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2 THE ATLANTA GEORGIAN AND NEWS. SATURDAY, JUNE 8, 1907.
THE GHOST OF LOCHRAIN CASTLE-Continued
such a happy Impression for her last
one.
“Isn't It that common little creature
who got In flrst-claas with us yester
day, and I took for some one’s maid?"
she heard Lady I.ambart ask In clear
tones as the door closed.
Perhaps, If she had caught Kenrith’s
answer, she would not have felt so
crushed; but she did pot catch It,
and so she went away with tingling
cheeks, wondering It she really did
look common, and If she were the sort
of girl, to be mistaken for a lady's
maid. ‘ .
Her next hour of work, directly after
luncheon, was with . I.ady Ardcllffe,
whom Mr. McGowan had described as
a “peeress who wished to be a poetess."
Klspeth had seen her In the morning
talking with Hilary Lambart, but Lady
Ardcllffe, who was near-sighted and
would not wear glasses, did not recog
nise the girl. She was fussy and
flighty, with an air which would have
suited a spoiled young beauty of It,
and though she announced that she
was engaged upon a dramatic poem for
a review, which must be finished with
in a week, she would not settle to work.
Instead she talked about herself, and
what she hod written, and how much
nil she had done had been admired. "I
do think," she said, dreamily, "that I
have a little of the divine afflatus.
People sometimes ask me to teach them
how to write; but how can one teach
what Is as elusive as flame? Countess
Ttadepolskol, for Instance. Is quite fool
ish over my work. She's Polish, and
has attempted verses In her own lan
guage. I don't know how successfully.
Now she is keen to try in English with
my help. Perhaps she will want you
to type for her, but If she does, mind,
1 can’t give you up a moment of my
hour. You must find other time for
her. Have you seen her? Has she
usked Mr. McGowan to let her have
you yet?"
“I saw her for a moment this morn
ing,” returned Elspeth, "but nothing has
been said about my working for her."
The girl clicked her machine as If to
quietly remind the poetess that time
wus being wasted, but Iauly Ardcllffe
rushed olf upon a new tack.
"Tell me, did you admire the Count
ess?" nhe Inquired, with an eagerness
which Elspeth was at a loss to under
stand. “I should like the opinion of a
newcomer on that subject.”
"Oh, yes; 1 thought her exceedingly
rtriklng," the girl was replying frankly,
when Lady Ardcllffe's face fell almost
pitiably. "But very foreign looking,"
Klspeth went on.
"Very, Isn't she?" the elder woman
caught up the words. "I should hardly
think, should you, that she would be
the sort of woman to attract an Amer
ican or an Englishman?"
"Perhaps not," admitted the glr!,
wondering what this was leading up to.
"Of course." went on Lady Ardcllffe,
"a poor man might wish to marry her
for her money, for she Is said to be
rich, and 1 suppose she must be, as she
dresses extravagantly, and has some
very fine Jewelry, but millionaires don’t
need to think of such sordid things In
connection with a woman."
"Poor creature," thought Elspeth,
•’she must be over 60, yet 1 do believe
she's In love, and Inclined to be jealous,
either of Mr. Kenrlth or Mr. Trow
bridge, the only two millionaires I've
heard of ns stopping In this hotel,
wonder which It Is?"
But she illd not have to wonder long.
Lady Ardcllffe's next sentence helped
her to make a shrewd guess. "Mr.
Trowbridge said last night he was go.
Ing to have Mr. MrOowun's new secre
tary to help him with his multitudes of
letters,” the poetess went on. "1 sup
pose he means you?"
Klspeth replied that she was to assist
Mr. Trowbridge from fi o'clock until
every evening, unless—she added rather
lnlseblevously—lie wanted to lend her
services to one of his friends.
'i<end you to one of his friends."
echoed Lady Ardcllffe, suddenly In a
flutter of excitement. “That means
t'ountess Radepolskol.” She paused u
moment, evidently thinking very earn
estly. Then, with Mushed cheeks und
dilated eyes, she went on: "Look here,
my dear. 1 have something to ask you.
