CHAPTER II (Continued).

Te Aroha News, Volume IV, Issue 163, 31 July 1886, Page 12

CHAPTER II (Continued).

Oh, how beautiful she w&s ! Her rosy finger-nail?, her diirpled wrist a , her free joyous movements, the curve of her throat edged around with a delicate frill of lace, the silver-blue ribbon in her glistening hair nowturned back in pompadour fashion from the smooth, dazzling-pure forehead— everything she waß, or spoke, or wore wa3 charming the more charming to Komeyn because aho teas so unconventional. He had had enough of beauties who used every grace of this kind as" capital upon which to speculate. Not that he had " fallen in love "—not at all. As we have said, his heart was still «ore from a recent blow. The idea of marriage was one which he had utterly abandoned. He believed that the capacity for love was no longer hi?. Therefore he allowed himself the more freedom in admiring this guileless girl. Indeed he felt attracted toward the whole little family. Already a brotherly sentiment warmed his breast toward these two engaging young people. Aa to the lady of the house — well, she certainly attracted him — aroused his keerest interest -and she was yery good to him ; but his attraction toward "her was not one of liking. She had told him nothing of her own circumstance?, and of course he had not Asked. He inferred that she was a widow, and had been one for some time, since lier dress, although black, was not that of deep mourning. During the meal Oscar learned the name Of the man-in-waiting. Mrs Jardine called him Elee. Elee-Lo-Manda was what he subscribed himEelf on grand occasions, but his household cognomen wa3 £ imply Elee. So neat, quiet, and deeply deferential, he appeared the prince of servants. After tea there wa3 music for an hour or two in the parlour. Miss Jardine was reluctant to play, but would nob refuse after little Anatole had begged her. He accompanied her with his violin. It was wonderful to hear him. With hia little thin hand workiog the bow with the consummate skill of a master, and hi 3 pale face glowing, it was evident that he wa3 one of those gifted ones who are born musicians. He would have played on and on ; but Mrs Jardine at length checked him. 11 You will wear yourself out. And you not sleep to-night, my love." Anatole heaved a little pigb, but immediately restored the instrument to its case. Romeyn noticed that he § was greatly exhausted as soon as the enthusiasm which sustained him died out somewhat. '• I think I will go to bed now, Aunt Julietta." Julia was Mrs Jardine's given name, which he softened and prolonged in his southern fashion into Julietta. She rang the bell and Elee appeared, following hia young master upstairs. "Do not leave him, unless he sleeps, until I cotne." his mistress had bidden him, as he disappeared. "Anstoie ia such a coward ! Ho does not like to be alone,"' she exr ! lined to his tutor. "It is his nervousness, I dare say. <Elee remains in his room with him until ho to sleep. The truth is, we three are all a little cowardly. We shall not be sorry to have a gentleman within call in -qpase of alarm. You know, Mr Romeyn, *he?e Chinese servants return to their own quarter at night. One could not obtain their service" did she insist on their rooms being in the house. They will return, faithfolly, at an eaily hour in the morning ; but every mornin?, when all h done, they must go away. Sometimes Belle and I have felt timid, alone in this large house. * c I truot you will now rest undisturbed by fears," Oscar rejoined, with a smile. " I feel myself quite capable ef defending you, in case of need, ladies. I carry a revolver." •* Ob, so do /,*' spoke' Mrs Jardine. " But I am not very skilled in its use," and then, all at once, a3 if something dreadful had occurred to her, or been recalled by this casual mention of a deadly weapon, she grew silent and shivered. Nay, more, her colourless face grew even more white and she reached out, half-blinded, graap:ng at the back of a chair. '* What is the matter," mamma ? cried .Mi 33 Jardine. * * Nothing at all ! Nothing in the world ! Is the room cold ? I believe I was a little chilly. You cannot depend upon San FranTiieco weather," she continued, nervously, ** it always gets co cold towards night and we did not close the windows as early as we should. There, there, there ! don't bring me a shawl, Belle. We shall retire very goon now. As I was saying, Mr Romeyn, a woman sometimes has occasion to use — I mean, do you know w hat chilly fogs we have in this climate, even in summer ?" Her words were confused, and her eyc3 were on the floor as she began to speak, but she raised them as she conclnded, again, as when she first met him, forcing herselt to . do co. Itseemedsuch an effort that he felt inclined to help her by turning his own away. Yet he was fascinated, and wanted to know what expression would be in them when Bhe did look up. They were eyes hard to read— dark, inscrutable. Shortly after, seeing the ladies were ■weary, Romeyn bade them good evening, and went to his room. He waa himself tired and depressed. He had nothing to read, write, or do, that evening ; so he coon undressed, went to bed, and to sleep. Suddenly he was awakened out of deep Test by a shrill, sharp scream, as of pain or "terror. He was certain that it came from Anatole'a chamber. Springing out of bed, he partially dressed „ himßelf, and not stopping to light the gas, felt his way through the intermediate study-room, and tried the door leading Into the boy's apartment, which opened at his touch. The place was entirely dark, but he heard the child gobbing and panting in hid bed. " What's the matter, Anatole?" he asked, regardless of any hidden danger which might threaten himself. ' ' Where can I get a match V "On the mantel — just where you are," quavered the frightened voice. Oecar found the box and struck a light. Turning a bright jet of light up, he looked about the chamber. *' You have been dreaming, child. If you are so nervous, why do you not leave the gas on a little 1 You would not be so timid." " I did, fir ; I left it burning. It was so altar Elee went away. I lay awake a long time looking at it. When I aWuke just now; all was dark, and some one wets bending over me.*' "Ah, that is where your imagination cornea in," laughed Oscar. ' "Indeed, not co. I have noiinaginatbn," very seriously. •« 1 kept 'still'-l several

moments ; I felt their breath — I heard their breatb, but I did not scream until something dropped pn n)j/ lips." '•Nonsense!" cried his tutor, gayly. " Come, Anatole, this will never do." Nevertheless, he approached the bed> and carefully examined it. He was disturbed to find a vvel spot on the pillow, as if a small quantity of some colourles3 liquid had not been spilled there.