Worcester Democrat and the ledger-enterprise. (Pocomoke City, Md.) 1921-1953, 1939-01-27
CHAPTER 1

Mgh-backed, UNANIMOUSLY cuSmoneO
chair before huge fire of cedar and
pine logs burning in an open CRATE
Her hands were folded in front of her
neither book nor any other form OF
diversion interfering in the steady
effort at listening which had absorb
ed her for the last. hour. The spell
was suddenly broken. She heard at
hast the sound for which she had wait
ed. She touched the jade knob OF an
ornamental bell which stood on the
table by her side.
"His lordship has arrived" she told
the footman who entered promptly.
please let him know that am wait
ing for him here"
The man hurried off. In the hall
below there was already small gath
ering of servants respectfully greet
ing the new arrival. The latter d
dark-complexioned, slim young man,
who was being relieved of his motor
ing attire, nodded and turned towards
the broad staircase. With his hand
already upon the banisters, however,
he fingered to ask just one question.
"Any unexpected visitors today,
Burrows?" he enquired of the butler.
"No one unexpected that I have
heard of your lordship," the man re-
piled. "Mr. Hennerly is here with
Lardy Alice, and we are expecting a
few people to dinner. Only very
small party"
"I was not thinking so much a.
bout guests" Matresser admitted.
"Mr. Yates is here, I suppose?"
Certainly, Milford. He has been
very busy in his room all day."
"The messenger I was expecting
would probably have reported to him."
"No one has arrived who has asked
either for your lordship or for Mr..
Yates" the butler pronounced.
Matresser nodded.
eff anyone should arrive see that
l am informed" he said. "The weather
is bad enough to stop anyone if they
were coming by road"
81 believe, your lordship," Burrows
confided, "that Humphreys would like
to see you about tomorrow's shooting
for a minute or two, or he will come
up after dinner if that is more con-
venient."
81 will see him in the gunroom be-
fore l change" Matresser promised.
mo you need not announce me, Bur-
rows. am sure her ladyship must
have heard the car"
He mounted the stairs with swift,
1.-THE movements, passed through two
very beautiful rooms, one hung with
rare tapestry, the other decorated
by famous Frenchman of the period
Of Wattau. In a few moments he
passed into the Sanctuary Chamber,
as it had been called for generations.
With slight gesture, half foreign,
perhaps, but entirely natural, he sank
on one knee by the side of the wo-
man whose arms were outstretched
towards him and drew her into his
embrace.
"Ronaldi" she murmured.
Dearest"
There were no other words. A mo-
ment or two later, still with her fin
gers upon his cheeks, he leaned lit
tie back.
"You are the most wonderful wo-
man in the world" he declared as he
looked into her deep-set but still bril-
liant eyes. "Yours is the complexion
of a child. You grow more ebautiful
with the years"
She laughed shortly.
"You will never lose your marvel
GUS gift of flattery, dear Ronald"
she said. "Of course, I love you to
say so but what do my looks matter
now?"
"You have family tradition to up
hold" he reminded. "Every Matres-
ser has married not only beautiful
woman but woman who has remain
ed beautiful.
"When are you prepared to carry
on the family record?" she asked.
He saw the slight anxiety with
which she was regarding him, rose to
his feet and touched bell.
"May II" he begged. Gust one
glass of sherry together, mother; be-
fore go to change. Am I more of
q skeleton than ever? It was moth
ing but a touch of fever which left
me long before we passed Gibral-
tar"
She shook her head.
"Those lines have bitten a little
deeper into your face, my son." she
told him. "Isn't it time you left of
these restless bouts of travelling
u