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THE ATLANTA GEORGIAN AND NEWS. SATURDAY, MAY 18, 1 907.
THE GHOST OF LOCHRAIN CASTLE-Continued
would have to be at the beck and call
of a good many strangers; authors,
clergymen, 'politicians, financiers per
haps—oh, all sorts of people."
"1 think that would be very Interest
ing." said Elspeth.
"yes; but distracting and confusing.
People of that sort have odd ways,
and are often impatient, and hard to
please. You would need tact as well
as presence of mind. However, It's a
great chance. You couldn't have hoped
for anything half as good, with your
Inexperience. Lochraln Castle Hydro
Is new as a hotel, opened only this
season, and one of the finest In Scot
land. The salary Is two guineas a
week, and you're sure to have presents.
Hut mind, you must do us credit, t
don't want Mr. McGowan to think I"
made a mistake. That would be
laid advertisement for the agency."
"I will do my best," said Elspeth, to
whom a weekly two guineas seemed »
fortune. She had lived on fifteen shill-
1 Ings a week for two years, since her
father had died, and her brother (now
In Australia seeking his fortune), had
insisted on giving her the whole of
that father's pension as a major In tho
Seventieth Scottish Borderers. Lon
don, and her training as a shorthand
writer and typist, had strained her
resources, and for months she had been
trying in vain for work, calling every
day at several agencies.
In a few minutes everything was ar
ranged, and Miss Smith was able to
send a satisfactory telegram to the
manager of the Lochraln Castle Hy
dropathic HoteL Rlspeth went home to
her lodgings, packed up her typewriter,
which she had bought on the "install
ment plan," and all her other belong
ings. Her railway ticket was paid for
by her new employer, and the next
morning she was at Huston Station, one
gmull unit In a crowd for the Scotch
express.
When Elspeth was a little girl she
had been taken once to Scotland to
see the place where she was born, but
she had not been there since. Her fa
ther's people had never forgiven him
for marrying a pretty girl somewhere
beneath him In station, and absolutes
ly penniless, therefdre Klspeth knew
nothing about them. Major Dean had
left his son and daughter at school in
a suburb of Ixradon when they were
small, and later he could never afford
to take Elspeth out to India. She had
done very little traveling In her life,
and was much excited this morning.
She hod not dreamed that there would
be ao many people going by train,
though—she told herself—she might
have thought of It. as Town was now
"dead," and everybody running up to
Scotland for what was left of August
and September.
Klspeth had a third-class ticket, but
the crush was so great that no place
could be found- for her. Neither was
there anything left In the second-class
compartments, by the time the porter
who had registered her box and taken
charge of her handbag began to search
for a sent.
"You'll have to go flrst-class. Miss,
■aid he.
The girl demurred. »
"Hut .they won’t let me. and I can't
afford'*— she had begun, when the por
ter broke In reassuringly; /
"That’s all right, Miss; they'll have
to let you. ''There’s no room in the
thirds or seconds, and they're bound to
carry you."
They hurried from door to door, but
everything was full, until at last they
came to a compartment occupied only
by two ladies. To be suro the remain
ing scats were covered with small lug
gage, a couple of smart dressing Dags
with gold monograms (one of them
surmounted with a coronet), anil a dust
coat or two. But the porter was not
easily beguiled.
"These places all taken, madam?" he
asked briskly of the elder lady, a very
handsome woman, whose adndreri
would have pronounced her 33, whose
enemies would have placed her pas' (d
She glanced up from reading a let
ter, and stared haughtily at Elepoth
and the porter.
"Yes”— she began, when the girl who
was with her Interrupted:
"Oh. mother, It Is only one seat be
side ours that is engaged, and wo aren't
quit* sure even ubnuj that.”
The other frowned with vexation,
nml she did not look half so handsome,
or nearly so young when she frowned.
"You ure too ridiculous, Hilary!" sue
xnnppeil, In a low but angry voice.
Then, to the porter: '"There Is no room
here. Don't you tee, the racks are ul-
.ready full of luggage, and we need the,
disengaged seat for our hags."
"Very sorry, madam, but this la the
only compartment with n place free
anil this ludy must tide somewhere,”
replied the man, already beginning to
And spare for the gorgeous dressing
bags Ip the racks.
"Impudent creature!” exclaimed the
Indy, flushing deeply under a delicate
film of liquid powder, and a veil which
heightened Us llower-Ilke effect. “I
am the t.'oun—"
"Oh. mother, don't,” Implored the
girl, her face—which Elspeth thought
the prettiest she bad ever seen—scarlet
with humiliation and distress. "See.
he Is making room, We can't, expect
to have the whole compartment to our
selves."