Are you fond of Jewelry? But of course
you are. All normal young girls are.
Now, you are going to help me nicely
with nty work, and I want to give you
something pretty to encourage you.
Perhups you have heard that I have
rather a fad for Jewels, and own a great
many. Now, lin going to get a box
where I keep my rings, und 1 will point
out some from among whkii you may
take your choice."
“Oil, no, lardy Ardclilfe. please not!"
cried Elspeth. "You are very good, but
1 couldn't take such a present. I am
paid by the management of the hotel
for all I ilo for you, and"—
"Ah. but there Is something else I
want you to do, as a great favor to me,
something the management hue noth
ing to do with, and will hear nothing
about. If you are the nice, sensible girl I
take you for," broke In latdy Ardcllffe.
"You needn’t hesitate to have the ring,
and perhaps another little token later
on. If you use me good, for you will
have earned them. Don't look so anx
ious. It's only quite an easy thing I
want you to do, and It won’t Interfere
with any duty. All I ask Is that you
will tell me If Mr. Trowbridge writes
any love letters, or. Indeed, letlers of
any kind, to women, or if when with
him you hear or see anything which
mokea you suppose he cores about
Countess Radepolskol.''
“I couldn’t possibly," Elspeth replied
In haste. "l‘m sure you are speaking
thoughtlessly, but If I did what you
ask I should be a-Spy, a very mean spy,
and I should deserve to be discharged."
“Oh, dear!" exclaimed Lady Ard-
cIlfTe, distressfully, "such an Idea never
occurred to me. pf course, I would not
have asked you if It had. Please for
get that I did. But you shall see my
Jewels some day. In any case; now. If
you like"—
"Hadn’t we better get on with your
work?" suggested Elspeth. "We have
been talking for half an hour."
But lady Ardcllffe protested that
she was In no mood for writing. She
had worked herHelf into quite a nerv
ous state, she said, and would feel
better If she chatted quietly. And so
she did chat, though scarcely quietly,
about not only her own affairs, but the
affairs of everybody else of any Impor
tance In the Hydro. She told Elspeth
that Lady Lambart was horribly In
debt, that wherever she went duns
rained upon her. and that “poor, pret
ty Hilary" led a terrible life with auch
a mother. Somehow or other, how
ever, I July Ardcllffe - went on, confi
dentially, Ida Lambart had contrived
to fascinate John Kenrith, the Lan
cashire millionaire, whom everybody
liked so much. He was an exceeding
ly clever man, os well as a charitable
and a good one, but he had not been
clever enough, apparently, to i
through Ida Lambart People''*were
aaylng that she would sooner or later
succeed In becoming hlB wife, and, of
course, it would be a glorious thing
for her, as well aa for Hilary, If sbe
should bring off such a great coup as
that Stilt tradesmen were not con
fident enough of her ultimate success
to trust her, in the hope of future
benefits when sbe should have secured
the rich man, and that looked rather
ominous, as tradesmen had such on
extraordinary sharp scent
Elspeth felt very guilty to alt hear
ing these Intimate details concerning
Lady Lambart and poor Lady Hilary,
and would have been glad to stop
Lady Ardcllffe If she could, although
she could not help being Interested.
It would have been Impossible, how
ever, for a person In her position to
dictate precepts of propriety to one in
Lady Ardcllffe's, and she had no al
ternative save to listen, till her hour
was at an end.
She had been told, when she had
finished work with Lady Ardcllffe, to
return to Mr. McGowan's room to
learn whether or not the time left open
for extras was to be filled. As she
was about to enter, the door was open
ed abruptly, and Mr. Trowbridge came
out so suddenly that Elapeth had to
start back out of his way. He begged
her pardon, and hurried on, but she
hud time to notice a look of extreme
satisfaction on his handsome face.
“He has iierhaps got some favor out
of Mr. McGowan,” thought the girl;
but Mr. McGowan was not there. Mr.
