Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1893-12-17
CONTINUED

kavanagh's suggestive questions re-
turned i~orci0ly to my mind, and 1 found
u was quite conceivable that a crafty
person should accus herself OF a par
donable fault TO screen herself from the
suspicion Of an act OF baseness.
And 70 think that this IS my fault
and that I owe everything In the world
70 that dear master. One would say that
did il expressly 70 show that there
was no more gratitude 10 tue world, Z"
and the tears starting from her eyes
again she rose and went out Of the room,
whimpering: "HeaVensl 1 deserve to
be turned out OF doors, and then what
would become Of me?"
l started, thinking thatI had q key to
the mystery IN that phrase. Had not
the dread OF being cast adrift induced
Mere Lucas to connive az the destruc-
ton OF the group? III she had been
warned Of the fatal consequences to
Taras, which the production OF this
work must entail, would she not, Tor his
sake as well as her own, agree 90 this
simple measure for sVerting such a ter
rible result? Gauging her disposition
by my own, I believed she would, and
my heart readily forgave her Otense.
But though affection for the old woman
inclined me % accept this explanation,
/ resolved TO watch her closely till l
seen Kavanagh aud heard the result Of
his inquiry respecting the friend In
Soho.
1 followed her when she went out
shopping. I slept with my door
open, aud waking at q fancied sound
crept out in the darkness TO listen on
the stairs. I discovered nothing tend
ing In the slightest degree 70 confirm
the suspicion Of her completely 10 the
outrage; on the contrary, her con-
tinued detection, which the cheerful
remOnstrance OF Taras failed to remove,
seemed 20 confirm the sincerity Of her
sorrow aud humiliation.
Apparently Kavanaugh found greater
difficulty than be had anticipated 10 his
Investigations, for a week elapsed be-
fore I saw him again. When be went
uD with Taras into the workshop TO see
the new group. which was already
taking form, followed with the hope Of
fpdEg an opportunity Of hearing the
standardization which L thought he
might have to make 70 me.
81 shall finish IL now" said Taras
confidently, 'by the time GordOn's kiln
Is ready 20 be dred."
"Ii nothing happens to you or 1t in
the meantime, said Kavanagh sOmber-
~.
at isn't likely the rsscals will try
that game on again. If they do, so
much the worse for them. They will
have TO settle with poor old Mere
Lucas"
'And supposing, nevertheless, said
Kavanagh, with a glance at me as he
turned 10 Taras, ''that group shared
the fate Of the last, what then?"
What then? Why, 1 would begin
another, with a revolver by my side,
and never leave 10 Till 1 give it to the
world To protect"
Kavanaugh nodded Rravely, 5ut made
no Other-cOmment. For some minutes
he stood silently watching Taras as be
built up a fold IN the drapery with
pellets OF moist clay; then, recovering
from his fit Of abstraction, be looked at
his watch and pleaded an engagement.
Taras laid aside his clay, and despite
his friends remOustranceS led the way
down the steps 70 see him TO hedOor.
In that moment kavanaugh, turning
20 me, murmured;
II have something to tell yeu when 1
get the chance. But, for heavens sake,
don't lose sight Of Mere Lucas!" Then
he added some commonplace in 4 louder
tone and ran down the steps.
At dinner time Taras said to me-:
II am going TO smoke a pipe with
Gordon presently. VIII you walk as
far as the Adelpht With me?"
Nrhhfmm mnu1H hnun nlan sod ma mira
but with Kavanagh's warning still ring
ing 10 my ears 1 dared not accept the
offer.
How long shall you stay with him?"
asked, thinking that N the time we're
not too long Mere Lucas might be left.
"a couple Of hours or so, too long for
you TO Wait. And 1 can't very we'll ask
you to go up into the rooms"
II know that" I had almost ceased
90 be exacting and no longer begrudged
Tarasthe liberty which a man always
wish to feel. THANK yo1 very much,
but / think 1 would rather stay at home
tonight"
It was s o'clock when Taras started.
AT Q Mere Lucas came in 70 bid me a
~lugubrious adieu. and then I began TO
listen to the footsteps 10 the street
though I had no reason 70 expect Taras
60 for at least another hour. At 10
o'clock I went out as nOiselessly as /
could and looked up az Mere Lucas
window. There was no light in the
room, but as / reached the door Of the
workshop the window sash was thrown
open, and her head in its white night
cap appeared. She had heard ne IN
bolt the back door.
''WhO is there?' she cried IN a tone
OF alarm.
/ told her It was I. who had come ont
20 see III the lock which had been put
on the workshop door was secure.
"My poor little friend, said she, "do
you think i could lie down il l had not
made sure OF that? Is it that my good
little master has not returned yet?'
= / told her that / expected him in
ey9ry minute, and with q mutual
So8Od niAht" she closed the window,
Z Snd I entered the house.
/ had left a light In the kitchen.
Looking round / saw that everything
was in its place and the bright latch
1OE Of the front door, which Mere Lu-
Hos used when she went out in the day
time, hanging over the dresser.
''Surely," L said to myself; treasured
BY these signs, "Kavanagh las been
deceived. There is no necessity 20
watch Mere Lucas tonight"
/ returned to the front room to listen
again for Taras' footstep. AT rare In
t~eryals my ear caught an approaching
sound, and ny heart rose with hopeful
anticipation, 70 sink lower than ever
when the step became sufficiently aud