The elder woman bit her lip and was
silent, realising, i-1 :..i|>-. that It was
she who was on the point of making
herself ridiculous. But she twitched
aside her drees with such nn air of dis
gust os Klspeth meekly passed to the
■eat which had hem ih.ued Iff the
porter that the unfortunate new-comer
felt that she was regarded as some In
ferior sort of anlmnl.
"I am sorry," she said, looking
straight at the girl, not at the woman.
"Please don’t be. It doesn't matter
In the least," answered the beautiful
creature, with a smile so rharining that
Elspeth's heart warmed to her. "I'm
sure she’s as nice as she's pretty, 1
typist said to herself, "though how she
can be, with such a mother,- Is a mir
acle."/
The Intruder smiled a grateful an
swer, and then tri.-.l to appear oblivious
to her traveling companions. She
opened her handbag, which she had
on her lap. and pretended to be deeply
Interested In Its conlerUs, but she could
not help hearing their conversation. It
was all hut time for the train to start
now, and the elder of the two ladles,
apparently forgetting the unwelcome
third In the compartment, did not at
tempt to conceal her excitement.
Whal. a shame! I believe he's not
coming," she exclaimed, looking eogerly
out of the window. "Another minute
and It will be too late. I do hope Lady
Melton's news wasn’t a mistake or
made up out of tho whole cloth, and
our time wasted. It would he like her.
I always did think Maud Melton a cat."
Mother, do be careful," whispered
her daughter.
"What do 1 care for a person of that
sort?” asked the other, with a quick
glance of contempt at pretty, plainly
dressed Klspeth. "It’s bad enough hav
ing her stuffed in with us, without hav
ing to think about her. with every word
one speaks. She doesn't matter any
more tli;tn mic's maid mutters;. In
deed. she is probably someone's mold.
What is the use of spending a lot of
money to travel first class, if third-
class creatures'are to be squeezed In,
without paying a penny?"
Here comes Mr. Kenrlth," broke In
the girl, os It thankful to make a di
version.
Instantly an extraordinary change
cam© over her mother. The handsome,
though rather sltarp features, were
softened with a charming smile which
irradiated them- as the rose of a sun
set glow Irradiates a bleak landscape
In the north. The dark eyes sparkled,
the tVown that hail drawn the straight
black brows together was smoothed
out. She looked suddenly almost girl
ish and prettily feminine os she patted
her beautifully undulated auburn hair.
Elspeth, though angry, was Interest
ed, wondering what sort of man would
apporr. The name, Kenrlth. sounded
faintly familiar, aa If she had heard
It before, but if so she could not re
member where.
In another second her curiosity was
satisfied. A tail, broad-shouldered man
of about forty, with a nice brown face,
was at the door.
“Here I am. Just In time,” said he In
a pleasant voice, which proclaimed him
from the jiorth country. "May I really
travel with you, Lady Lambnrt and
Lady Hilary?"
"We are delighted. You won't let
us be dull,” replied Lady Lambert.
The new comer glanced at Elspeth.
as If expecting to find that she was
an acquaintance also, saw she was a
stranger, and begging ber pardon as be
passed, took the unoccupied seat.
By this time tho young typist knew
why the name of Kenrlth hod sounded
familiar. She had never heard It. but
had read about It In the papers. There
waft a millionaire named John Ken
rith, who was very charitable, and
whoso good works she had seen men
tioned. If she remembered aright, he
rnmo from Lancashire, and she won
dered if this nice, brown, rather ugly
man were he. "If he Is, I do believe
this horrid woman Is being sweet to
him on account of his money,” thought
the girl, "for he doesn’t seem her sort
at all. I do hope he sees through her.
He looks clover, but I suppose men
never do see through handsome wom
en, especially countesses, nnd this evi
dently Is one. because now I come to
look at it, that’s a countess' coronet on
her dressing bag.”
Klspeth had brought a novel, and she
tried to absorb herself In It, as the train
ruslied her oh toward exciting new ex
periences: but the talk of her traveling
companions would entangle Itself with
that of the. characters In the book.
It was such a pleasant surprise to
hear, after we had made up our minds
to go to Lochraln, that you were
going,” said Lady Lambart. "1 couldn't
resist writing you a line, when 1 heard
you were at the Carlton, to ask If there
were any chance of your traveling by
our train. Then, when I didn't get
an answer”
"I was away from town all yesterday,
and only found your note when I got
This Idea struck her sense of humor read. “VVliat will they do when they
mlcally that she almost laughed
aloud; but nobody was paying any at
tention to her. Kenrith looked her way
ncc.isionully, to in* sure, tint nut say
ing anything that he need mind all the
world hearing; and his glances toward
Elspeth expressed only the Interest
that a warm-hearted man of an unus
ually kind and sympathetic nature
would feel In a pretty young woman,
traveling alone, almost shabbily
dressed, when her beauty ought to have
been set off by charming things, such
as Lady Hilary Vane wore,
thought of her consciously. It was to
say to himself: “Poor child! Girls like
her have a right 1“ everything that's
brightest and best In the world. What
an awful shame they can't all have It.'
