Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-02-21
CHAPTER XXV-Continued.

place., Slyne remarked to the duchess,
and Lord Ingoldsby turned toward Sallie
again: as did Mr.. Jobling after a glance
of extreme disfavor at Carthew, on his
other hand. And Carthew could not at
all understand the general gravity, until
Herries whispered over to him. under
cover of the renewed conversation. You
haven't heard Of our White Lady here
yet Mr. Carthew. But she brings dule
to the house, and they say it was her
that was seen in the woods this after
noon.
Carthew nodded. He had heard MOTH
ing of any such superstition, but knew
enough already Of the natives OF those
wilds to understand how they would cling
to it. He thought for moment OF tell
ing Herries that it was man ana NO
woman whom he had seen. but that wouiu
perhaps have disclosed too much to capt.
Dove and he decided to keep his own
counsel until he could obtain some safer
clue to all those mysteries.
Some movement in the little gallery
above the buffet caught his attention
and he thought he could see the ora
ustrade with Ambrizette, Sallie.s black
maid, all eyes, looking down at the gain
ering. And the smile Sallie f1ashed at
him as he looked at her told him she also
knew that they were there
Slyne grew somewhat distrait and rest
less as the long dinner ran it's course,
and Carthew had to devote more atten-
ton to the duchess. Among the rest OF
the company all seemed to be going Wen.
Mr.. Jobling and Lord Ingoldsby were
both growing, always more garrulous,
and even Capt Dove had frightened up
under the sunny influence Of the rare
vintages dispensed by the butler: he had
got to the length of discussing the lights
on that coast with Herries, the factor, be-
fore the pop of a cork at the buffet served
to announce that the champagne was
coming next.
Slyne was obviously about to claim the
attention of the table. Carthew sup
posed he must be going to propose some
toast, and wondered whether he did not
know any better than that. But he wait
ed till every glass was filled before he
made any move, and when Sali1e Wouio
have refused the wine he sent the butier
back to her with whispered message.
At which, Carthew observed. sudden
pallor overspread her face; he was watch
ing her very closely.
The rest of the company and the serv-
ants also looked round at Slyne In sur
prise as he rose, but Carthew did not.
He had seen Sallie lift a fllmy. lace-edged
handkerchief from her lap and caught
sight of something that it was meant to
conceal. She raised a clenched hand above
the wine glass before her. and CartheW
could have sworn that he saw some color
less drops splash down on the bubbling
champagne. Then she slipped her hand
kerchef out of sight again and sat with
bent head, idly twirling the stem OF the
wine glass between her fingers. watching
the white froth break at it's brim
And still Slyne said nothing. Carthew
scarcely dared to glance up at him till -
saw Sallie was gazing that way with
wonder and fear in her eyes.
Slyne was standing rigid The glass
he had lifted was fitting over its contents
dripping out on the tablecloth. His mouth
was open as if to speak, and his lips were
moving, but emitted no sound. He was
staring fiXedly into an obscure corner
under the musicians gallery. where was
the service doorway from which the piper
always appeared.
The others had turned their eyes in the
same direction. The very servants SEEM
ed to have lost all self-control, stood
stricken, gasping, helpless. And no one
even breathed as shadowy hgure came
slowly stumbling out of the dusk into the
crimson light of the fire.
1t halted. irreSOlute; lean, STOPPING,
bald-headed figure, with a haggard, fool
ish face contorted to hold single eye
glass in place. On it's forehead was red
smudge, as of iron rust. 1t was wearing
a disreputabIe, greasy blue uniform, with
not a few ragged rents in 1t. Its boots
were equally shapeless and one was burst
There was snow OH them.
company to recover the power of speech.
What the devil do you want here,
Brasse?" he cried. in a choking voice,
which vet was charged with relief, as II
from some paralyzing fear.
But before the engineer could answer
word Herries, the old factor. had risen
shakily from his seat and shufhed across
the floor toward him, was peering stu
pidly into his face, looking him up and
down with eyes that were almost blind.
The duchess had got up. too. Slyne had
sunk into his chair again. scowling black
ly. pulling at his mustache. Lord In
goldsby and Carthew and Mr. Jobiing
were still gazing blankly at the intruder.
Sallie sat motioness.. with one hand al
ways at the stem of her wineglass.
The duchess lifted the shade off one OF
the lights on the candelabra and looked
still more searchingly at the engineer.
''Torquil ST. Just!' she whispered. at
length, and Lord st. JUST cried Her
ries at the same moment.
The scarecrow with the eyeglass held
out a slack hand to the old factor.
.'Hullo, Herries,'' be remarked, in a husky
voice. 81 didn't recognize you at first.
You're aged lot" And, glancing across
at the duchess, isn't that Lady Jane
Gairloch, Herries?'' he asked, in an audi
BILE aside. "She was only slip of a girl.
you know, old chap when-1 left home.
She's the-Duchess-of Dawn now-my
lord" answered Herries. the factor, help
lessly. 'And-you're Earl of Jura-now.