The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1913-07-06
LORD LYNDON'S SECRET

dusk half-hour before dinner; they had
been sitting silent, the wife with cir
culatlng library novel on her knee, tho
husband with cracking newspaper, and
the nonosyllabic interchange had long
since resulted in utter silence. Then the
door opened and Jarvis came in, carrying
mo lamp. and with the entrance Of the
ilght came a revelation to Margaret She
uttered a suppressed cry, and in an in.
slant tho vision had vanished. but the
memory Of a look remained with her.
LOOK or love and GRIEF and despair I'M
utterabie, painted on her husbands face
"Rayle1sh" she had exclaimed in that
instant or surprise. What Is the matter?"
AND her husband had answered wildly: 81
don't understand YOU Is anything
wrong! He had regained his customary
LOOK OF calm placidity Had 1t been her
fancy that that look had ever altered?
Dinner Wen off silently and stiffly. 1t
mao been her loving custom to sit with
ner husband in the library while he
smoked his evening cigar. She found her
sell hesitating on the threshold before the
closed door. She knocked instead OF open
Ing 1t and going confidently In Her hus-
bands voice said: Who is it?" The door
opened; familiar black figure stood on
the threshold.
on! beg your pardon" she STAN.
mered' recognizing Mr.. Dene. What did
the old lawyer want? Why had he been
sent for? She excused herself hastily
and went away. No kindly voice had said
Come in"
She threw a light silk shawl over her
head and shoulders, and went into the
grounds. She turned into oath that
led past the rearward wing of the house
through an old-fashioned kitchen garden.
across the paddock and in the direction of
the stables. She did not care where she
went. so long as she escaped from that
shadow OF doubt and arrangement that
haunted her-though it followed and
would not be shaken of. AS she laid her
hand upon the latch OF the kitchen garden
gate, she heard voices talking beyond IT.
her husbands valet, Purdon, and one of
the kennel keepers we're the takers. II
was unusual company for Purdon, who
was most particular gentleman's gentle.
man. to select, that of drabbitt-waist.
coated, corduroy oreeched pudding boiler.
But they were whispering confdentially.
My lord will not be likely 10 come down
to the yards HIMSELF" the helper whis.
pered.
Not he!" Purdon returned. "He
wouldn't go within half mile of EN-, not
for all you could offer him. It's case of
shock to the nerves, the doctor says: bu.
though he won't own il. he'd give deal
TO know where she Is at this moment"
"She?"
She, Of course; Fairy they called her.
The -. Purdons voice became maud
lo!e, then 1t rose again She as he went
10 Paris all along OF, you fool"
The OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES one gave a
long whistle. He retorted: "Ah. he would
So OF course. But, We see, none Of us can
tell him. In the STIR like, she got clean
away. One Of the grooms said ne met aer
on the Summerlands road when ne was
coming home with the brown mare from
exercise. But he wasn't going to stop her.
A man isn't bound to put himself l. danger
without orders. thar 7 hold n
"Sh!' said Purdon. The garden door
had creaked Lady Lyndon, in her eager.
ness to hear more. pressed against il from
the inside.
God bless you! It's nothing" said the
helper. You're as frabbity as other folk
| know on. Tell us a biz about Parts. and
what We did there | forgot to mention
that the valet had accompanied his master
abroad.
Il didn't see much of H." said purdon.
ITO me it looked more than a bit like
London, washed clean. Only the res
trongs were turned inside out, and the
ladies and gentlemen were eating ices
and drinking coffee and cocktails on the
pavement"
Lord" the other calculated.
1T seems coarse" Purdon agreed "But
what can one expect OF foreigners?"