Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-11-27

actual approval, the role of Good Samaritan;
but, since Natalie was now to play that
part herself, the obtrusion of past condi-
tons made her singularly intolerant of the
woman who had taken her place. Abby had
carried things with too high hand. Ma
tale decided to send the crop to Mrs. Kemp
ton at the Schuylers', with a note which
would open the lady's eyes and clear the
atmosphere.
With an effort she dismissed the matter
from her mind, put on a hat, and went for a
walk round the place. The clouds hung low
over the water, and the sea mists obscured
the horizon. The harbor was lead color, and
the rising wind which came briskly from the
east was fecking the sound with gray. The
craft at the foot of the hill tugged uneasily
at their moorings, and the treetops crooned
and swayed like mourners at wake. To
Natalie the scene was oppresslve; so she
went indoors and up to her own rooms Try
as she might, she could not Danish the
thought of Abby Kempton. When the
housemaid had kindled a wood fire on her
hearth and departed she rang for Leontine.
She had a sense of STOPPING unworthily for
her information; but she felt that the
means were justifable. She knew too that
Leontine adored her and that she was both
sympathetic and trustworthy.
THE sober air of her mistress apprised the
1 maid of possible revelations; but she
had her nations love of mystery and stood
silently expectant, her new suspicion of
change in the relations of her mistress and
Garriott adding new interest to the cate
chism.
Mrs. Kempton breakfasted here Satur-
day morning, Leontine? You knew that?'
''Oui, Madame,'' she said, smiling de-
"She rode with Mr.. Garriott?"
II am told so, horse riding"
ibid Mr.. Garriott take her back to Mrs.
Schuyler's in the machine?"
ooh, no, Madame. He himself took her
back by water, in the Vas-y.'
"Do you know how she came over?"
Leontine shrugged her shoulders at the
fireplace. "No, Madame, 1 do not know.
believe that nobody saw when she came. ;"
Ibid Mr.. Garriott ride over for her in the
early morning.. 49,
mo, that could not be. The man in the
stable brought the horses to the terrace.
Mrs. Kempton was already here"
Natalie did not move; but her eyes
burned more brightly as she looked at the
fireplace. what time was that, Leon
tine?" she asked quietly.
"They said it was just at the sunrise"
Leontine clapped her hands in pretty ges-
ture of suppiication. Pardon, Madame. if
l must tell you; but l do not know how
Mrs. Kempton came here. No one knows,
because she was already here very early in
the morning, before anyone was up. Mr..
Garriott ordered the horses the night before.
1 am glad you have asked me, because the
servants have talked. l think you should
know"
Natalie's heart was like ice; but, out
wardly calm, she asked few more questions.
what did Tibbott say?"
"Tibbott knows nothing. Mr.. Garriott
would not let him help him dress for dinner"
Dinner"
eyes, Friday night Mr.. Garriott took the
machine at seven
"Tibbott didn't see him after that?"
"No, Madame. Tibbott went to the
servants hall where he could hear Mr.. Gar
RIOTS bell; but he did not ring"
Natales face behind the backs of her
clasped hands was invisible except for her
eyes, and these gazed intently into the
blaze "Thank you, Leontine. You may
60 now. If l want you, shall ring"
NATALIE did not even hear her maids
~ footsteps nor see the look, half curious,
half sympathetic, that Leontine turned in