Ellen had the Quickness to
clap her hand over the mouth and
stifle the noise. Her familiar voice
treasured Mistress Deborah. The girl
sat up in bed and stared in amaze
ment.
What do you want?"
81 am leaving the CASTLE" returned
Ellen, land you must come with me. "
oh" said Deborah. And where
are you going?'
Back to America"
"But Sir Charles?'
"If Sir Charles cares anything for
you," said Ellen authoritatively, che
will follow you to the end of the
world"
with whom do you go?"
Lord Strathgate."
"Oh, Ellen!" exclaimed Deborah in
horror-stricken accents.
Peace, girl" said Lady Ellen, "he
acts, or he shall act, as my coach
man alone, but l must have you with
me. We can talk no longer. Dress
yourself. Would that l had boy
clothes for you!"
81 should never wear them! never!"
well, dress yourself in the clothes
in which you came from America,
then. Do you know where they are?"
81 have them always at hand"
And l will assist you" said Ellen.
Fortune favored them. They stole
down the stairs through the great hall
and found the door unbarred, much to
Ellen's satisfaction, for it indicated
that Strathgate had been before them.
rs that you, my lord?" she asked in
a low voice.
YES" answered Strathgate. Did
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