Carson City daily appeal. [volume] (Carson City, Nev.) 1907-1930, 1913-12-24

treSS quite "a II her absence had been
merely a matter of a few days.
"You see. madam. the masters or
ders were to keep your rooms always
In readiness and always lighted up ev-
cry evening until morning: SO all is
quite as you would like. we hope"
SO said Bridget, while the butler stood
tall and pompous dealing with the cab
man as to the trunk.
When the coach had rolled away
over the snow Mrs. Van Zandt. who
had paused in the hall, turned to Bird
get and asked. els Mr. Van Zandt at
homer
mo. madam: Mr.. Van Zandt has
never been in this side Of the house
since you were called away. and he
hasn't been in the other side for above
three years now. Mr.. Van Zandt Is in a
hospital in the south somewheres. We
don't know anything more than that"
The tears were in Miss Supplies eyes.
Betty inclined her head. Then she
went up the stairs to her rooms. The
Christmas greens were still fresh and
pretty all about. for it had been Peters
orders to dress her rooms with them
every year, no matter where he might
be. and this order the faithful pair had
always carried out with reverent. wist
full care.
Bridget went down. Shaddle beck
oned to her from his pantry. "Biddy."
he said, noting the tear traces in her
eyes,, the young mistress has rome
back. and now the hanns''-
"Shaddle!" Miss supplies o was
that Of one horror struck by the other
ones audacity. upon whom she placed
an eye of fire. 1.-THE mistress is here.
but where's our young master?"
And Shaddle. of course. beat a re-
treat. Shaddle seemed to himself to be
always heating retreats before the OBJ
ject Of his affections. Years made no
odds for him. Bridget. obdurate as the
unappeased gods. would listen to no
nuptial overtures and generally con
Guided these amatory %colloquies by
leaving the butler much of the opinion
that he was an unnatural wretch to
think of marrying under the conditions
existing in his masters family.
Betty had been home for eight days
before she let Amy De Peyster know
of her arrival. In those eight days
there was no word got by her of Peter
Van Zandt's well or Ill fare.
1t was just to wait and wait. Would
he come? Was he dying? Had he
forgotten her? Was there some other,
fairer. sweeter woman whom his heart
now rested in? Why not?
Then. when she sen Amy a note
by Shaddle. Amy anne at once.
She had news of Peter; of course
Betty had it too? No. Well. Ned
Davies had got back from Wash
ington the night before; he had seen
Peter. If you please. one the worse
for his Libby imprisonment: nom the
worse of his fever and hospital; quite
splendidly well and usual. stopping at
Wizards and asking Ned how soon he
and Amy were going to be tied up.
Betty listened. said not a word and
turned the talk wholly toward the pa
thence of Ned Davies and the charms
of life in a quaint French town like
Limoges.
"And when-do you GO back. dear, or
don't you 60 back at ALP Amy had
asked gently of her friend.
ION saturday." Betty replied. And
when you and Ned are married you
must make the wedding journey over
the sea to ME. will yOu?"
Amy promised quizzically. She had
| been putting off that wedding Of hers
| so long that it looked to her now like
an agreeable ignis fatuus. or a delight
full jest. although. to be sure. Ned Da-
vieS had always to be counted with.
and sometimes be did allow himself a
restiveness Incompatible with Anny's
holding ou, many years.
So Mrs. Van Zandt sailed away
again on the Saturday. She had left
the house OIL The square for the ship at
| noon. The sailing was scheduled for l
O'Clock. AT 8 that evening Mr.. Van
| Znndt arrived from Washington.
! Shaddle and Miss Supple had a con
ference in the kitchen. the result Of
which was that the butler when he re
moved the dessert and set out the
cheese and celery and refilied his mas
Ter ) glass tOOk covert OCcdSlOn 10 sup
| beneath this last a scrap of paper care
fully contrived by his own and the die
tating hand of Bridget. 1t ran this
way: 'Honored sir and master we duti-
fully enforIne you that IL mistress,
Mrs. Van Zandt. returned home on the
| six of Jan. and sailed of this fifteenth
day of same month, your respectful
and obedient servants Shaddle and
Bridget"
Shaddle did not remain In the dining
room after he had placed the cheese,
etc. He. III fact. got away to his pan.
try. down his little corkscrew back
stairs and into the kitchen as quickly
as he could. where Bridget awaited
him. He sat bravely In her rocking
chair. a liberty he seldom allowed
himself. and swayed back and forth.
whats the matter. Shad?' asked
the serving M
..The ma ttpr is" Shaddle smoke with