The interior journal. [volume] (Stanford, Ky.) 1912-1984, 1912-08-09

opening u ct the foot OF the stairs
to show me Q dozen big yellow eggs
nesting among the bottles.
Real eggs" he said proudly. None
Of your anemic store eggs. but the real
Livingstone Of them still warm. Feel
them! Eeg.nog for Miss Louise!"
He was beaming with satisfaction.
and before he left. he insisted on go.
ing back TO the pantry and making
an eeg.nog with his own hands. Some.
how, all the time he was doing II,
had a vision of Dr. Willoughby. my
nerve specialist In the city. trying to
make an egS-nog. wondered II he
ever prescribed anything so plebeian
and so delicious. And while DR..
Stewart whisked the eggs he talked.
II said to Mrs. Stewart" he con-
f,ded. q little red in the face from the
exertion, after went home the other
day. that you would think me an old
gossip. for saying what did about
Walker and Miss Louise"
Nothing Of the sort," protested.
THE fact IT," he went on, evidently
justifying himself, II got that piece Of
information just as we get a lot of
things. through the kitchen end Of the
house. Young Walkers chauffeur
Walkers more fashionable than am,
Stanhope car-well, his chauffeur
- comes to see our servant girl, and he
told her the whole thing. I thought
1t was probable. because Walker spent
a lot Of time up here last summer
when the family was here. and be.
sides, Riggs. that's Walkers man. had
a very pat little story about the doc.
tors building q house on this proper
~, Just at the foot OF the hi!.. The
sugar, please"
The egg-nog was finished. Drop by
drop the liquor had cooked the egg
and now. with final whisk. a las;
toss in the shaker, II was ready. a
symphony in gold and white. The
doctor shifted II.
Real eggs, real milk. and touch
of real Kentucky whisky" he said.
He insisted on carrying 1t up him
self, but at the foot of the stairs he
paused.
Riggs said the plans were drawn
for the house." he said. barking bach
to the old subject. Drawn by Hus
ton in town. So I naturally believed
him"
When the doctor came down. I was
ready with . question.
in the neighborhood named Caring.
ton? Nina Carrington?'
"Carrington?" He wrinkled his fore
head. Darlington? No. I don't re-
member any such family. There used
to he Covingtcns down the creek"
The name was Darlington" said.
and the subject lapsed.
Gertrude and Halsey went for a
long walk that afternoon and Louise
slept. Time hung heavy on my hands,
and ] did as ] had fallen into habit
Of doing lately-I sat down and
thought things over. One result OF
my meditations was that got up sud
denly and went to the telephone.
had taken the most intense dislike to
this DR.. Walker, whom I had never
seen, and who was being talked Of In
the countryside a. the fiance OF Louise
Armstrong.
knew Sam Huston well. There
had been . time. when Sam was q
good deal younger than he is now. be
fore he had married Anne Endicott
when ! knew him even better. So now
felt no hesitation in calling him ovel
the telephone. But when his ONCE
boy had given way to his confidential
clerk. and that functionary had condo
scended to connect his employer'i
desk telephone. was somewhat at q
loss as to how to begin.
why. how are you. Rachel?" San
said generously. Going to build thai
house at Rock View?" 1t was q 20
year-old joke of his.
Sometime. perhaps" I said. "Just
now I want to ask you a question
about something which is none of my
business"
Il see you haven't changed an iots
in a quarter Of a century. Rachel
This was intended to be another Jest
ASK ahead; everything but my do
nestle affairs is at your service"
Try to be serious" I said. "Ant
tell me this: Has your firm made AM
plans for a house recently for q DR.
Walker at Casanova"
yes. we have"
where was II to be builtf hav,
. reason for asking"
1T was to be, believe. on the Arm
strong place. Mr.. Armstrong himself
consulted me. and the inference wal
in fact. I am quite certain-tht
house was to be occupied by Mr.. Arm
strong's daughter. who was engaged
to marry DR.. Walker"
When the architect had inquired FOL
the different members Of my family
and had finally rung on. was certain
Of one thing. Louise Armstrong wal
In love with Halsey, and the man sh,
was going to marry was DIR. Walker
Moreover. this decision was not new
marriage had been contemplated fo
some time. There must certainly b,
some explanation-but what was IL?
That day ! repeated to Louise tn,
telegram Mr.. Harton had opened. Sh,
seemed TO understand. but an unhap
pier face I have never seen. Sh,
| looked like a criminal whose reprieyS