James Grant was alone In the room,
sitting at tils own desk with 1a bundle
of papers In his hand. He had not
the air, however, of having been at
work with them. > Evidently he was
laboring under some strong excite
ment, which, at sight of Elspeth, he
used- all his self-control to hide. But
he could not conceal the shaking of his
lingers that fumbled nervously with
the papers, nor the spots of red which
burned on his rather high cheek-bones.
Elspeth could only fancy that Mr.
Trowbridge must have said something
to annoy or offend Mr. Grant, possibly
criticising some defect In the manage
ment, with Insolence, which Mr. Grant,
as subordinate, had not been able to
resent. She felt sorry for the pale
young man, and smiled at him In
sweet and friendly way, aa she asked
If there was any work for her to do
between 3 and !: 30.
He did not answer at first, or even
seem to have heard her question,
■ hough his eyes were Mxed intently up
on her, as if he would have apoken.
Jumping up, he began wulking about
the smull room In a restless, uneasy
way, like an animal In a cage.
"I am glad you have corre—glad yen
have come, Miss Dean,” he said at last.
"Were you wanting me?" ehe inqui r -
td.
•Yes—ro. I imuii I am glad you
have come to Lochraln. I am not hap
py here. I Ami a man with boundless
ambition. This has been no place to
sutlsfy It. I have been eating my heart
out; with no one to speak to as a frlenu
—no one I would have cared to speak
with In such u way. But the flrst mo
ment you looked up into my face yes
terday I felt the presence of a kindred
ptrtt. I want to have you fur a friend.
May 1 think of you so?”
"Please do said Klspeth. rather puz
zled and not quite at 'ease, but still
with kindness In her heart for her fel
low employee. She was very far from
sure that she was a kindred spirit of
Mr. Giunt's, but she was quite willing
to b« his friend.
"Thank you. Hhake hands upon that,”
he saitl, seizing her hand and crushing
It so hard that she could scarcely re
frain from crying out. "Before long I
may test your friendship, by asking
help such as only a woman can give.
Rut I shall not make selfish Ot round*
upon it. Don't fear that. 1 want the
friendship which you have promis'd
to promote your advantage and ad
vancement. I can't explain how at this
moment, though you will know what 1
mean before long."
"You are very good,” replied the girl.
"But you haven't told me yet whether
I am wanted for the spare hour and a
half before 4:30—"
Grant seemed to wake from a fever
ish dream. "Yes—yes!" he said. "I
had forgotten Captain Oxford—the man
I told you about this morning—has sent
to know whether there Is any one who
can write from bis dictation a few let
ters which he Is very ansxious t> get
off as soon as possible. I suppose you
will have to go to him, though I don't
quite like the Idea. Indeed. I suggest
ed to Mr. McGowan that I might do
what was wanted, nut he thinks he
has some work which I, and nobody
else, must do for him this afternoon.
Rather inconsiderate, I call It. How
ever, patience Is the word for the pres-
cnt. Everything may be'very different
soon... Captain Oxford has a little room
opposite Mr. Kenrith's. and Mr. Keu-
rith—who Is a friend of his—has lent
him that handsome sitting room which
you saw this morning. Captain Ox
ford lias,been moving over there for
the afternoon, and It Is to be at his
disposal each day after lunch, as often
as he likes, while he’s on the sick list
Very kind of Mr. Kenrlth, I call It
quite unnecessarily kind. Anyhow,
that Is where you will And the Interest
ing Invalid."
There was bitterness ir. Grant's voice,
and it was clear to Elspeth, os it had
begun to be earlier In the day, that the
manager's assistant did not like Cap
tain Oxford. This, for some perverse
reason, made her the more curioys to
see the young man of whom she had
heard so much that was interesting and
even mysterious. It seemed, therefore,
that whenever she went to Mr. Ken
rith's sitting room, she was destined
to look forward with more than ordina
ry Interest to the events that awaited
her on the other side of the door.
What would he be like, this young
man who loved Lady Hilary Lambart,
and was loved by her In return; who
bad begun life os a foundling, and made
a career for himself In the army; who
had we n John Kcnrilh'a friendship and
loyal admiration; who was labelled
"dangerous” by Lady lambart, and bit
terly disliked by James Grant?
