The Skyland post. [volume] (West Jefferson, N.C.) 193?-1988, 1936-04-09
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81 do. I command it. We need moi
meet, but you must be present.
1--WE agree to conform to your
wishes, on the provision that we
need not meet. May we now be
shown to our rooms?"
"You may. Seymour" A woman
in the uniform Of a trained nurse
came into the room. "Bid Dillon
take these people to their rooms
The nurse rang a bell, and foot
man came, who escorted them from
Mrs. Malden's presence.
He led them up long fight OF
wide, shallow stairs, and opened a
door into a large foyer, which, he
said, led to Mrs. Malden's rooms.
Perilla was met by a pleasant-fac-
ed, rather pretty maid, who ushered
her in, while Dillon went on with
John Lowell.
Reaching the rooms allotted to
him Lowell asked Dillon to step in
side. The man seemed to do so. "Dil-
1on," he said, "who is head of the
house now?"
'Mrs. Maiden, sir, but she always
was. Even when Mr.. Corey was alive
he had nothing to say about any
thing"
did he resent this?"
'sNo, sir. He preferred it so. Mr..
Corey was clever man, sir. He
knew things would 60 more smooth
ly if he let his mother take the helm.
And he was here so seldom, it real
ly made little difference"
"I'm sorry to say these things, Dill
Ion, but I mus task certain questions,
and there seems to be no one else
to spea kto just now. Is there-any,
er-danger that during the night,
say, Mrs. Maiden might visit my
daughters room, and-and cause her
any distress?"
81 hesitate to reply to that ques-
ton, sir, but I feel I must advise you
to have Mrs. Malden's own maid in
the room with her. AS to the house
maid, Marie, she is true blue and
may be absolutely depended on. And
now, Mr.. Lowell, will you and your
daughter prefer to have your meals
with Mrs. Maiden, the elder, or by
yourselves"
81 should much prefer to dine
alone tonight, Dillon, but I think it
wiser-is the choice left to me?"
eyes, sir"
''Then, tonight, I will dine with
Mrs. Maiden, the elder, but my
daughter will not be with us. Make
whatever arrangement is convenient
for her dinner, and let her maid dine
with her."
eyes, sir" and the man looked
satisfied.
''Then, that will do, Dillon, and
send Boynton to me. He is valet as
well as chauffeur"
The man left the room, and Lowell
stood by the window, gazing at the
beautiful gardens, though scarcely
seeing htem for his startled thoughts
Dillon had practically warned him
against letting Perilla spend the
night without a companion. Well
Sarah was host in herself when il
came to caretaknig. But what could
happen? Surely that old witch
would not attempt. to strangle Per-
lila with those long, bony claws OF
hers.
But the strangest thing was
Corey's lack of reference to his
mother. AS Lowell remembered, he
had never heard Perilla's fiance
mention her, and he had wondered
why. But it seemed of little import
ance, since they were going to see
her and, as Lowell supposed, Perilla
would be welcomed with open arms
And doubtless she would have
been, had the bridal pair gone to
Maiden house as they expected. But
granting the suddenness of the trag-
edy and the erratic mind of the old
lady, was it so surprising that she
took an antagonistic attitude to-
ward Perilla? A different tempera-
men twould have welcomed the
stricken young bride, and they
would have mingled their tears; but
this half-crazy invalid, who idolized
her son, felt immediate rancor at the
girl who had taken him from her,
and now, as if she caught at the
chance. accused her, in a frenzy OF
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