The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1897-02-24

ter"
Bessie sighed and remained silent:
and mt that moment Miss Marvale rose
with languid grace, and sauntered
toward the house.
go, Bessie have you been telling
that story ngain?" exclaimed Miss
Marvale, looking reproachfully Mt her
friend.
"Certainly," said Bessie; 81 had
no idea of keeping my terrors to my
self and, Clara, they all think more
of it than you did. When | scream
out in the night / want them to know
what is the matter, md 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 of by burglar or IA ghost. '"
"You must be very careful not to
let the fnmilv suspect that you think
of snch things" Miss Marvale said,
gravcly. "It would be very poor
requital of their courtesy"
"Yuu have no fear, then?" Mr.. Al
ford said, addressing her for the first
time TINT day.
"No' she answered, quietly look
ing ~ to meet his eyes for an in
stnnt.
/ was struck by the expression of
their inc.s. / can only describe it by
saying TINT it was ut once inquiring
and guarded. The tone and manner
of 10th were quiet and gentle, and
even little softcncd, but whether it
was the self-cortrol 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, | could
not tell.
Thnt evening at tea Mr.. Afford nm
nouuced that he should return to the
city the next day.
Bessie exclaimed, and so did Frank,
but Miss Mnrvale said not word,
only went on with her supper and
never looked mp. | saw him look nt
her aud color Mt tho apparent indiffer-
encc she displayed But she didn't
eat another mouthful of supper, nj.
though she trihed 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, B4s-
sic on Mr.. Affords arm, Fred and l
with our cigars.
"Clnrn," Des,ic ctllod ont, "comc
and help mo conx Mr.. Afford to stay
another week. Frank says that if he
will stay II week longer we might
saorten Our stay a week, aud so go ali
together
Cara Mlrvalc s,untcrcd slowly
down the walk, the moonlight full and
white on her face and dress.
81 could not hope to succeed where
you fail, she said, carelessly, pausing
us she met the two. "Besidcs, l don't
see why we should Interfere with Mr..
Affords business. i he prefers going
immediately, should not ask him TO
say"
There WAS nn 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 ~ stairs he went out again,
and from the parlor window l heard
his step pacing to and fro in the gar
dens. l wondered if Miss Marvule
heard it too. 1t was ono o'clock when
he came in aud went up to his room.
Then dropped to sleep.
How long l Ind slept 1 know not,
but / was awakened by loud scream
that was repeated before l was ont of
bed. There was confusion of sounds
as opened our door-Mr. and Miss
Markham were coming out of their
rooms, the man Jacob was looking
from his and Mr. Afford, fully dressed,
was standing in the hall.
"What is it?" he asked, for there
was silence.
"Where is he?"cried Mr. Markham,
running down the hall with light,
his gray hair streaming back, his face
full of alright. "My God I" he cried,
seeing Miss Marvale's door open.
Mr.. Afford wa ut his side in an in
stant, and Frank and 1 followed them
int