The Washington herald., 1914-08-16
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scious of the sudden silence
which seemed designed to act as bar
rier between him and them. He only
smiled little malevolently, it is true,
but still with some sense of humor. He
dragged a chair across the lawn and
seated himself in a cool place within a
yard or so of his hostess.
"How very enterprising of you, Mr..
Lyndham!" she murmured, lifting her
parasol little on one side and inward
ly rebelling against her husbands ex-
press instructions to be always civil
to this man. Have you walked all the
way from Broom Hill in this sum-"
He assented, butJwithout speech. His
gesture was of the slightest. Really his
manners wer worse than brusque- Mrs.
Poynton 1anguidly ordered some fresh
tea and turned her shoulder upon the
newcomer. He had come without in
vftation upon an afternoon Of some inn
portance; he should entertain himself.
There were limits to her tolerance, ODE
dent wife though she was.
So the conversation ebbed and flowed
around him. Every one followed the
lead of the hostess and made no at
tempt to draw him into it. Yet never
was a casual visitor so little upset by
the subtle but unmistakable rudeness
of being ignored. He drank his tea
absently, and notwithstanding his isola-
tiun, he made no movement to depart.
MY dear Eleanor" Lady Martyr
whispered to her hostess. what an ex-
traordinary man! Is he specimen of
your country neighbors? I thought the
people were quite decent round here"
Mrs. Poynton gently elevated her
shoulders.
Heaven only knows who or what he
isl" she murmured. I'VE none of US
like him except my husband, and you
know how anything unusual attracts
him."
But where does he come from? Is
he a neighbor?"
His name is Lyndham, and he has
taken a cottage few miles away. No
one seems to have an idea who or what
he is. and he is most unconmunicative.
He seems to spend most of his time
walking in the grounds here and stag
ing up at the house"
"A gentleman, but how uncouth |"
Lady Martyr declared under her breath.
Mrs. Poynton looked sideways at him
through the lace which drooped from
her parasol. There was disparagement.
but a certain amount of curiosity in
her stealthy gaze. Mr.. Lyndham wore
old clothes, his beard was ill-trimmed,
his necktie a subterfuge. But, after
all, perhaps Lady Martyr was right.
There was a certain air OF breeding
about the man, and his voice had the
unmistakable quality which attracts She
lowered her parasol again. &.
why he comes here" she said softly,
especially while my husband is away,
l cannot imagine. No one is civil to
him, and he very seldom speaks to any
body. He asked Arthur for permis-
sion to walk in the grounds, and since
then he seems to haunt the place. l
met him one evening striding along the
avenue muttering to himself. l must
have passed within yard of him, and
he took not the slightest notice. l was
almost frightened to death"
"YouS husband was always so good
natured, )" Lady Martyr yawned. BY
the by how about the lease?"
Arthur has gone up to see the solic-
itors," Mrs. Poynton answered. They
do not seem to be able to get any reply
from Sir Gervase. don't think they
even know where he is, and they have
no power of attorney"
Lady Martyr looked across the ter
raced lawn to the long, ivy-oovered
front of the house.
81 hope you do not lose it." she said.
There isn't another place like it in the
county Isn't it almost time she came?"
Mrs. Poynton leaned forward in her
chair.
q believe" she said, that can hear
the carriage"
From where they sat, the lower of
+b-ae terrarad I.,,-,s -.oI :.L A.