This was the thought In her mldd as
ehe tapped at the door of Mr. Kenrith's
sitting room, for the second time that
John Kenrlth himself opened it, and
somehow she had the conviction—con
ceited though It might hnve been In a
mere typewriter—that he was present
for her sake, to Introduce her to Cap
tain Oxford and put her at her esse.
His flrst words conflrmed the lm
pression.
“I ran In before keeping a golf en'
gagement, to see if you were here, as
1 heard you were coming," he explain
ed. "My friend. Captain Oxford, met
with an ugly adventure last night, with
a rascally poacher, or some one of that
ilk. It's supposed, and waa shot In the
arm—of course, the arm that had been
hurt before! That'a usually so, isn't It?
He won’t be ablo to help himself much
for a day or two, though It's the left
arm, for he has lost a good deal of
blood end Is rather weak. I think you
had better not let him dictate many let
ters this afternoon; say three or four
at most; and I'm sure he'll listen to
your advice, and rest afterward, though
he doesn't like playing Invalid. Now
come and be Introduced. Sec, there
he is on the sofa over there."
Kenrith led Elspeth across the large
room toward a comfortablo sofa, piled
with cushions among which could be
seen the back of a men's head—a well
shaped head, thickly covered with close
cropped, rippling bronze hair. In an
other moment ahe saw the face, which
turned toward her as she approached,
at Kenrith's side, and as the handsome
eyes and llpa smiled faintly In greeting,
the girl gave a alight start of surprise.
“Why,” she asked herself eagerly,
"where have I seen him, or someone
exactly like him, only a ahort time
ago?"
CHAPTER V.
Tangled Threads.
A second glance at Captain Oxford
assured Elspeth that, despite the
haunting likeness to some other face,
ahe had certainly never seen him be
fore. He wan not a young man to be
easily forgotten, and the girl did not
wonder that he had attarcted Lady
Hilary. Not only was he remarkably
good to look at, but it seemed to her
that, with auch eyes—bronxe, like his
hair, and only a few shades darker
than his sunburned skin—he must be
honest and sincere. If there were a
mystery about his adventure of last
night, she told herself that It could be
nothing of which he need feel ashamed.
When Elspeth had been made ac
quainted with Captain Oxford, Kenrlth
left them alone, and went off to play
golf—perhaps the girl thought grudg
ingly, with Lady Lambart.
She wrote two or three short letters,
which she would not have judged to be
very Important, and then came a pause.
"Don't you think ynu ought to rest
now?" she asked, remembering Mr.
Kenrith's instructions.
"Yea” the young man answered, “I’m
not going to ask you to do any more
letters today. But”— he hesitated, and
Elspeth took up the sentence where It
broke off, inquiring if there were any
thing further that she could do for him.
"Yes, there Is aomethiuk" he sold.
"I—ray friend, Mr. Kenrlth, told me
you traveled up In the same earring.,
with him yesterday, and—with Lady
Lambart and her daughter.” y
Elspeth'a eyes brightened, ahe knew
what would please him now, and did
not see any wrong In doing It "Oh
yes," she answered. It was so crowded
they put me In flrst class, and Ladv
Hilary Lambart was so sweet about It
I never saw such a lovely girl as she Is
“d J,? r T’„* Ure she nlce a» she Is
beautiful." “
Captain Oxford's face lighted up. and
he smiled, showing his white teeth
.^^ e onr7v,Set,5 C y.!. n hS > S d ng Jgj
beg?n« V at'flrit* sight."* adm ‘ raUon that
"So do J, and love, too,” said Elsneti,
•'If I were a man I should have fallen In
I f d5 I. F?* Lambart" a"
first sight. As It Is, I would do any-
thlngl could ‘“Please or help her, ami
I told her so this morning.”
Y , 0U , b “" ta . lk,ns ‘osether
this morning? I was going to try and
pump you, without letting you find out
what I waa doing, but now I begin to
see It Isn’t necessary to do that.”
