Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1908-01-10

- - quitting SeaWaTu. otueIS NUS |
ing north and south among cedars and !
outcrnpping hedges. the whole silver
gray mass of masonry reddening under
wcStcriEg sun. every dormer. every
loaded diamond pane afiame-this was
Shatover as Siwari first beheld IL.
As the phaeton drew up under pill
larel porte cochere one or two servants
appeared. \ rather imposing specimen
bowed them through the doors into the
hail. where in wide chimney place
the embers of drift wood fire glim-
mered like a heap Of dusty jewels.
Bars of sunlight slanted on wall and
rug. Oh stone floor and carved stair
case, on the bronze foliations OF the
rallied gallery above. where, In the
golden gloom through high window.
sun tipped treetops against sky or
azure stirred like Furnished foliage In
tapestry.
There is nobody here, Of course"
observed Miss lands TO Siward as
they halted in front Of the fireplace.
"The season opens today in this coun-
ty, YOU see"-she shrugged her pretty
shoulders-"Qnd the women who don't
shoot make the first field luncheon a
function
She turned. nodded her adieus. then.
over her shoulder casually. "lf you
haven't an appointment with the sand
man before dinner you may find me
In the gunroom.'
''Ill he there in about three min
utes." he said. "And what about this
dog" looking down at the Sycamore
pup. who stood before him waggtng.
attentive. always the gentleman to the
tips Of his toes,
Miss Lands laughed. "Take him to
your room if you like. Dogs have the
run of the house"
So he followed a servant to the floor
above, where a smiling and very orna-
mental maid preceded him through
corridor and into that heavy wing Of
the house which fronted the sea.
"Tea is served in the gunroom. SIR
said the pretty maid and disappeared
to give Pace to Il melancholy and 81.
lent young man. who turned on the
bath lail out fresh raiment and. wills
pering Scotch or Irish. sir?" present
ly eflaced himself.
Before he quenched his own thirst
Siward filed bowl and set ii on the
floor, and it seemed as though the dog
would never finish gulping and slab
berlng in the limpid icy water.
ITS the salt air, my boy" comment
ed the young man. gravely retilllng
his own glass as though accepting the
excuse on his own account.
Then man and beast completed alb
lutions and grooming and filed out
through the wide corridor. around the
gallery and down the broad stairway
to the gunrOom, an oaken vaulted
place illuminated by the sun. where
mellow lights sparkled on glass cased
rows Of fowing pieces and rifles. Oh
the polished antlers of shaggy moose
heads.
Miss Lands sat curled up in cusli'
toned corner under the open easement
panes offering herself cup of tea.
She looked up. nodding invitation. He
found place beside her A servant
whispered, Scotch or Irish. sir!" then
set the crystal paraphernalia at his
elbow.
He said something about the sail
air casually. The girl gazed media
lively at space.
The sound of wheels on the grave
outside aroused her from a silence
which had become a brown study, ant
to Siward presently she said, Here
endeth our first rendezvous"
"Then let us arrange another i'm
mediatey," he said. stirring the Ice lI
his glass.
The girl considered him with specu
lative eyes. II shouldn't exactly know
what to do with you for the next hou
II didnt abandon you"
"Why bother to do anything with
me? Why even give yourself thu
trouble of deserving me? That solve.
the problem"
II really don't mean that you are
problem to me, Mr. Siward." she said
amused. Il mean that | am going Il
drive again"
81 see
''No; you don't see at all. There's I
telegram. I'm not driving for pleas
ure"
She had not meant that either, and
annoyed her that she had expressed
herself in such terms. AS matter 0
fact. at the telegraphed request Of MI
Quarter she was going to Black Fell
Crossing to meet his train from tn
lakes and drive him back to Shotovel
The drive. therefore, was, Of course.
drive for pleasure.
II see" repeated Siward amiably.
perhaps you do" she observed. ris
ing to her graceful height. He was o.
his feet at once, so carelessly. SO goo
humoredly acquiescent that withou
any reason at all she hesitated.
Il had meant to show you about
the cliffs. the kennels and stables. T.
sorry" she concluded. lingering.
I'm awfuly sorry" he rejoined wit
out meaning anything in particula
That was the troube-whatever he sa
apparently meant so much.
With tt" agreeable sensation Of b
ing regre--ed she leisurely gloved he
self. then walked through the gllnroo
and hall, Siward strolling beside her.
The dog followed them as they tur
ed toward the door and passed o,
across the terraced veranda to IL
driveway, where tandem cart W;
drawn mp, faultessly appointed Qua
riers mania was tandem. She thoug
1t rather nice of her to remember this
She iuSDected the ensemble Wthol