The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1918-07-22


room was put at their disposition
where they could freely play with
their new toys. The result was that
when Clementine arrived in re-
Spouse to an urgent message from
Lilian-Simpson having taken
her departure with her months
wages and in. high dudgeon-the
two children were clamoring to be
allowed to stay where they were.
They took to Clementine at once,
and she to them.
your mamma says you may stay
here" Lillian told them: "if you are
good children you may stay as long
as ever you like. Are you pleased?''
81 don't want to go back-never,"
said the little girl, hugging q doll
with blue eyes and flaxen hair to
which she had taken 4 great fancy.
It's nice to be rich"
The boy echoed her words with even
greater decision Mamma may stay
away" he concluded. with the
thoughtless cruelty Of childhood.
mamma beat me the other day"
Gone for q Journey.
Your mother has gone a far jour
ney," explained Lillian, -"and your
father, too. It may be a long time
before they come back. am going
to be your mamma now. Do you
think you will love meT'
They both vowed that they would,
and graciously allowed themselves to
be kissed. Lillian was no stranger to
them, apd. luckily she. had won her
way into their good graces. She had
always been sympathetic to children.
though they had played but small part
in her life.
give them plenty Of latitude at
first" she said to Clementine. 'SThey
are wild little things at present, and
must be tanned by degrees Make
them happy-thata is the great
point"
And Clementine said that she would
do her best The children were
"adorables" and "gentfls CONNIE tout"
Clementine was overjoyed to be back
with her old mistress. and ready to
undertake any task that Lillian might
set her.
Esther drove down to the station to
meet Lillian that evening. and greeted
her upon her arrival with more than
usual warmth It was evident to LII
liam that her friend was troubled and
excited, hut nothing was said till they
were both comfortably installed In the
brougham on their way TO the Tow
ers. There was a biting wind blowing
and the air seemed heavy with threat
ening snow; after her cold journey
Lillian was pleased to wrap the heavy
robes closely about her. In the OBJ
security Of the carriage she could hard
~ see Esther's face
"Oh Il am clad vOr1 -
Esther cried at last Il could not
stand 1t any longer. The strain was
becoming too much for my nerves.
And I am all alone Mrs. Meredith
left me yesterday. She made some
excuse, said she had TO go to some
relative who is i'll, but that is not the
true reason why she has gone away.
I know that she was frightened" It
was not often that Esther spoke in
coherently. but now she seemed hard
ly able to connect her sentences.
Tell me the trouble" said Lillian.
soothingly.
The servants are giving notice,
too"-Esther continued to follow
the train OF her own thoughts
"and I am not surprised thai they
should do so. Is it not enough to
have one haunted house in the fam
lily? Cannot we keep our skeletons
at Adderley, even il they run riot
there?"
you must tell me all about it,"
Lillian said again. Tell me from
the beginning? I am not clear as
to what has happened"
Esther UnburdenS Her Heart
Il am foolishly nervous tonight"
Esther laughed, attempting to COM
pose herself. 81 shall be all right
now that you have. come. 1t was
the solitude that was affecting me.
Mrs. Meredith has never been any
support to me, though. poor dear.
she meant well. She was a good
companion to me when I was hap
py-abroad. you know-but she has
no idea OF comforting one when
one is sad" She paused a moment
and then continued: 81 have had
a great deal to bear since you left
me, Lillian, though II would take
me a long time to tell you the
whole story. But there has not been
anything definite till now. Harold
as / think l told you the other
day-has been getting steadily
worse, though IL is hard TO say
worse when one does not know
from what he, is suffering. I
wanted to live in New York, as
you will remember, but he said that
It was necessary for US to be at
Helm-he made the business of the
estate the excuse, and we have
been here ever since. But he at
tends to no business, Lillian. none.
Whatever has to be done Mr..
Graves attends to. or l do my best
II II were not that people pity Har-
old and say openly that he is af-
.hicted by the family curse, he
would be most unpopular-and that
after the way they sent US of after
our wedding. Do you remember,
Lilian?" Esther's voice was very
sad as she recalled that day; she
had never known happiness since.
II remember" said Lillian, gently.
We'll, Harold shuts himself up
whenever he is at home. At FIRST
he used to appear at meals. and
would sometimes walk in the gar
den, or even to the village. He
seemed devoted to reading, and I
used 10 think II must be good for
him to distract his thoughts. He
always spoke to me kindly and sor-
rowfully. but never with the slight
est show OF affection. I got more
or less accustomed to my position
at last. and there were other things
TO occupy my mind" Even now
Esther did not reveal the secret OF
the great friendship which she had
formed for Basil Fleetwood, and
the reason for that friendship.
/Ta IA Noy.ksv.,,ol Ta,.aa--~-N