The free press. (Poplarville, Miss.) 1890-19??, 1897-03-18

"What do you think, Dode?" Bessie
asked, after waiting while.
Il think I don't know anything
about the matter" said. "Of
course we can't pry into their affairs.
The best thing to do is to keep quiet,
have ms good time as we can and
fasten ourselves into our rooms when
we go to bed. If you get frightened
in the night, just knock on the wall
between your room and mine, and
Frank will go TO see what is the mat
ter"
Bessie sighed and remained silent:
and at that moment Miss Marvale rose
with languid grace, and sauntered
toward the house.
go, Bessie! have you been telling
that story again?" exclaimed Miss
Marvale, looking reproachfully at her
friend.
Certainly" said Bessie; II had
no idea of keeping my terrors to my
elf; and, Clara, they all think more
of it than You did. When l scream
out in the night I want them to know
what is the matter, and if they only
half hear me, don't want them to
turn over and go to sleep, but to start
up and think that's Bessie being car
ried off by burglar or ghost. F"
''You must be very careful not to
let the family suspect that you think
of such things" Miss Maryale said,
gravely. SIT would be o very poor
reqnital of their courtesy"
"You have no fear. then?" Mr.. AL
ford said, addressing her for the first
time that day.
"No!" she answered, quietly look
ing up to meet his eyes for an in
stant.
was struck by the expression OF
their faces. l can only describe it by
saying that it was at once inquiring
and guarded. The tone and manner
of both were quiet and gentle, and
even little softened, but whether it
was the self-cor troll which wells dis
like with mantle of courtesy, which is
all the more scrupulously considerate
because it has to be considered, or
whether it was that calm mask which
covers deep and troubled love, I could
not tell.
That evening at tea Mr.. Afford an
nounced that he should return to the
city the next day.
Bessie exclaimed, and SO did Frank,
but Miss Marvale said not word,
only went on with her supper and
never looked up. I saw him look at
her and color at the apparent indiffer-
ence she displayed. But she didn't
eat another mouthful of supper, al-
though she trifed with her teaspoon
and broke her cake to crumbs.
After tea she went up stairs to her
room and stayed there an hour. When
she came down we were all out in the
moonlight, walking up and down, Bes-
sic on Mr.. Affords arm, Fred and I
with our cigars.
"Clara," Bessie called out, "come
and help me coax Mr.. Afford to stay
another week. Frank says that if he
will stay a week longer we might
shorten our stay week, and so go all
together"
Clara Marvale sauntered slowly
down the walk, tho moonlight full and
white on her face and dress.
II could not hope to succeed where
you fail, "she said, carelessly, pausing
as she met the two. "Besides, l don't
see why we should interfere with Mr..
AliOIu 3 UuoiACoc. IL aO pACACio SOAhS
Immediately, I should not ask him to
stay"
There was an awkward silence for
moment, then Mr.. Afford proposed
that we should all retire, since we
were to see him off at six the next
morning. But saw that after we
had gone up stairs he won't out again,
and from the parlor window heard
his step pacing to and fro in the gar
dena / wondered if Miss Marvale
heard it too. 1t was one o'clock when
he came in and went up to his room.
Then I dropped to sleep.
How long I had slept I know not,
but / was awakened by loud scream
that was repeated before / was out OF
bed. There was confusion of sounds
as opened our door-Mr. and Miss
Markham were coming out of their