Camas Prairie chronicle. [volume] (Cottonwood, Idaho) 1901-1917, 1910-03-25
CHAPTER vI.-(Continued.)


ehan a week at Inkleneld, when, re
turning home from the neighooring
vicarage, whence she had been dis
patched with a message respecting
some Of the local charities to which
Mrs. saville contributed, she entered
the drawing-room through one OF the
French windows which opened on
veranda and thence on to the grounds
The lady of the house was not there
but lounging comfortably IN her espe-
Cial chair sat a gentleman, who, d.
rectly Miss Desmond entered, rose and
made her q bow-a bow which proved
that bowling was not yet quite a lost
art. He was a tall, elderly man OF un
certain age, slight and elegant, with
Ene aQuiline features and Hght-blue
laughing eyes that looked as If boy,
hood still fingered there In spite OF the
wavy hair that curled round rather
low but well-shaped forehead. He was
carefully, admirably dressed, and inde-
Ocribably fresh and cool, though 1t was
q burning August day.
"Allow me to explain my appearance
here" he said, in pleasant, youthful
voice. II have taken the exceedingly
uninteresting journey from London to
this place, and now await its anna
bic mistress's pleasure as to whether
she will see me or not"
"Has she been told you are hereT'
asked Miss Desmond, taking OF large
Earden-hat, which she continued to
hold in her hand, wondering who this
could be. Mrs. Saville's visitors had
hitherto been few and far between. her
acquaintances at that season being
scattered in remote regions.
Eyes, l believe her major-domo has
conveyed my pasteboard to the august
presence" And the stranger, with the
air Of being very much at home, drew
forward a chair, which Miss Desmond
did not accept.
pray, has Mrs. Saville been long
here7"
about a fortnight"
"And you-have you been here all
that timer"
Not quite"
"Ah! what wonderful resisting pow
Ori l should have imagined you would
both by this time be extinct from men
tai hamilton" Miss Desmond laughed
IA sweet, well-amused laugh.
"And you can laugh like that!" h
continued Then your vitality has o.
course kept my revered sister-in-lav
alive. It must, however, exhaust youi
own vital powers to give out ozone
no, what do they call lt?-electricity-
TO such a degree. There is nothing t
me 50 soul-destroying, so deadening, Al
suburban rusticity Won't you 81
DOWN. l can't stand any longer my
self"
Then pray do not. I do not nj
down because am not going 10 stay
I thought Mrs 6aville would come IL
Immediately" said Miss Desmond, VIII,
began to perceive in some way tina
this pleasant, talkative parsonage wa
q good deal older than he seemed.
"Since you permit 1t, then" And h
sank into his chair with a sigh of re
lief. you see" he went on, this sor
Of place is Just far enough from Lon
don to cut you off from all the cor
veniences of town life, and too nea
for any of the legitimate amusement
and occupations of the country"
Here the butler appeared, and said
MRS. Saville will see you, my lord,
you will come this way" The gentle
man rose, and made another elegan
bow as he passed. Miss Desmond
What an amusing person! l wor
der who he Is. Some relation, SUI
pose, or he would not speak so freely,
thought Miss Desmond. ~'I must nc
go to Mrs. Saville at present" Sh
too left the room by a different ext
and assembled to her own pleasan
apartment. which looked out to tn
front; a dressing-closet opened fror
It, and, except for the bed, 1t was ful
: nished like sitting-room. After lear
ing from the window for some mil
utes, apparently in deep thought, sh
went to her writing table, and, III
locking a desk with key which hun
to her chain, she began to add som
lines to a closely-written letter whic
lay therein.
She had written for a considerahl
time when the sound of wheels an
horses feet drew her to the window
from whence she saw the gentlema
with whom she had spoken in til
n drawing-room descend the hall doc
, steps to enter very rusty fly or ST.
l ton cab. He had a comically ruef1
expression of countenance, and, lool
ing round over the front of the hous
= his quick eye caught sight of Miss De
s mond. To her annoyance, ne lifted h
y hat and gave slight expressive shru
before stepping into his cab, whic
o drove of Immediately.
II wish had not looked out" ST
thought; then, smiling at the idea,
S struck her very like an expulsion
mo doubt Mrs. Saville could be vsT
severe-even cruel; but she is good |
d me. had better give her tho vicar
massage; yet feel half afraid. Tn