Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1893-12-28

qulte concelV aD.e Tia. crafty person
should accuse herself of pardonable fault
to screen herself from the suspicion of an
act of baseness.
"and to think that this is my fault and
that | owe everything in the world to that
dear master One would say that did il
expressly to show that there was no more
gratitude in the world" and the tears
starting from her eyes again she rose and
went out OF the room, whimpering: "Heav-
ensl | deserve to be turned out of doors,
and then what would become of me?'
| started, thinking that | had a key to
the mystery in that phrase Had not the
dread of being cast adrift induced Mere
Lucas to connive at the destruction OF the
groups If she had been warned of the fatal
consequences to Taras. which the produc-
ton of this work must entail, would she
not, for his sake as we'll as her own, agree
to this simple measure for averting such a
terrible result? Gauging her disposition by
my own, ! believed she would, and my
heart readily forgave her offense. But
though affection for the old woman in
clined me to accept this explanation / re-
solved to watch her closely till had seen
Kavanagh and heard the result of his in
quiry respecting the friend in Soho
] followed her when she went out shop
ping. | slept with my door open, and wax
ing at a fanced sound crept out in the
darkness to listen on the stairs. ! discov-
cred nothing tending in the slightest de-
gree to confirm the suspicion of her com
plicity iii the outrage on the contrary, her
continued detection, which the cheerful
remonstrance of Taras failed to remove,
seemed to confirm the sincerity Of her sor.
row and humiliation.
Apparently Kavanagh found greater
difficulty than he had anticipated in his in
Yestigations, for a week elapsed before
saw him again. When he went up with
/ Taras into the workshop to see the new
! group, which was already taking form,
followed with the hope of finding an OPP
portunity of hearing the communication
! which / thought he might have to make to
/ me-
Il shall finish it now," said Taras conf
IDENTIFY, ''by the time Gordons kiln is
ready to be fired"
IF nothing happens to you or it in the
meantime" Said ksvanagh somberly.
at isn't likely the rascals will try that
! game ON again. II they do, so much the
worse for them. They will have to settle
accounts with poor old Mere Lucas
And supposing, nevertheless, said Kay-
aragh, with glance at me as he turned TO
Taras, that this group shared the fate Of
the last, what them"
"What theng Why, would begin an
other, with a revolver by my side. and
never leave it till gave it to the world TO
protect"
Kavanagh nodded gravely. but made no
other comment. For some minutes he
stood silently watching Taras as he built
up fold in the drapery with pellets of
moist clay; then, recovering from his fit of
abstraction, he looked at his watch and
pleaded an engagement Taras laid aside
his clay, and despite his friends remon-
strances led the way down the steps to see
him to the door
In that moment Kavanagh. turning TO
me, murmured
81 have something to tell you when get
the chance But, for heavens sake, don't
lose sight of Mere Lucasl" Then he added
some commonplace in a louder tone and
ran down the steps
At dinner time Taras said To me:
II am going to smoke a pipe with Cor
don presently. viii you walk as far as the
Adelphi with me"
Nothing would have pleased me more,
but with Kavanagh's warning still ringing
in my ears dared not accept the offer
"How long shall you stay with himi" ]
asked, thinking that If the time were not
too long Mere Lucas might be left.
"A couple of hours or so, too long for you
to wait And | can't very well ask you 10
go up into his rooms. "
II know that" | had almost ceased to
be exacting and no longer begrudged Taras
feel Thank you very much. but | think
would rather stay at home tonight"
1t was o'clock when Taras started At
Mere Lucas came in 10 bid me a lugubri
Gus adieu, and then began to listen to the
footsteps in the street, though had no rea.
son TO expect Taras in for at least another
hour. At 10 o'clock | went out as noise
lessly as could and looked upat Mere Lu
cas- window. There was no light in the
room, but as | reached the door of the work
shop the window sash was thrown open.
and her head in its white nightcap APP
peared. She had heard me unbolt the back
door.
who is thereS" she cried in tone Of
alarm.
told her il was |, who had come out to
see if the lock which had been put on the
workshop door was secure
my poor little friend" said she, do
you think | could lie down If had not
made sure Of thati Is it that my good lit
tie master has n@ returned yetp
l told her that expected him in every
minute. and with a mutual good night"
she closed the window. and ! entered the
house.
had left light in the kitchen. Look
ing round ! saw that everything was in
its place and the bright latchkey Of the
front door, which Mere Lucas used wheR
she went out in the daytime, hanging over
the dresser.
Surely" said to myself, treasured by
these signs, "Kavanagh has been deceived.
There is no necessity TO watch Mere Luc1s
tonight"
| returned to the front room to listen
again for Taras' footstep. At rare inter
walls my ear caught an approaching sound.
and my heart rose with hopeful anticipa-
ton, to sink lower than ever when the step
n. 81 ,,,fslfa f,r ma e. His.