The Washington herald., 1908-01-01

S!S has no TQTtneF use iof ne. N Htf
letter she writes that as she intends to
remain in Paris for some time, the house
in Kensington is to be shut Up immedi-
ately. In fact"-the girl gave shrug of
her thin shoulders-"this is already done,
I find that some one has been good
enough to pack my few things in box,
and the only maid who remains informed
me that she, too, had heard from Mrs.
| Baynhurst, and that by her mistress
orders I was TO leave at once
She looked at Rupert very steadily, and
there was something of contempt in the
expression of her dark eyes. Your
mother Is proverbially careless, Mr.. Hav-
erford," she said, dryly she never
troubles herself about those small things
which are called duties b. other people.
so 1 suppose 1t has not even dawned on
her that by cutting me adrift in this way
she puts me Ia a horribly awkward posi-
ton. And yet I don't know why ! should
suppose her in ignorance of this. Kath-
crime Granger added 5he next moment,
for our life together has been so mis-
| erably uncomfortable that ] dare say she
I is glad 20 have such a good opportunity
of getting rid of me. You see" she
smiled family, II cannot possibly annoy
OF course, that / should have not merely
required, but demanded, an explanation
! If she had dismissed me herself, but she
hopes, no doubt, that l shall accept the
/ inevitable If she remains out of reach
/ for some time; or with a shrug of her
/ shoulders. "she mag possibly hope that
some good chance, such as destituti0n,
may take me out OF her way altogether.
/ I have not a penny in the world. the girl
said. In that same harsh. sharp way. 'and
no one TO whom l can turn for advice
/ or help. Please understand that this is
my only excuse for coming TO you"
| Then. before MT. HaveTfC-d had time
/ to speak, she went on. with now an
| eager note in her voice:
And then I want 10 know something
about myself. Perhaps ] should have
gone on accepting everything as it came.
/ asking no questions, II this had not hap
pened but tonight ! feel $3.50 lost-so
/ bewildered 10 know what to do, tG under
stand" She cleared her throat and
! looked pleadingly AT Rupert Haverford-
/ AS you belong TO Mrs. BaynhUrst, please
/ tel me why did she take me away from
| the school where I have lived ever since
/ I can remember? Why was ! told she
/ had the right to take me away?"
! Haverford had moved to the fireplace,
and was standing there looking al heT
with contracted brows.
/ He listened with sense of the greatest
/ discomfort, and even uneasincss.
Believe me" he said. when he spoke.
IF I could answer these questions
/ would do so most gladly, but ] am an
absolute stranger to all that passes in
my mothers life. I know you were her
secretary. but she has had number Of
secretaries. and in this, as in other
| things. she acts for herself absolutely
She has never spoken TO me about you.
/ Here he paused. IF Il is true that she
called herself your guardian, this IS a
matter about which I know nothing.
am sorry" he finished abruptly. sit
down" he said, all at once, you must
/ be tired"
She had turned very white, and she sat
/ down In the chair. For an instant her
! eyes closed, and in that spell Of silence
/ he saw how young she was, scarcely
more than a child.
/ He was accustomed By this time 10
| come in contact with all sorts of trouble,
with the sordid misery OF the very poor,
/ the hopeless, pathetic endurance Of those
/ who have 20 keep a brave front 10 the
! world whilst they are literally starving
/ Sorrow was a well-worn study, and
there was now no mistake about the
story written on that young. white face
She opened her eyes almost directly
II beg that you will not let me de-
| tain YOU" she said, in that sharp. proud
/ way; then more proudly stiH she added,
u am sorry now that I came"
"On the contrary" said Rupert Hav-
erford. Il am glad that YOU came. You
did quite right. Though I have made it
a principle never to mix in my mother s
affairs, this appears to me TO be a matter
which requires investigation. AS you have
/ just said yourself she acts with nc con-
ventiOnal basis, and doubtless she does
not in the least grasp the meaning Of
your real position. You must permit me
to charge myself with the care OF YOU
till me have communicated with Mrs
/ Baynhurst."
/ The girl did not answer him immediate
ly; the gaze Of her dark eyes had gone
beyond him and was resting on the blaze
Of the fire.
Il don't want 10 be a trouble to any
body she said; Il am really very in
| dependent. and very strong I would not
have come to you tonight" she added
IF I had been able 10 go to the school
where I lived for so many years; but this
is lost to me now. That is where I have
been to-day. The black fog choked me. and
1 as l knew / was not wanted. that there
was nothing for me TO do, / determined
! to have a little holiday. I borrowed n
few shillings from the parlormaid and
went down into the country. There was
no fog there. 1t was cold. but it was
/ fresh and beautiful I walked ever so far
II was silly, but I lost my way. I did
not expect to be very warmly welcomed.
for I believe I was kept out of charity
for a great number of years. but I
! thought perhaps somebody might be glad
| to see me. However, when I got 20 the
old familiar house it was empty. There
was board saying that it was to let.
It looked 50 desolate," she sighed family.
1T took me a long time to get back
1 to Kensington, and when I did arrive IL
was to find my box packed in the hall,
and nothing before me but the door
| step"
Come nearer the fire" said Haverford
| Il am going to send you in some dinner.
1 really must leave you for little while.
| but l will come back again Won't YOU
make yourself comfortable? You had bet
| ter take off your coat and hat
She got up at once. and he helped her
to remove the coat. She was painfully
! thin. When her hat was off he saw that
| she had masses of dark hair But he
| scarcely realized what her appearance
was; her story had surprised and troubled
him sharply He pushed coy chair
near the fire, and gave her some papers
| to look at, and then hurried away.
| His guests were scattered about the
| house.
On his way to join them, Mr.. Haver-
! ford paused 10 give Harper orders to
take in some food at once to Miss
! Granger.
See that she has everything that she
wants." he said.
BY his tone the man-servant under
stood that the girl who had come so un-
! expectedfy was to be treated with the
utmost courtesy.