The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1913-12-14

creatures of whom the less said the bet
ter
That these words referred to me had
not the slightest doubt Yet while they
were still on her lips, presuming on her
conviction that they were hidden from
! me, she nodded and smiled as II she were
7 wishing me a friendly goodnight.
That was a sleepless night. 1t was hours
before got between the sheets, and when
I did II was not to slumber. The feel
ing that was SO entirely alone, and that
there was not a soul within miles and
miles to whom 1 could turn for help,
coupled with the consciousness that
had scarcely enough money to pay the
hotel bill, and, what was even worse,
that Mr.. and Mrs. Travers had gone OF
with the return half Of my ticket to Lon
don, so that 1 could not go back home
however much i might want to-these
things were hard enough to bear; but they
! seemed to be as nothing compared to that
man and woman's treachery. What was
their motive, what could have induced
them, was beyond my comprehension. 1t
was a problem which I strove all night
| to solve. But the solution came on the
morrow.
After lying for hours in troubled wake
fulness I had some broken sleep. from
which awoke not only without any sem
sation of being rested, but with an I'M
comfortable consciousness Of some i'm
pending hidden danger.
I soon knew what had happened when
went downstairs. Miss Goodridge had
told her story of the pendant, and Mr..
Sterndale had circulated his lie about his
clerical friend. Everybody Stunned me.
Some persons had the grace to pretend
not to see me; others looked me full in
the face and cut me dead. The only per-
sons who were disposed to show any per-
ception OF my presence were the Stern
dales. As, entering the breakfast-room,
I passed their table, they both smiled and
nodded, but showed no consciousness of
them. As took my seat at my own
table, I saw him say to his sister:
"Our young friend seems to have got
her back up-little idiot"
Little idiot, was 1? Only yesterday he
had called me something else. The feel
ing that he was saying such things be-
hind my back hurt me more than II he
had shouted them to my face. l averted
my gaze, keeping my eyes fixed on my
plate. I would learn no more OF what he
said about me, or OF what any one said.
Later in the morning matters turned
out so that I did see. so that practically
had to see what the Sterndales said
to each other. And perhaps, on the
whole, it was fortunate for me that +
did. had spent the morning out Of doors.
On the terrace the Sterndales were stand
ing close together, talking; SO engrossed
were they by what they were saying that
they did not notice me; while, though II
did not wish to look at them, something
made me.
They both seemed to be rather ex-
cited. He was speaking quickly and with
emphasis.
'T tell you," he was saying. as paused
to watch, I'VE will do 1t today"
His sister said something which, as she
was standing sideways, was lost to me.
He replied:
THE little idiot has cooked her own
goose: there's no need for US to waste
time in cooking Il any more-she's done.
I tell you we can strip the house of all II
contains, and they'd lock her up for
doing it"
Again his sister spoke; without, be-
cause Of her position, giving herself away
to me. He went on again:
There are only two things in the
house worth having-I could give you a
catalogue Of what every one has got.
Mrs. Anstruther's diamonds-the neck
lace is frst-rate, and the rest of them
aren't bad; and that American woman's
pearls. Those five ropes of pearls are
WORTH hope they'll be worth q good
deal to us. The rest of the things Won
may make q present OF to our young
friend. The odium win fall on her-you'Ti
see. We shall be able to depart with
the only things worth having at our dis
tinguished leisure. without stain upon
our characters"
He smiled-some people might have
thought It pleasant smile-to me II
seemed horrid one. That smile finished
melt reminded me or traitors kiss.
What he meant by what he had said
did not clearly understand. Ths only