The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1917-06-20
IS JANE EYRE"
Bv Charlotte Bronte

they are in no hurry to separate.
/ Gentlemen, especially, are often
In request on such occasions: and
Mr.. Rochester is so talented and
so lively in society, that | believe
he is a general favorite."
| Are there ladies at the Least"
There are Mrs. Eshton and her
three daughters very elegant
young ladies'. indeed; and there
are the Honorable Blanche and
Mary Ingram, most beautiful
women. Indeed, | have seen
Blanche. six or seven years since,
when she was a girl of eighteen.
She came here to Christmas ball
and party Mr.. Rochester gave.
Miss Ingram was considered the
belle of the evening""
She was greatly admired, OF
course?"
Yes, indeed; and not only for
her beauty, FIT for her accom-
plishments. She and Mr.. Rochester
sang a duet"
"Mr. Rochester? | was not aware
he could sing"
"Oh! he has a fine bass voice,
and an excellent taste for music"
Mr.. Rochester had been absent a
fortnight, when the postman
brought Mrs. Fairfax a letter.
1T Is from the MASTER" said
she. as she looked at the direction.
Now | suppose we shall know
whether we are to expect his re-
turn or not"
And while she perused the docu-
ment, | went on taking my coffee
1--WE were at breakfast).
We'll - | sometimes think we
are too quiet; but we run a chance
of being busy enough now: for a
little while at least" said Mrs.
Fairfax.
Mr.. Rochester is not likely to
return soon, | suppose?"
Indeed, he is-in three DAYS,
he says; that will be next Thurs
day; and not alone, either. L
don't know how many of the fine
people at the Leas are coming
with him; and the ladies will bring
their maids and the gentlemen
their Wallets; so we shall have a
full house of it." And Mrs. Fair
fax swallowed her breakfast and
fastened away to commence oper-
atoms.
The party were expected to ar
rive on Thursday afternoon, in
time for dinner at six. During the
intervening period | was as active
and gay as anybody-Adele ex-
cepted. Still. now and then I re-
ceived damping check to my
cheerfulness. This was when I
CHANGED to see the third-story
staircase door (Which of late had
always been kept locked) open
slowly, and give passage to the
form of Grace Poole.
Only one hour In the twenty
four did she pass with her fellow
servants below: all the rest of her
time was spent in some low-ceiled.
oaken chamber Of the third story:
there she sat and sewed - and
probably laughed drearily to her
self-sas cOmpanionless as a pris-
oner In his dungeon.
The strangest thing OF all was.
that not soul in the house, ex-
|cept me, noticed her habits, or
seemed to marvel at them; no one
discussed her position or employ
ment; no one pitied her solitude
or isolation.
Thursday came. Toward six that
afternoon the party arrived.
Four equestrians galloped up
the drive, and after them came two
open carriages. Fluttering wells
and waving plumes filled the We
hicles; two of the cavaliers were
young, distinguishing gentle
men; the third was Mr.. Rochester
on his black horse, Mesrour;; Pilot
bounding before him: at his hide
rode lady and he and she wcro
1.-THE first of the party. Her purple
Iriding-habit almost swept thu
ground. her ven streamed long ~
] the breeze; mingling with
transparent folds, and eloHin &
through them. shone rich IN
lringlets. s. 81
Miss Insrau!a excldinsd
Fairfax. and eW11 1II9 huI(l&1 q
her post below. s
(Continued = Our Next I11o1.