Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1908-04-11
CHAPTER VII.
My Lord Hears ill Tidlngs.


Ny Lord Hears Ill Tidlngs.
The morning sun was streaming
brightly through the windows when
Darlington glanced at his watch as he
opened hts eyes. and was startled TO
discover that II was already seven
o'clock And he had meant 20 get
up early that day TO prepare himself
the better for that interview with his
wife. Hastily arising. he stole soft
ly 70 the door opening into her bOu-
ooir. tried the knob gently and found
that the door was locked He lis
tened. but could hear nothing. Imag-
lining that she was still asleep. he sum
moned his valet, bathed and dressed
himself with unusual care for the op-
erltions OF the day. and then returned
TO the door OF the boudoir. Again he
Knocked. and more loudly. Receiving
no answer, he fairly Numbered upon IL
with his feet. 10 be met with the
same silence as before.
Pulling the bell. he summoned his
own man once more and made my
lAdy's maid be brought 20 him. In
a few moments the startled woman
presented herself before him.
WV AAg AsA4g AAAeAA WtNA AAtAN Va
loss OF q luxury. Whenever she could.
Ellen attended 10 the details OF her
own toilette herself, but sometimes
the complication OF unusual apparel In
VOlved the necessity OF assistance. and
thea the maid WAS ready.
Your mistress" began KY lord. i'm
psriously.
Yes. my lud"
did she send for you last night?'
mo. my lud"
Has she rung for you this morn
nE?"
No. my lud"
Very well. you may go"
The maid curtsied and turned away.
There was nothing unusual In FL
hans failure TO summon her maid.
but nevertheless Darlington felt some
what uneasy He went back and
Knocked again on the door that opened
into my lsdy's boudolr and then he
called her name.
Suddenly he bethought him OF the
door not often used that opened into
the hall from her bedroom. He
cursed himself for a fool for not hav-
ing thought OF II before He ran
thither az once in spite OF the fact
that his conduct was attracting the
attention OF the servants passing TO
sad fro about their various duties.
He tried the handle OF the door.
which was shut, and found II was I'M
locked. He threw IL open. The bed
had not been tenanted. yet Ellen had
certainly undressed, for the gown and
-. 10 49,
before lay In tumbled, confused
heap on the floor Just where she had
kicked them on. Darlington stepped
curiously over them. He lifted one by
cue the familiar articles of apparel. He
was in state OF complete bewilder-
nent Suddenly the thought occurred
20 him that she might have laid down
IN the sofa in her boudoir.
Sttll clutching the slipper she had
worn, which was the last thing he had
touched, he threw open the door be-
tween the two rooms. only to discover
that the boudoir itself was empty.
Ny lady's desk stood open before
him A piece OF paper caught his
eye he dropped the slipper, darted
toward IL, opened the paper which
Wa &41l CSScQ W ulu1s auQ TCdu l1e
following:
The enclosed pays my Last debt 20
LsF6 Darlington When he reads this,
SHAH be on the way TO nay own land
with the money which he won. he can
buy himself Lady Cecily without the for
mality OF q marriage ceremony and in
her arms he can forget the woman he
shaned. whom ne once loved and who
eAce loved him"
From the paper as he had torn II
open, an Enclosure had fallen. He
stepped and picked IL up. 1t was the
ohsqus on ElloRs bankers for twenty
ed thousand pounds. My lords brain
rseled az he stared from the cheque
20 the note. II was as ~ he had
bean struck some powerful blow over
the heart and was for the moment
paralyxsd- He sank down In a chAis
and gzzed stupidity about him in great
bewilderment
Ellen was gone, actually gone. How
could she for q moment have believed
that there was anything between him
and that painted old coQuette. Cecily
Csrringtone How he loathed that
womani What had Ellen said; that
one or the other OF them must leave
the house? Why did she not wait