Emmons County record. [volume] (Williamsport, D.T. [i.e. N.D.]) 1884-current, 1920-09-23

ucy udu ueCOIIc d SdCFuuleut anu my
affection for 1sobel tragedy.
The yacht brought these dear people
to the landing in the river at Hartley
house. l, In the city, was called on
the telephone by Isobel. There was
dynamic value in the inspiration of her
voice. She was. in her greeting, CHEEKY
and wholesome. 1t was glad, clean
"Hullo !"-crsp and jovial.
My people came home In May, and
the day after their arrival went to
Hartley house with my belongings, re-
joicfng, in an ecstasy, to take the we'll
known ride into the wonderful world
OF fancy and endenred companiOnship,
by the haunted pool and into the jovial
household
Jed, ! knew as soon rs I saw him.
was changed-not violently but in
some fashion and perceptihly. Mr.. Sid
ney was not. His geniality could not
change. He made me feel that he had
missed me and was rejoiced to see me
again. Mrs. Sidney seemed, spiritually,
to continue to lean on me for support,
thing that perceived in abasement
and with a sense Of unworthiness and
unreliability. Isobel was as whole
some as the air. In the most pleasant
circumstances life was resumed at
Hartley house.
Jed had not wholly lost his trucu-
lence and his occasional flashes of
malevolence. but he was subdued. !
thought he seemed furtive.
asked Mrs. Sidney If she had oh.
served change. She said it had not
occurred to her to think Of it. as
change. but there had been differ
ence for which she was grateful. She
remembered that when they were max
ing their visit to Montevideo Jed had
gone down to the docks and had come
back obviously disturbed. She had OBJ
served the fact without giving much
thought to it. She was not sure but
that there had been an amelioration of
Jed since then. She had regarded the
event as insignificant. It might have
had a meaning, but If so, it was OBJ
scured.
Our days were Of pleasant routine,
but nevertheless, for reasons which
have tried to make perceptible If
not explicit, the expectation was
touched by dread. We had, for sew
eral months, no outstanding incident
or disturbing happening. Mr.. Sid
neys health remained exceptionally
good. He created new interest in
his life: he had not forgotten his visit
to the penitentiary, and he was eager
to do what he could for the convicts.
Evidently he thought Of his restrict
ed life as something not wholly alien.
except for its comforts. to theirs. The
most that he could do was to send
books and occasionally to prepare q
Sunday afternoon program of music
to be given by small orchestra which
he had brought out from the city. He
never went back to the penitentfary,
but once a week Jed or I drove over,
and he was interested in our accounts.
Jed was beginning to wear off the
fine aspects of his good behavior
Some restless ambition tortured this
man. and some power he had not COM
pletely used invited him to make full
use of it.
had implored Mrs. Sidney to In
form me instantly If he became OBJ
noxious again. understood how i'm
portant 1t was to protect Mr.. Sidney's
peace Of mind. but thought 1 had the
upper hand of Jed-although not I'M
Outstanding his case at all-an1 could
manage him.
Isobel, knowing that she was pur-
sued by the ridiculous ambitions Of
the man, found amusement in 1t. I
found only moral nausea. could
see Jed's arrogance arising again, and
twice week was awakened by his
singing in the hallway as he came from
drinking in Mr.. Sidney's room. was
expecting something to happen; and
something did, but it was certainly
not what expected. 1t opened up
new phase Of the mystery.
One morning was waiting for Jed
to bring my coffee to the pleasant
room which he early in our acquaint-
ance had recommended. Not the least
curious thing about Jed was the fact
that he seldom in his sober moments
was anything but perfect servant
when service was demanded. It did
not matter how serious and deadly the
issue might be between Jed and me as
men; when the matter lay between
Jed and me as servant and served, Jed
was the servant. Therefore. no mat
ter how things might stand with US
when. in the morning at an early hour.
I went to the room Jed originally sug-
gested. expected him to come with
my coffee, and he always did.
It was my habit to arise at seven
o'clock and be dressed and in this
room by half-past seven. I usually
read a book until Jed brought the cof-
fee and the morning paper. It was a
luxurious and restful experience to
have this hour each day.
This morning in question Twas read
ing placidly when looking out the win.
dow, I was startled to see strange
figure Of a man on the lawn. He was
close to the house, almost under my
L . :