Evening star., 1912-11-07
CHAPTER XVII.
The Servant in the House.

Long-established usage on desert islands
has ordered that the first duty of the
shipwrecktd, after locating the crystal
spring and ascertaining that the cocoa
nuts are ripe and the mango Cor bread
fruit tree) abounds, is to signal for help
Accordingly, at this first meal after the
desolation of Ipping House the sole topic
of conversation concerned ways and
means of obtaining new servants without
delay. But the Merles took no part in
the discussion.
From the outset of the meal the Rev.
Horatio's domestic ministrations had been
accepted, in the picnickian spirit of the
occasion, as the whim of an eccentric
parson and quickly forgotten by all but
Harriet in the absorbing topic of the
moment.
quietly to and fro carrying the large
silver platter, bending gravely as he held
it in turn for each of the chatterers at
the table. Heavens" she reflected. bit
terly. raging about menials, needless
that they We're being served by an an
gel.''
rare partisan was Harriet Merle.
With her on his side Horatio might we'll
Iken himself to hero of old armed
with an invincible spear. Harriet gloried
posing forces were equal that there was
any doubt in her husbands mind which
side she would take. At such times some
thing totally unexpected. weighing with
the infinitestimal preponderance of a
hair. would sway the balance. So it had
been this morning when Horatio had
spoken of long-ago days and the look OF
long ago had shone in Horatio's eyes.
An hour before if the priestly Ezekiel
himself had appeared to the 'curate's wife
-
abetting her husband in this, the mad
dest of his mad ideas, Harriet would in
all probability have shown the PRESENT.
ent son of Buzz to the door. tt1iram
Baxter would have told him he was talk
ing through his halo) Yet now that
very thing was actually happening. and
the strangest part of it was that it did
not seem strange to her.
As Horatio stood, with his back to the
room, occupied with things on the side
board, there was to Harriet something
solemnly familiar about his attitude, his
quiet movements. Nor was the good
shocked when she realized
what il recalled to ner mind. IT was
but an added proof, If such were needed,
that TO Horatio this was indeed a ritual,
and no common service he was perform
ing.
At last, it seemed an age to Harriet,
every one had been served. The Spanish
cmelet, martyr to its own perfection,
was no more. dIIeF pay
ing the highest compliment possible for
a mere man to pay to Spanish omelet,
rose from the table, and, deputing the
countess to act with Mrs. Merle in the
matter of engaging servants, excused
himself on the plea of letters that must
catch the afternoon post
moment later Horatio, steeling him
self against Harriet's imploring glance
and the appeal of his untouched plate,
left the room. As one on the brink Of
journey, the thought of food repelled him.
Also he remembered that Martin Luther
had not breakfasted. He would come
back later and help Harriet clear away
the things.
Kate had lighted cigarette and was
leaning back in her chair watching the
por. Lionei's whole being was concen-
trated on the ordeal by fire of perfecto
bequeathed to him by the departing
Robert
.By Jove! Where's Mr. Merle?" re
marked Fitz- Brown presently.
The countess Immediately alert, gave
a quick glance round the table. go
after him, Lionel. He's had nothing to
eat,r she cried.
Lionel pushed back his chair and strobe
out of the room. Half an hour passed
before he returned, entering by the
French window from the conservatory.
He looked fustered
Il can't find him anywhere he said,
quickly, in answer to exclamations from
Harriet and Kate. I've looked all over
the beastly house and I'm blest IL / know
where he can have got to-
He must have gone out suggested
the countess.
That's the first thing l thought of.
He hadn't two minutes start of me and
| ran all round the house.
Did you go to the lodge?' queried
Harriet.
Yes. | went there twice No one has
been through the gate since this morn
ing. BY the way" ne added. Mrs. Pot
tie says she'll come around and see what
she can do to help she and that girl she
has there. jolly looking girl-eyes like a
like a fox terrier He stopped alb
ruptly. Kate and Harriet had not wait
ed for particulars about the Storm girls
eyes-the one was speeding toward the
kitchen, the other was already half way
up stairs.
Search as they would, the Rev Hora-
ito Merle was nowhere to be found and
his black wideawake hat was missing,
'.Horatio never went out like that with
out speaking to me- lamented Harriet
The afternoon hours dragged by and
when dinner time came Horatio was still
absent. The long oak dining table had
been reduced 10 the comparatively small
circle of its primordial unit. The cur
tains had not been drawn. and. through
the tall windows at the end of the ROOM
the ghost of the departed day stared
solemnly at the candles that were usurp-
ing its place. But the candles only shrug
ged their flames superciffously-their sill
yer candelabra had once belonged to
Charles L. Anyway" they reflected
its better to he live candle than a
dead sun" A remark which, to be strict
~ truthful, was not original having been
handed down in the candle family for
generations.
The continued absence of the beloved
curate cast a damper on the spirits of
the diners and made conversation bur
den. Even the al-important servant ques-
tion was for the time being forgotten.
ITO be continued tomorroW.l