Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1896-08-31
CHAPTER v.

CHAPTER V.
At no time Of q moonless summer
night can darkness be said to prevail by
the shore, for the sea bears within its
murmurous breast its own mysterious
illumination, blending and making it
self one with the long, soft tumult OF
sound that while man slumbers seems
to fill with its music the whole world.
Lord Straubenzee's little house lay
shattered and dark against the cliff be-
hind it; ON the sea front no living thing
was visible, for, exhausted by the excite.
ment Of the day. all the town had re-
tired to rest, and nothing short of an
earthquake would make it stir again till
morning.
As distant clock struck 12 dark
outline moved from beside boat where
1t lay and presently rose to its feet. 1t
was woman with the skirt of her black
gown over her head, as she had disposed
it when She boldly walked out of the
house cpposieo three hours before and
past the crowd that gaped against the
wooden palings and stared in at the open
and her father 81: over dessert.
If one Of them had spoken to, had
touched her, she must have shrieked
aloud, for the peril Of passing unseen
through a narrow house that had but
one exit had been enormous, but they
took her for q housemaid hurrying to a
tryst and never dreamed Of her identity.
A-s she had stolen through the narrow
entry she had heard the servants as they
busted themselves with coffee cups in
the pantry behind her, the low voices of
the trio in the dining room, and had
they listened, had they looked, they
must have heard her pass the door,
might even in the track thrown By the
lamplight have seen her cross the lawn.
The rest had been child's play-to
walk down the parade, then double ON
her track by way of the beach and hide
herself beneath shelter of boat. One
scare only che had, which came from
Coleman, who after his elegant repast
had walked down to the waters edge,
and with fine. condescending air of ad-
miring the stars che regarded himself as q
connoisseur Of the beauties of nature) re-
tired indoors to make his final arrange
ments before leaving his master for the
night.
Hagar glided over the beach too swift
~ to mako much sound, and in a yery
few minutes had climbed the path and
stood outside the door of the house which
she would now for the first time enter
Free
II some watcher were within, the
hardest part Of her work was yet to
come, but even for that emergency she
was prepared as she lifted her hand and
tried the door, finding it locked, as she
expected. She softly tried the window
sash. That, too, was secured, and she
then went round to the back of the cot
tage, which afforded no egress, but
where was very small window, not far
from the ground, through which one
would scarcely think it possible that
even a child could crawl
1t opened easily to her touch, and
then came the struggle to get through,
for slender as she was, in spite of her
height, the feat seemed incredible. but
she set her teeth hard, and after a time.
with a cracking of woodwork and feel
ing Of crushing every bone in her skin.
she pitched headforemost on to the
kitchen floor, where for awhile she eat.
half stunned, but exulting, for the ST.
lence convinced her that no living ner-
SOD save herself was in the house. She
made her way into the one living room
of the miserable place. and striking one
Of the matches she had brought with
her held it above her head. The room
was empty. Silas Gregorias had been
removed to his chamber up stairs during
the day Her spirits rose. She had at
least three clear hours in which TO do
her work, and her indomitable courage
told her that it could and would he
done.
The match went out, but she did not
strike another. Before lighting q candle
the window must be darkened against
the unlikely chance of pepper. and
knowing every step of the ground she
fetched in the dark q coarse blanket
from the kitchen, with which she hIock.
ed out every crevice through which light
could make its way.
vi Hei way to uniOCh the front door
she stopped. arrested. remembering there
was Of course no key in it. then with a
rush of JOY almost delirious she remern-
bered that there had always been two
keys, one for her own, one for her fathers
use. as he never suffered the place to he
left open And if her own were in the
usual place! She kissed the clumsy thing
when she found it. and set it in the
lock
When she had brought a candle into
that CHASTITY room, she disappeared
again. and came back carrying a large
clothes basket. into which with light
ming rapid;ty she fung books and papers
till it was nessly full. then STOPPING and