Alice Turner Curtis

A Challenge to Adventure Alice Turner Curtis

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated.1919 Excerpt: ... CHAPTER FIVE TCYFyHEN Rosalind Allan returned from her summer vacation at Riverdale a surprise awaited her at the Pembroke street lodging house. Mrs. Weevely opened the door and greeted her with an unaccustomed warmth. "Well, you can't guess who is up-stairs waiting for you, Miss Allan," she announced smilingly. "Oh! Madame Ress, of course," declared Rosalind with eager delight. Mrs. Weevely shook her head, and the smile vanished. "Somebody a great deal nearer to you than Mrs. Ress," she replied. Mrs. Weevely never permitted herself to refer to her lodger as "Madame." She had confided to the cook, after Madam Ress had engaged the room, that she could only hope that the new lodger wouldn't turn out to be a medium or a fortune teller; the frequent appearance of the Masons' car at her door reassured her in a measure; and gradually it was borne in upon her that the little elderly woman was a tenant of value. Nevertheless, "Madame" seemed a doubtful substitute for the English title. Rosalind looked at Mrs. Weevely questioningly. "Nearer than Madame?" she repeated in a puzzled tone. "It's your own aunt! Your mother's only sister! She says she's been saving and sacrificing every thing since your mother died, so as to come and make a home for you. She's lovely!" and Mrs. Weevely nodded convincingly "And she is in your room this very minute." And the landlady, with an expectant smile, stood waiting for Rosalind's expression of surprised happiness. But the girl made no response. She went slowly up the stairs, and Mrs. Weevely, vaguely disappointed, returned to her basement sitting-room. "Miss Allan's terrible reserved," she thought. "Probably she's overcome by her feelings. Well, I don't wonder. Being alone, and now having her aunt come all ready to stay and make a h...