The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1910-11-01
The House of Ill-Luck
By BLANCHE EARDLEY.
By BLANCHE EARDLEY.


the battle I am having with that theft
Thief Rosemary repeated, in amaze
ment
The old woman nodded. excitement
lending a wild look to her hollow eyes.
''Yes-thief-the thief. Stephen Usher,
who. though he is OF my blood. Is a thief.
He thinks his marriage has crushed me;
but it hasn't. for the thing he prizes most,
even beyond the money he has come into.
is Luck House and he shall never have
IT,"
"Of course not" Rosemary said, sooth-
ingy. Luck House is entailed, isn't IL?
II VIII be Sir Douglas when you are
gone"
Lady Mallady nodded. and. reaching
out her long yellow hand. that was more
Ike piece Of parchment than flesh and
blood. she caught hold of Rosemary's
arm.
That's it. Rose" she said excitedly:
Luck House viii belong 10 Douglas one
day, but he is young and has travelled
about the world. and what is my lfe's
blood might in time begin TO weary him
especially as there is no money 10 keep
up the estate. and am always haunted
by the thought that he VIII sell it to
that fiend, Stephen Usher. in a moment
Of weakness"
Il don't think Sir Douglas would ever
sell his birthrght" Rosemary said gent
Is. She was not al all sure whether she
ought 10 be listening 10 these condolences
OF Lady Mallaby's, and was also begin
ming 10 BE- puzzled by the strange manner
and speech OF her employer. who. i'm
one night, seemed TO have forgotten that
she had received her companion with
naughty questioning
Douglas is a good boy the trembling
cracked voice went on, but Luck House
depresses him; he stops 20 please ne. but
when / am dead he will sell IL 10 the
enemy and repent IL all his life. for he
Will never find his luck away from Luck
House-nevcr-neyeri
II am glad / came TO Luck House,
Rosemary said, with a desperate effort 20
turn the old ladys thoughts 20 herself
Il am sure. Lady Mallaby, that I shall be
very happy here"
Luck House is not the place for happi-
ness now, there is battle TO be fought
and
a movement at the door made her
pause and Rosemary was glad. for the
first time, 90 see Keziah's grim. suspic-
ious face She came forward and glanced
quickly al her mistress. then al Rose
mary.
If YOU please. your ladyship. could you
come into the library 10 see Mr.. Dacre2"
she said slowly
Lady Mallabys face changed instantly. |
II lost its expression OF almost wild eX-
element and became again the face of
the great lady" born to command and
be Obeyed-
Il viii be there in a few minutes" she
said. Help me with my dressing, Kezlah, /
and give me my stick
The woman quickly flung a shawl over
the STOPPING old shoulders and thrust an
ebony stick into the white hand. then
Rosemary went forward and offered 10
assist her downstairs. but with an imperl- |
Gus gesture the old lady waived her aside. /
and I'm silence the two women listened 20 .
the hating steps as they went slowly |
down the stairs
Then keziah turned TO Rosemary. Her /
ladysAip Is not always herself miss. she !
talks too much. and there's no knowing
the nonseEsical rubbish she babbIes .
Don't YOU go taking no notice of any
thing. II you DO. it viii be more than /.
your place is worth ere
Rosemary drew herself Up haughtily /
The woman's manner was earnest and (
not Intentionally impertinent, but Rose /
mary resented her tone
Il am not the foolish chattcrer that I
other people may think me-" she said /
coldly. Whatever / may notice at Luck /
House / shall certainly not discuss with /
any one, and n YOU wish 20 correct Lady
Mallaby's condolences, Keziah. 7 should /
suggest that you do So as soon as possi- |
BILE"
The woman colored. you don't know. |
miss" she said apologeticaIly- There's /
lots that's not right ere. and Sir Douglas .
won't let fl be altered But II YOU was I
wise, you'd make an excuse 10 leave as 1
soon as you can. Luck House is not the /
place for a young lady
Perhaps / shall be kicked out" Rose
mary said, with O slight smile. At any
rate, / shall not go Of my own accord.
She waited some time then, as Lady /
Mallaby did not return. she went 20 her
own room, and found 90 her surprise that
since she had left 10 that morning il had /
been changed beyond recognition almost.
The floor had big red rug in place OF
the chilly OilciOth, and dainty curtains
Of muslin hung down by the windows and !
decorated the simple dressing place But
what amazed the girl more than anything
else was that the doors AT the other end
OF the room, which she had supposed 70
be locked, had been opened, revealing a
sitting room, which, though not luxuri-
OUSlN LuTnlSneN. was at least coy. and n I
bright log fire burned IN the CRATE while
cushions rugs and books in a row Of
shelves made the room look homelike.
How lovely" she exclaimed aloud.
Lady MaIlaby must have
The entrance Of the old man-servant
with box of logs made her pause and
turn 10 him with a radiant smile.
THAT must be heavy 10 carry Then.
though she received no other encourage
ment than a grunt. she went on: This
Is just what / wanted. I must tell Lady
how we'll you look after me-
The man stared at her stOidly. Her
doesn't know" he said bluntly.
g Twas Sir Douglas orders. and these is
the things out o. IS own room"
When she was alone again, Rosemary
looked at the books In the shelves. They
all had the name, Douglas Mallaby" |
scrubbed In them, and she blushed as she
leaned back against a well-cushioned
armchair that seemed 10 have a faint
scent of tobacco abCNt il.
How kind of him" she murmured. u
don't know how to thank him, but 1
must
TO BE CONTINUED TOMORROW.
Copyright 100, by The North American Company
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