The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1916-11-08

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! saw his face, pale and haggard
II wondered IL he really were
asleep. bat the alert way In which
he sat up before the train ar,
rived at Court Culver showed me
he was not, -.
Two carriages met us at the
station. Miles put me into one Of
these. Miss Timpsoh bundled her.
self and my most treasured
things into the other carriage.
For a time Miles or did not
speak; but Just as we were driv'
Ting between two tall stone pill
lars, with queer heraldic-lookine
beasts on top, he said:
I'm afraid Culver is going to
strike you as grim and unhome-
like. You're very young, after all
II hardly realized how young,
till today. l feel ] may have
wronged you in-in-"
"Oh. please don't feel that" I
begged. "Why-what made you
think of 1t today?"
II was watching you in the
train, when you were asleep he
admitted. 1T was then | realized
how young you are. You are
hardly more than child"
"Asleep-in the train!" But l
didn't contradict him. I'm q
woman. l assure you." ! said.
"Over 81"
We drove along q winding av-
enue under dark archways of
trees. BY and by the carriage
came to a kind of'open plateau,
and there the castle doomed up, a
huge, irregular black mass.
OF course / knew l was coming
to live in q castle, but l hadn't
expected to find 1t so formidable.
This enormous structure terrifies
me, knowing that in future it will
be the only place | shall have a
right to call "home."
The door by which We entered
was lowbrowed. Inside was hall
which could easily hold a dozen
pretty little California bungalows.
When Miles spoke to the two SER
vants-a very old butler, and an
almost elderly footman-who re-
ceived us, his voice echoed. l
jumped when that ancient butler
respectfully addressed me as
your ladyship."
My gracious. am a ladyship.
There is one comfort, Miss limp
son would rather be burnt at the
stake than my lady" me.
Just then there appeared a lit
tie old woman, limping slightly.
She was dressed in black silk.
which rustled in a way that no
silk ever can rustic in, II made
nowadays.
Beside her, the butler and the
almost elderly footman suddenly
appeared quite human. Her eyes
softened as Miles spoke to her.
and she apologized for being
late. II was with Mr.. Lawrence,
SIR" she explained. in a voice
which had a faint Scottish or
north-country burr"
But when Miles introduced her
to me, saying that she was Mrs.
Bagshot, who had been house
keeper at the Castle since he
could remember, she hardened
again into an icy, remote respect
fulness.
I'm sure you would like Mrs.
Bagshot to show you and your
maid to your rooms" Miles sug-
gested. "There'll be supper for
you there. Now, If you don't mind,
I'll hurry off to Laurie"
will your ladyship kindly
come this way?" inquired Mrs.
Bagshot.
BY this time Miss Timpson had
arrived upon the scene, and with
silly sensitiveness I noticed her
sharp look of surprise as Sir
Miles and I politely babe each
other goodnight.
There are many closed doors
leading out of the hall, to rooms
which seem to me mysterious.
One of these, which the footman
opened, admitted us to another
hall.
At last Mrs. Bagshot opened a
door and stood back to let me
pass. I saw a kind of ante-room.
lit by candles in silver Candida
bra. Mrs. Bagshot announced