The Glenwood post., 1910-02-19


get my mare to the Ford
Lucy Carew opened her eyes the
next morning in the blaze of brilliant
day. The 10th of November broke in
holiday and golden fashion after a
night of wild. unusual storm. In the
coarse nightdress of her hostess she
lay in her clean bed in the country
smelling little attic. She had scarcely
stirred to rise when a knock at her
door held her motionless.
Mrs. Ramsdill, red-cheeked, bashful-
eyed. came in like bright appari-
tion, for she looked at her lodger over
giant bouquet; the profusion filled
her hands. She arrived like Flora.
She had a note and gave it.
IF you please, miss, from Craven
there's a hanswer to take
She regarded with pretty, timid Gu
riosity this handsome young lady who
stood well out of the short nightdress.
her feet cleaning charmingly dis
played below the hem. Above the
low. plain collar her neck and dark
head rose frankly. Women-beautiful
women-do not imagine how much to
their beautys enhancing is sometimes
the naive garments of their simple sis
ters. Ribbons and furbelows would
not have made Lucy Carew more
lovely to look on than as thus the Eng
lish cottager saw her: the coarse mus
lin over her swelling breast, her arms
bare to the elbows-for Mrs Ramsdill's s
gown stopped there. Miss Carew took
the roses in her hands.
Mrs. Ramsdill had her wonderings.
Tempest was beloved. but he was as
well known. Even Cravenford could
tell It's tales. The good creature
mused on her guest and remarked the
eyes-how they lost their clearness to
sparkle. how cheeks mantled as the
letter. with entire ignoring of her COM
pany. was broken open.
I'll wait outside, miss" she deli
cately suggested. land you'll call me
Tor the answer"
Miss Carew held the roses against
her and read her note.
Craven, November 10.
MY dear Miss Carew: If what you tell
me Is true (and how can / suppose you
have come 5000 miles to play with my
vanityD then you will feel it worth your
while to write the study of which you
spoke-unless my conduct as host has
blackened me too much in your eyes.
II you will come-I have sent Il carriage
for you'll will do all in my power to
make 1t easy for you to write what you
wish. There will be no train to London
before late afternoon. If you refuse me
the proof of your entire cordiality, l shall
come to the Ford--to avoid me you will
have to walk. and I fancy your shoes
will not help you! Faithfully.
BASIL TEMPEST
For the first time in weeks Mr..
Tempest slept till morning, and for
the first time in weeks awakened not
a prey to the black horrors that gen
orally perched on his bedpost to wait
the opening of his eyes. ''If," as he
had often grumbled. "one could only
get into the day without beginning
IT,"
To superintend the gathering of a
bunch of roses, to write the note he
had sent, amused him, and no sooner
was Ramsdill and the trap dispatched
than, whistling like boy, he made a
tour of the house. followed by Mrs.
Henly. to whom he gave countless di-
rections as to setting of Craven in
holiday trim. Sunlight flashed at him
/. everywhere. 1t fell in luxuriant floods
down the long galleries. routed Mel
ancholy out of hooks in the darkest
rooms where ghosts and dismals that
Tempest had grown to consider as
familiars nested and hatched
What a day." he exclaimed more
than once. "Open everything-throw
all the windows wide. No. will ar.
range the flowers myself" The gar.
dener had fetched in what Tempest
called torrents Of bloom and he
glowed with enjoyment as he. piled
roses and carnations and lilies into
glass and silver according to his fancy
Once he caught UP his buoyant mood
% aay: what II the adventurous lady
should rsfuss?" His brow darkened