Highland recorder. (Monterey, Highland County, Va.) 1877-1972, 1908-04-03
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ing north and south among cedars and
outcropping lodges. the whole silver
gray mass of masonry reddening under
westering sun, every dormer, every
loaded diamond pane af1ame-this was
Shotoyer as Siward first beheld 1t.
AS the phaeton drew up under pill
Jared porte cochere one or two servants
appeared. A rather imposing specimen
bowed them through the doors into the
hall, where in a wide chimney place
the embers of drift wood fire glim-
mered like heap Of dusty jewels.
Bars Of sunlight slanted on wall and
rug on 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 a sky OF
azure stirred like FURNISHED foliage in
tapestry.
.There is nobody here, of course"
observed Miss Lands to Siward as
thew halted In front Of the fireplace.
'eThe season opens today In this coun-
ty, you see"-she shrugged her pretty
shouIders-"and the women who don't
shoot make the first field luncheon a
function"
She turned, nodded her adieus. then,
over her shoulder casually, "1f you
haven't an appointment with the sand
man before dinner you may find me
in the gunreom."
"I'll be there In about three min
utes," he said. "And what about this
dog?" looking down at the Sycamore
DUP. who stood before him wagging.
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 smiling and very ornas
mental maid preceded him through a
corridor and into that heavy wing or
the house which fronted the sea.
"Tea is served in the gunroom. sill"
said the pretty maid and disappeared
TO give place to a melancholy and ST.
lent young man, who turned on the
bath. laid out fresh raiment and. whis-
pering Scotch or Irish, sir?' present
~ effaced himself.
Before he quenched his own thirst
Siward filed bowl and set 1t On the
floor, and it seemed as though the dog
would never finish gulping and slab
bering in the limpid icy water.
"Tts the salt air, my boy" comment
ed the young man. gravely refilling
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 fowling pieces and rifles. on
the polished antlers Of shaggy moose
heads.
Miss Lands sat curled up in cush-
toned corner under the open easement
panes Offering herself cup of tea.
She looked up, nodding invitation. He
found a place beside her A servant
whispered, "Scotch or Irish, sirY' then
set the crystal paraphernalia at his
elbow.
He said something about the salt
air casually. The girl gazed medita.
lively at space.
Tue sound of wheels on the gravel
outside aroused her from q silence
which had become brown study. and
to Siward presently she said. Here
endeth our first rendezvous"
Then let US arrange another Inn
mediately," he said. stirring the ice In
his glass.
The girl considered him with specu-
Iative eyes. 81 shouldn't exactly know
what to do with you for the next hour
II didn't abandon you"
"Why bother to do anything WITH
me-? Why even give yourself the
trouble of deserving me? That solves
the problem"
'T really don't mean that you are q
problem to me, Mr.. Siward," she said,
amused. 81 mean that am going to
drive again.
81 see."
"No; you don't see at all. There's a
telegram. I'm not driving for pleas
ure."
She had not meant that either, and II
annoyed her that she had expressed
herself in such terms. AS matter OF
fact. at the telegraphed request of Mr.
Quarter She was going to Black Fells
Crossing to meet his train from the
lakes and drive him back to Shotover
The drive, therefore, was, of course. Q
drive for pleasure.
81 see," repeated Siward amiably.
perhaps you do" she observed. MS
ing to her graceful height. He was on
bis feet at once, so carelessly. so good
humoredly acquiescent that without
any reason at all she hesitated.
81 had meant to show yon about
the cliffs, the kennels and stables. I'm
sorry" she concluded, lingering.
I'm awfully sorry" he rejoined with
ont meaning anything In particular
That was the trouble-whatever he said
apparently meant so much.
With the agreeable sensation of be-
ing regretted she leisurely gloved her
self, then walked through the gunroom
and hall, Siward strolling beside her.
The dog followed them as they turn.
ed toward the door and passed out
across the terraced veranda to the
driveway, where tandem cart was