Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1894-06-29
CHAPTER XVI.


CHAPTER XVI.
Dare went to her room so filled with
tense cxpectance as almost to stop the
beating Of her heart She went straight
to the toilet table and saw, with no
sense of surprise, handful Of field flow
ers laid loosely upon It. At her touch
they fell apart, letting her eye rest upon
a scrap Of paper, bearing in Jubilee's
best flourish:
''nisS dare, this Toe say, viii 20
cum toe gait will bee THAR twell Arfter
Midnight. -
Drawing her curtain, she looked out
side. The gait" was almost half mile
away. You came through it from the
highway that ran past Exeter. The dis
lance was as nothing to her quick feet.
Even had she not been absolutely fear
less, all abroad was now such silver
shining as mimicked day. But ought she
to heed q message SO vague? Her aunt,
she knew, would disapprove Did not
honor forbid her to do under her roof
the thing which would be against her
wishes?
But the case must be urgent, the need
strong, to bring her thus secret mes
sage What had Jubilee to tell that the
whole world might not hearp The boy
was sharp, shrewd beyond his years, and
Aliens sworn advocate and worshiper.
In leaving Ridgeley her last word had
been for him, bidding him bring her In
slant news II anything befell the house
hold. Most likely that was what had
brought him to this midnight confer
ence Still that face In the glass Spite
Of her bravery, her firm nerves, she shiv-
cred, recalling eerie tales of apparitions
forewarning death or peril.
She must go. Below stairs she heard
the clang of closing doors Running has
tily down. she said to the servant:
"I'll fasten the west door. want tc
sit on tho small porch awhile and see
the moonlight and the mists along the
creek.
"As you please, Miss Dare Better
take do key outside wild yo'. De do
falls shet sometimes. You might fin yo'-
self locked out" Black Patsey said,
adding after minute: You don't look
lik' yo' mother l member her. hear
'em say, Aun' Jincey say yo' DIES de liv-
in image Of her mistos, 20 gran'pa's
mother, dat died so long ago"
II am like her portrait more than
any one else," Dare said. impatient to
be off, but not daring to show it. After
little sho said, as though the thought
had Just come to her: "Shut the door,
Patsey; then nothing can get In, no mat
ter how moonstruck may happen to be.
With the key can come in whenever
Iplease."
Young ladies mos giner lily want ter
des gone erway," Patsey ehuckled, obe-
diently closing the door. Dare dropped
down upon the steps and for 10 minutes
watched the faint ghostly mists writhe
mp from the babbling runnel and hover
and waver in the full leafed tree tops.
As she stepped lightly to the grass a
low growl felf ON her ear. She saw in
tho moonlight big, shaggy white cur
standing full in her PATH gently waving
his tail and looking at her with the air
Of stern but loving guardian. With
eyes full ON his she went straight up to
him and laid hand ON his head, saying
very low: Mice fellow! Big dog! Come
and walk with mer'
Hall reluctantly he yielded to her i'm
pulse, stood aside and at last walked
soberly behind. Keeping well in shadow,
darting from tree to tree, from covert to
covert, Dare gained the carriage way
aud ran so swiftly along it that almost
before she thought Of it. the gate barred
her way
Not for long. As she stopped breath
less and painting it swung open. and Ju-
bilee's voice said:
''Oh, Miss Dare, II you please, pro-
gress outside. Those dog is too expicious
here in the plain moonshine.
In silence Dare followed him to the
Ihade Of . big ook that stood little to
one side Of tbs highway. As soon as
they were veil within it she said very
low.
''What brought you here, Jubilee?
Are you by yourself? Tell me quick. Is
anything wrong at homer"
My two feet brought me here" Ju-
hile1 said. with grin '"That is to say,
1pe1eQtxisped since ~ o'clock today"
I'D you conner Is nanny sick,
ather, 3 anybody in trouble?"
- so hurriedly. THAT was only