You must have had dozens of In
vitations for this month and next, r
remarked Lady Lambart.
"1 had a few, but I'm not much of a
hand for visiting,” replied the million
alre modestly. “I know the man who
has turned the old castle of Lochraln
into a hotel. Indeed. I was able to
help him a little, as he's a good fellow,
and deserves success. That's one rea
son I'm going, and another is. I thought
It would be a good quiet place for me
to try my hand at writing a book I've
had In mind for some time; a dull thing
you'd think it, but Interesting to me;
new Idea In socialistic schemes I
want to work out.”
"You ore always thlnklpg of Others,”
exclaimed Lady Lambart.
"I’m afraid I don't forget myself.”
smiled Kenrlth. "Tve Just been making
myself a big present. You know the
Radepolsklo diamond? Well, I've got
It—got it on me at this moment, If
you”—
“Oh, Mr. Kenrlth, you forget, waljs
have ears, even walls of railway car
riages!” cried. Lady Lambart. “You
oughtn't to spe*!ik out such state se
crets, exrept when you are quite, quite
alone, with your most trusted friends,
and even then In a whisper.”
Kenrith laughed. “I rather think I'm
able to look after my property. This
Isn't the first Jewel I've carried about,
and oven now.it isn’t tin- only one -
"You really mustn’t," she braky in.
’You must send your valuables to be
locked safely up in a bank directly we
arrive at our Journey's end. or. I shall
not h iv an easy mom-tit bv night or
by
"You arc very kind to take an Inter
est,” said the millionaire.
Elspttb's ears tingled. "She said
before I was of no more cons.-iucnce
than a servant, and now she tak m rut
for a spy—or a thief.” the girl thought.
"I hope I don't look like either: but
then, I suppose. It Is Imprudent of him
to talk UU*
She remembered that among other
things she had read of John Kenri-h
was the fact that he collected rare Jew
els, his one piece of self-lndulger.ee.
Sow the had no longer a doubt of the
Identity of this Mr. Kenrlth.
“By the way, you’ll find another
friend at Lochraln.” remarked the Lan
cashire man, changing the subject.
“Captain Oxford, whom I happened to
run across a day or two ago, told me he
was starting last night and meant to
spend a fortnight or longer at the hotel.
That old wound In his arm Is troubling
him. It seems, and he thought the Hy
dro"—
'How very vexatious!” exclaimed
Lady Lambart.
me at Lochraln?" she wondered.
But she soon decided that the countess
of Lambart was not a woman to care
much for the opinion or thoughts of
a humble typist, even If she remem
bered that' she had seen the face be-
Her tone was so tremulous with sur
prise and • annoyance that Elspeth
glanced up In spite of herself.
Lady Hilary’s lovely face was sear-
let, and, though her big vtplet eyed were
: landscape, Klspeth
5te to wire; but. of course, I sent a
messenger tbe first thing this morn'
ing”
“We must have already left. It b
such a long drive, you knmv, and
Hilary and i have heaps of luggage.
But ttll’s well that ends well. Who
would have dreamed of your going to
Lochraln? I thought of It because Uie
air Is so good, and It’s been such a
tiring season that It will be more rest
ful for ua both than a round of Scutch
visits.”.
"I think I'm In great luck," said Mr.
Kenrlth.
"You poor fellow. I suppose you
really do think so,” mused Elspeth.
"'Surprised,' Indeed! I wonder she
dared say that, after she must have
known I heard when I first got Into the
carriage. What a scene there would
be It 1 told!"
gazing at the flying
was too feminine not to bo sure the girl
felt the angry, suspicious Hash her
mother's eyes darted at her. Tho at
mosphere of the carriage had suddenly
become mysteriously electric.
"I thought be was a friend of yours,”
said Kenrith, innocently.
Not at all. I consider him a most
undesirable young man,” returned Lady
Lambart. "I hope, dear Mr. Kenrlth,
if he tries to force himself upon us at
Lochraln, as he is almost sure to, that
you will help me to—er—keep him In
his place.”
“What Is his place?” Kenrith asked
bluntly. "He's an officer and a gentle
man, nnd a very good fellow as well aa
a brave one. That's iny opinion
him.”
"Well enough, from a man’s point of
view.” said Ludy Lambart, more gent
ly. “But I’m a woman, and Hilary Is
a young girl, with no one to watch
over us. We must be careful. Captain
Oxford Is dreadfully pushing and of
course he Is nobody."
"So am I nobody.”
