The St. Charles herald. [volume] (Hahnville, La.) 1873-1993, 1917-11-03

of this quaint farmhouse she was look
ing upon a face and figure which the
illustrated papers and the enterprise
of the modern photographer had com
bined TO make familiar to the world
the figure of a girl, it seemed, nOtwith-
Standing her tWenty-Sevcn years. Her
soft, white blouse was open at the
neck, displaying a beautifully rounded
throat. Her eyes dWelt upon the oval
face, with its strong, yet mobile fea-
lures; It's lips little full. perhaps, but
soft and sensitive; at the masses of
brown hair drawn low over her ears
This was herself then. How would
| she seem to these two men downstairs.
She asked herSelf-the dOur, grim mas
ter Of the house, and her more youthful
rcScuer, whose coming had somehow
. touched her fancy? They saw so little
Of her sex. They seemed, in a sense 70
be in league against it. Would they
find out that they We're entertaining
an angel unaWareS?
She thought with q gratified smile
of her inCognitO. It was real trial
Of her strength this. When She turned
away from the mirror the smile Still
fingered upon her lips, soft light OF
anticipation Was shining in her eyes.
John met her at the foot OF the
stairs. She noticed with some sur
prise that he was wearing the dinner
/ jacket and black tie Of civilization.
"Will you come this way, pleaSc?"
he begged. Supper is quite ready"
He held open the door Of one of the
rooms on the other side of the hall, and
she passed into low dining room, dim
fly lit with shaded lamps. The elder
brother rose from his chair as they en-
tered, although his salutatiOn was
even grimmer than his first welcome.
He was wearing dreSS-coat of old
fashioned cut, and black stock, and
he remained standing, without any
smile or word of greeting, until she
had taken her seat. Behind his chair
stood very ancient manservant in "A
gray pepper-and-salt suit, with a white
tie, whose expression. at the entrance
riOusly to reflect the inhospitable in
stincts Of his master.
The table was laid with all manner
Of cold dishes, supplemented by others
upon the sideboard. There were pots
of jam and honey, a silver teapot and
silver spoons and forks Of quaint de-
sign, strangely cut glass. and great
Dresden bowl filed with flowers.
II am afraid" John remarked, chat
you are not used to dining ut this hour
our customs. If we had had little
longer notice"
Il never in my life saw anything
that looked so delicious as your GELD
chicken" Louise declared. May
have some-and some ham? ! believe
that you must farm some land YOUR
selves. Everything looks as if il were |
or homegrown"
Eve are certainly farmers" John adj |
mitted. with a smile, 'and don't think |
there is much here that isn't of our |
own production. The farm buildings |
are ut some distance away from the
house. There is quite little colony |
at the back, and the woman who super
intends the dairy lives there. In the I
house we are entirely Independent of .
other. with Jennings here and two
boys"
You are not both wOman-hatcrS | I
hope2"
Her younger host flashed a warning
glance at Louise, but 1t was too late.
Stephen had laid down his knife and
fork and was leaning in her direction :
Madam he interviewed, "since you
have asked the question, / will confess
hat 1 have never known any good
come to man Of our family from the
or service OF women. Our
,amily history, if ever you should come
% know it, would amply justify my
brother and myself for our attitude to-
ward your sex"
stephen" John demonstrated Il
light frOwn upon his face. "Need you
weary our guest with your peculiar I
Jews? 1t is scarcely polite. to say the
east OF it."
The older man sat. for q moment,
rim and silent
Perhaps you are right, brother" he
Omitted. This lady did not seek our
ompany but it may interest her to
now that she is the first woman who :
las crossed the threshold Of Peak Hall
OF matter Of six years" {;
Louise looked from onr TO the other {
aH increGUi0usly.
do yOu really mean il: Is that lii
rally :rue?" she asked John.
absolutely" the young man as /
ured her; "but please remember that
GU are none the less heartily welcome
lere. We have few women neighbors, I
nd intercourse with them seems TO
ave slipped out Of our lives. Tell me, j
ow far have you come today, and q
here did you hope to sleep tonight" y
Louise hesitated for a moment For a
ONE reason or other, the question d
eemed to bring with it some disturb 1t
lg thought. u
II was motoring from Edinburgh. Il