Highland recorder. (Monterey, Highland County, Va.) 1877-1972, 1908-05-15

rived; Ferrall
was writing at
a desk, and ST. SeWdrds prone fodS
uord and No. Ueru engaging.
rion were occupied in the formers
sketch for an ideal shooting vehicle to
be built oil the blackboard principle,
with q clever arrangement for dogs,
guns, ammunition and provisions. 81
wards profile as 1t bent In the lamp
light over the paper was very engag.
ing.
Sylvia had taken hesitating step
toward them, but halted, turning ir-
resolutely. and suddenly over her crept
q sensation of solatlon-something Of
that feeling which had reused her at
midnight from her bed and driven her
to Grace Ferrall for a refuge from she
knew not what.
The rustic of her silken dinner gown
was scarcely perceptible as she turned.
Siward, moving his head slightly,
glanced up, then brought his sketch to
a brilliant finish.
Don't you think something of this
sort is practicable?" he asked pleasant
ly, including Mrs. Ferrall and Kath'
ryn Tassel in a general appeal which
brought them into the circle OF two
Grace Ferrall leaned forward. looking
over Marion's shoulder. and Siward
rose and stepped back, with a quick
glance into the hall-in time to catch
a glimmer of pale blue and lace on the
stairs.
81 suppose my cigarettes are In my
room as usual" he said aloud to him.
self, wheeling so that he could not
have time to see Marion's offer of her
little gold incrusted case or notice her
quickly raised eyes. bright with suspi'
cion and vexation.
He greeted her in his usual careless.
happy fashion just as she reached her
chamber door, and she turned at the
sound of his voice, confused, unsmil-
ing, little pale.
'Is 1t headache or are you, too, In
quest of cigarettes?" he asked as he
stopped in passing her where she
stood. one slender hand on the knob
of her door,.
81 don't smoke, you know" she said,
looking up at him, with a cold little
laugh. ut isn't headache either. !
was-boring myself. Mr.. Siward."
;rf, In, n n
cdyY
"Oh, | have no doubt you have lots
of virtues. Perhaps you might do as
temporary remedy-frst aid to the In
jured.". She laughed again uncertainty.
"But you are on a quest for olga.
rettes."
~And your"
"a rendezvous-with the sand man.
Good night"
"Good night, If you must say it."
"Tt's polite to say something, isn't
ltP
at would be polite to say, With
pleasure, Mr.. Siward!"
"But you haven't invited me to do
anything-not even to accept a ciga-
rette. Besides, you didn't expect to
meet me up here?"
The trailing accent made 1t near
enough a question for him to say, yes,
did"
"How could your"
81 saw you leave the room"
"You were sketching for Marion
Page. Do you wish me to believe that
you noticed me and
"And followed you? Yes, did fol.
low you."
She looked at him, then past him to-
ward a corner of the wide hall where
q maid In cap and apron sat pretend
ing to be sewing. Careful" she mo-
toned with smiling lips. Servants
gossip. Good night again"
Couldn't we have a moment
"No."
zone minute
flush! / must open my door"-lin-
gertng. 81 might come out again II
you have anything particularly i'm
portant to communicate to me-"
II have. There's big bay window
at the end Of the other corridor. Will
you Gomez"
But she opened the door, with light
laugh, saying Good night! again
and closed it noiseIessly behind her.
He walked on. turning into his cor
ridor, but kept straight ahead. passing
his own door. on to the window ut the
end Of the hall. then north along n
wide passageway which terminated IN
a bay window overlooking the roof of
the indoor swimming tank.
1t appeared that he had cigarettes
enough, for he lighted one presently
and leaving his chair, cur!ed up In the
cushioned and pillowed window seat.
gathering his knees together under his
arm.
The cigarette he had lighted went
out. He had bitten into 1t and twisted
it so roughly that 1t presently crum-
bled, and he threw the rags Of 1t into
q metar bowl. locking his jaws In 81
lence, for the night threatened to be a
bad one for him. A heavy fragrance
from his neighbours wineglass at dim
ner had stirred up what had for a time
lain dormant, and by accident some
thing-some sweetmeat he had tasted
was saturated in brandy.
Now his restlessness at the pros
pect of blank night had quickened to
uneasiness, with hint of fever tinting
his skin, but as yet the dull ache In his
body was scarcely more than pre-
monition.
He had his own devices for tiding
him over such periods-reading, tobac-