"It Isn’t a bit,” laughed Elspeth, "if
you really don't mind my saying so"
"Mind? Why, now that I know you
are such a staunch ally of hers. It will
simply be paradise to have a chance of
talking about her. Do tell me. since
we’ve come down so quickly to ‘bed
rock,’ aa the Americans say, how did
you And out that I was In* love with
Lady Hilary Lambart?"
"Shall I tell all the truth?”
"Why, of course."
At this encouragement Elspeth pro
ceeded to give Captain Oxford a short
sketch of the Journey; how she had
heard his name mentioned by Mr Ken
rlth; how I<ady Lambart had not
seemed pleased with the news that he
was staying at Lochraln Hydro; and
how she (Elspeth) had fancied from
the look on Lady Hilary’s face that
her emotion was very different.
"I didn't try to listen," the girl apol
ogized, "but I couldn't help being In
terested, because It seemed such a
romance, and Lady Hilary Is such an
Ideal heroine for a love story.”
“Bless her; I should think she was!”
exclaimed the young man. "The only
heroine possible for a love story of
mine, even if I were banished to some
far country, and knew that I could
never see her again. She knows I love
her. or course, and I do think she likes
me a little, but I am afraid she will
never go against her mother's wishes,
and marry me. Perhaps I oughtn't even
to wish it, for she Is so lovely, she
could have anybody, and I’m a poor
man, heavily handicapped In many
ways. But I can't rise to such heights
of unselfishness.”
"I'm sure she would have you to
rise to that," said Elspeth, absolutely
on Captain Oxford’s side now.
"Do tell me why you think so—or do
you only say It to be kind?"
"I think so because of something
that happened this morning." And
then she told him how Lady Hilary
had been as one struck with a blow on
hearing from the gossip of Lady Ard
cllffe that he had been dangerously
wounded. She told also how she had
managed to give the girl news of the
real state of his health, when she heard
of It from Mr. Grant.
“You really do seem to have been
aent here by Providence, Miss Dean."
aaid Captain Oxford, half laughing,
half aerlous. "Of course, you guessrd
why I asked that I might have you to
write letters for me?"
"You hoped that, as I had seen Lady
Hilary, you might get me to talk about
her, and that Is just what_has hap
pened.”
"You have guessed right. I thought
you would. And I shouldn't wonder If
Kenrlth guessed, too. He admires
Lady Lambart very much, but he is
against her where I am concerned. He
didn't know till yesterday that she dis
approved of me as an acquaintance for
a woman with a marrlagcble dughter,
though it he weren't rather unworldly
In some ways, despite his shrewdness
In others, he might have guessed how
It would be with her. He has too
much money himself to care about
whether others have It or not, or oven
think of It; but Lady Lambart has
very little, unfortunately for me, oth
erwise she would perhaps not mind so
much. As It Is, I'm sure she would
have thanked Heaven devoutly If I hud
been killed last night out of her daugh
ter’s way forever, instead of Just
winged, and laid up for a day or two."
Elspeth shuddered. "It doesn’t mut
ter so much to you about what she
feels," aaid the girl. "But do you real
ly think that It was a poacher who
shot you by mistake for a keeper?"
"No, I’m certain It was not," he
answered.
"Mr. Grant and, I suppose, Mr. Mc
Gowan, are certain It was."
“I haven’t told them everything. I
have my own reasons for not doing so."
said Captain Oxford, thoughtfully. Ills
face changed to sternneas aa he spoke,
end Elspeth wondered If she could have
been mistaken after all In fancying
htin absolutely frank and open. Sud
denly he looked like a man who could
keep a secret well, and might have se
crets of his own. The words thut
Kenrlth had said before going out dart
ed back Into Elspeth'a brain. "He lost
a good deal of blood." What of the
ruby drops that hod fallen from that
mysterious place above, Inhabited by
no one save ghosts—the ruby dtpp*
that had stained the face of the boy
In the sketch! .
(Continued in Saturday’s Georgian.*