Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1894-06-07

simply, unassociated with the succession
of events. If she were a painter now,
though she never knew you, she might
paint your face and think it an idea Of
her own. Not very probable, I admit,
but still it might be-"
Maxoy looked serious.
"What % curious fancy, thatp' he
unused. 81 believe if she does get well,
| will teach her the first thing to paint
Heigho, but she's not we'll yeti"
1t had grown quite dark in the sitting
room while they had been talking. The
early evening Of a winters day had al
ready come. Lamar all at once awoke to
a realization of the flight of time. He
turned the face of his watch to the fire
and exclaimed:
"What am l tagging here for? 1t is
nearly 6 o'clock If l don't look out,
this girl will ruin my business. Let us
see how the patient is before we go. No,
you need not trouble yourself to got q
light, Miss Maxey. have more senses
than one. All, sleeping quietly That is
good, very good. | shouldn't wonder,
after all, Maxey-but, ali, who knows,
who knows?'
Il will strike a light while you put
on your things" said Miss Maxey.
"Oh no. Don't, pray. know how
comfortable this twilight is. Never spoil
it with light if you can help it. 1t is
the best time of the day. Well, Maxey,
good night "
"No, " said MaXcy suddenly; Il think
l will go ont with you. | have got
something to say and besides l want to
smoke Since our new arrival that s
prohibited here. you know. Ellen, you
are tired and if ] were you l would lie
down little while. l shall not be gone
very long ! am just going to the corner
with tho doctor. But really, if you will
take my advice, you will lie down and
rest yourself. y
Don t worry about me, my dear, good
brother. l know my strength and my
weakness. | shall not ovortaX myself.
1t has not hurt me to be up q little
nights. I feel as bright as daisy now. "
This must have been Just a trifle wide
Of the truth, Ellen Maxey. Your brother
had scarcely closed the door behind
himself and the handsome doctor when
you threw your tired body upon the bed.
You listened to their footsteps going
down stairs You hear them becoming
fainter and fainter till they are lost al
together. The deep voice of DR.. Lamar
is still sounding in your ears. Do not
deny the fact that it is exceedingly good
music to Won You think of Dr. Lamar,
and You wonder.
The great house is so still, and you are
so very tired. What was that? Some
body at the door? No. A rat gnawine
behind the woodwork. A loose coal falls
in the CRATE, The wind rattlcs the panes.
There is no other sound. Even the fire
is paling now-is going out entirely.
You arc sound asleep.
"Opcn the door! Open the door! Ell
len! Ellen! Open the door, | say!'
Still the silence Of the grave within.
Julian Maxcy was thoroughly alarmed
by this time. Already he had stood il
the hall pounding and calling for what
seemed an age to him. There was some
thing very strange about all this.
Strange that Ellen, expecting him bacl
directly, should lock the door on the in
side. Stranger still that she should e
out and leave the sick girl alone.
ELLEN! For the last time, Ellen"
Maxev had a momcntary idea Of
breaking in the door, Then he hethought
himself of his bunch Of keys. lie thrus
one of them into the kcyholc. He breath
ed heavily in his excitement. All, the
key was indeed on the inside. BY din
of much rattling he managed to push i
from its place and heard it fall with al
ominous clinll TO the floor. After many
Intellectual trials he picked the lock
The obstinate door yielded at last to hi
touch. He rushed i'll. 1t was totally
dark everywhere. He felt his way to thu
sitting room. The only light was thu
dim glow of the Goals in the CRATE
which told him nothing.
He blindly CROPPED his way to thu
center table, whore he knew there was
, matchsafc. In tho Obscurity he strucl
! against a chair and overturned it. 1t fel
| with startling crash, and in the in
We're, ont Of the very sound itself, h
heard again that low, tremulous utter
ancc that was neither a moan of pain
nor plea for mercy, but akin to both
Just as he had heard it borne on the bit
ter wind from the darkcning sea tina
night on the rocks above the surging o
the waves. There was something in tn
cry that completely unneved MaXey. |
had always been his terror. Now, inten
siiied by the circumstances, it assumed
the potency Of fate itself. His hanc
trembled so he made several futile at
tempts before he could strike light
Finally the slender shaft took fire AM
blazed up. Maxey touched gas jet. Il
the glare that followed he saw the cir
they called Annette sitting ROBBED il
white, upon the edge of the little bed il
the alcove room, wringinG her hands il
the old nervous fashion, her fearful
white face turned toward him, her darI
eyes regarding him with dread.
D,,t II ,voc not tbie tbat chile hi,