The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1894-06-21
CHAPTER XIV.
THE KNOCKING.


Miss MaXoy had conveniently absented
herself The artist was alone in the rear
chamber with his pupil. Annette was
neated before an easel near the window
will" MaXcy was looking over her shoul-
der, apparently at the sketch. She was
aot working. Her hands lay listlesslyin in
her lap and her eyes were fixed on the
gray sky above the river.
"Are you studying the effect?" the
ertist qucried, with Il smile.
mo, Mr. Maxoy, was listening"
Listening? For what?"
''For tho wind Have you never no.
ticed how qucorly it knocks at the Win
dow frames sometimes? This is one of
The days. When I am working here
alone, I often notice it, and however
much | hear it it never fails to startle
me"
"What, the rattle?"
"Tho rap. There 10 not so much sud
denness in the rattle. That is not it, for
when that happens You think of the
wind. 1t is as if the wind did it, but it
is not SO today 1t is not as if the wind
did it at all. There is silence, and then
comes a sudden dull blow. At first |
thought somebody must be throwing
something against the pane, but l found
after time that it was only move
ment Of the window frame. Isn't it Curl
ous?' q
every. You notice these little things,
Annette. Do you know, l have worked
in this room alone for months, and for
my part / never noticed whether the
windows ratified or We're still. Therol
Was not that it,"
81 did not hear it then. I was listen
ing to you, Mr. Maxey. Listen again,
and it will come. l wish I We're not
foolish enough to be afraid of it. Hark"
In the silence that cnsued they could
hear each other breathing. Perhaps it
was nervousness, but MaXey felt strange
ly excited. A low knocking-not the
knocking thoy wore waiting for-came
to their ears through the closed door
Glow very oddr' exclaimed MGxoy.
"That was not the touch of ghostly
zephyr, bat the substantial rap of some
body tangible who wants to get in. :"
1T must be timi iGscrson who would
knock so low"
Probably it is. Some beggar doubt
less. Impccuniousncss is occasionally
timid. Don't disturb yourself, An
nctte."
Maxey stepped into the vestibule and
opened the outer door He regarded the
nan who had summoned him there with
look Of speechlcss surprise. 1t was
Mr.. Dye. There were the woebcgone
beaver, the shiny, thrcadbare coat, the
faded blue eyes, the long hair falling
over the ears, the smooth face with its
expression OF hapldss melancholy and all
that went to make up the peculiar group
of mental impressions which Maxey had
learned since the first meeting, now
weeks ago, to associate with the name
Leander Dye.
"Youp' was MaXoy's only utterance
81, sir!" said the sombcr voice. "Par-
don me if venture to intrudc my I'M
seemly presence upon you thus abruptly
without having prepared you previously
by timely warning"
Come in, said Maxey.
Mr.. Dye hcsitatcd.
''Pardon me if / am constrained to
ask an importinont question. Are you
alCne?'
81 am not alone in tho house. No."
"But desire to see only you, no one
else / have no wish to meet the young
lady who once bore my name. 1t would
be painful for us both"
"You shall sec me alone, "said Max
oy. Come in.
The artist ushered Mr.. Dye into the
parlor and closed the door Was it that
the gloomy presence Of the melancholy
man communicated a depressing in
nuonco? MaXoy certainly felt an mea-
sonable droad-a sort Of sinking at the
hoart--as the door closed and he stood
there alone with his visitor.
Mr. Dye stood with his hat in his
hand and avoided Maxoy's eyes. He
never lifted his glance from the floor.
Tho artist noticed that he was more sal
low and pallid than when he had seen
him first; that there was a shakiness in
his whole frame, palsied tremble in
his hands He began at once, and his
voice was like one speaking ont Of a
tomb
"Sir, your ears are exceedingly
good"-
''Indeedr'
cor you would not have heard my
knock. ! knocked very softly, as / have
Knocked ut your door SO many times and
you did not hear. hoped, and hoped in
vain, that you would again let me go
away unheoded rs before.
II don't comprehend you, sir. Have
you been here before?"
"Sir, I have been here many times
before, knocking at your door so softly
that you might have mistaken the sound
for the wind or the rattle Of a rat behind
tho WOODWORK. -
Maxey recoiled.
"Are you insanc?"
''No, mol" said Mr.. Dye quickly. "1t
Is not insanity. 1t is not even whim-
sical 1t is, on the contrary, strictly log
ical. Sir, you have heard it said that q
man cannot serve two masters l have
sometimes tried. That was my trouble.
Ono forced me to come and tell you
something that l knew would be unwel-
come to you. What shall call that one?
Conscienoe-remcrse? The other caused
me to desire that you should not receive
me, but allow mo to go away unheeded.
Shall l call that other sympathy and
regard for yourself or for somebody in
whom you are interested? Never mind;
it is not to the point now. Your ears
were better than l thought they were,
and You did hear me. I am here. Sir,
WHY did Won not take my advice and