“How like you to say that! But you
had a name, even before you made It,
whereas Oxford Isn’t his name, you
know, or Laurence either. Really, old
Miss Laurence, who adopted him when
he was a wretched little foundling In
seme foreign place or other where she
was visiting, gave him his surname be
cause she lived In Oxford. And he
hasn't a penny except tho few wretched
hundred a year she left him. I wonder
how he manages to scrape along In tho
army"—
"It's much to his credit that he's got
on so finely,” said Kenrlth.
“In his profession, yes; bat, of course,
he could never dream of marrying, at
•11 events, any girl in tho station to
which be seems to aspire,” replied
Lady Lambart.
Elspeth began to feel as if she hod
got Into a story bqok far more Inter
esting than the one she was trying to
The Journey did not seem long to
the girl, for her brain teemed with all
sorts of Interesting fancies, from the
beginning to the end. The station at
which lutssengcra descended for Loch
raln Castle Hydropathic Hotel was that
of a small town, popular among tour
ists, and so there was no reason why
It should occur to her fellow travelers
that her destination was the same as
theirs. Lochraln was five or six miles
distant, and Elspeth saw her three late
companions go away In a very smart
motor car, so exactly like several others
at the station that she guessed that
they were sent by the management of
the hotel. There were evidently a num
ber of other guests for the new and
fashionable Hydro, and eight or ten of
their maids and valets departed In a
bunch in a big motor omnibus. Ev
erything was so quickly done that Els-
peth had not time to wonder what was
to become of her. before a voice spoke
her name. ,
"Are you Miss Dean, angaged as sec
retary for Lochraln Hydro?”
"Yes,” said Elspeth, turning quickly,
to see, not a servant, but a pale-faced,
black-eyed young man. very well
dressed In dark blue serge.
T am Mr. Grant, Mr. McGowan’s as-
sistant.” he announced, with hts lint
off. "Mr. McGowan wished me to meet
and drive you back, so that on the way
I might prepare you for some of your
duties, and sot’s time."
‘It will be very kind ot you,” said
the girl.
T shall be glad to help you In any
way I can,” he answered; and looking
up, Elspeth caught a flash In tho dark,
deepset eyes which contradicted tho
white coldness of the face.
T wonder whether Tin going to like
Mr. Grant or not!” she thought. The'
look In bis eyes told her that the pale
man was not unaware of the fact that
she was a pretty girl.
Tho drive to Lochraln was a wild
and beautiful one, but Miss Smith’s eu-
loglums Jiad not half prepared her for
the magnificence of the place Itself.
"Why, it's like a grand castle, and
has the air of being hundreds and
hundreds of years old!” she exclaimed
In Intense admiration, when the dog
cart Mr. Grant 'drove had passed
through a park, and brought them Into
sight of-a huge, gray stone pile on a
slight grassy elevation. But even be
fore her companion replied, she re
membered how Mr. Kenrith had spoken
of "turning the old castle Into • ho
tel. - '
"How delightful," the girl went on.
“This Is even hotter than I expected.
It's always-been my dream to live In
a place like this. I do hope tt’j haunt
ed?” ,
Mr. Grant smiled rather grimly.
“There are more gruesome stories
told about Locbraln as It used to be In
the past than about almost any of the
feudal houses, which Is saying a good
deal, especially In Scotland. Aren't
you afraid of ghosts?"
Not In the least. I don't believe
in them, though I love ghost stories
dearly,” she said.
"Very well, then. I'H tell you what
I wouldn't have told you otherwise. It
will no doubt please you to hear that
your roqm is In the 'haunted tower,'
as It used to be called. The Hydro Is
crammed for the season, and If yon
hadn't been put there, you would have ’
had to be tucked away In an attic.-
You'll find the room a nice one, eo nice
that Mr. McGowan would hare had to
keep It for guests, If It hadn't been for
the ugly old stories which, If any one
got to know—as they most certainly
would one way or another—would havo
led to rows with the management. So
you see, an ill wind lias blown you
some good—especially as you're fond
ot ghost stories.”
"What are the storlea about my
tower?” asked Elspeth.
"Here we are the door," said Mr.
Grant; and she could not guess from
bis tone If tbe evasion ot her ques
tion .was deliberate or not
A queer little thrill crept throngh her
veins, such as she had never felt be
fore. Something seemed to whisper In
her car that experiences—whether
ghostly or not—would come to her at
Lochraln, strange enough to try the
bravest spirit And yet It was a fash
ionable Hydro, full of gay. pleasure-
seeking people, and she was only an
insignificant little typist come hero to
work for her living in a prosaic way.
st two guineas a week. Reason said
that Imagination was flying away vytth
her good sense, and yet the thrill and
the presentiment remained.
Continued in Next Saturday’s
Georgian. .j ..