Audubon County journal. (Exira, Iowa) 1884-1993, 1898-12-01
CHAPTER XIII.

CHAPTER XIII.
The east bound train that day left
without one of its promised passengers
Miss Maynard. She was needed, said
the civil authorities, as possible wit
ness in the robbery case. Wild, stirring,
marvellous was the rumor that went
from house to house before II o'clock
that Mrs. Barry's companion and pro-
tegee, the lovely New England girl, had
been accused by the police of guilty
knowledge of, if not completely in, the
burglaries and that, though not arrested
and taken to town, she was under sur
velllance and confined to the house. One
man when he heard it boiled over with
wrath and misery. That was Ronald
Maynard. Scorning his sisters argu-
ments and entreaties, he had limped
across the piazza, rung at the Barrys'
door and begged to be admitted He
found Mrs. Stannard fearful, but calm
and collected, Mrs. Barry reclining on
her couch, her white hands gently toy
ing with the glossy, wavy blond masses
OF hair that rippled all down over poor
Nathalie's back and shoulders as she
knelt there, her face buried in Mrs.
Barry's bosom, abandoned to her grief.
She did not even hear or heed the bell.
did not know who had come or that anv
one had come, until she heard these
words:
Mrs. Stannard-Mrs. Barry-I've
heard this most cruel accusation, and
I've come to say don't believe word
OF it, and won't rest until I've got at
the truth. -
The servant after admitting him still
stood at the parlor door, looking doubt
fully after the young officer and glanc-
ing 1nqulrlngly at Mrs. Stannard as
though to ask if she had done right OF
wrong. Mrs. Barry, without turning or
disturbing Nathalie, held out her thin
white hand, smile Of welcome and
pleasure on her face, and as Maynard
stepped forward and eagerly clasped the
protfered hand he bowed low over it and
over the beautiful ripping tresses Of
the girls BUNDLED head. His eyes,
clouded with distress and sympathy,
gazed one moment into those of the in
valid and then sought the kneeling
form. No woman that ever lived, unbe-
reft OF the faculties God has given her,
could have failed to read the infinite
yearnlng in the brave young face the
love and tenderness and longing that
shone in his fine, truthful eyes, Mrs.
Barry read and saw unerringly, and her
heart went out to him as she drew the
sobbing girl closer to her side. Natha-
lie, too, seemed conscious of his nearer
presence. She was striving to check the
violence of her emotion and had in
stinctively moved little as though to
make room for him or possibly to draw
q trif1e away. His knee was almost at
her shoulder
Mrs. Stannard half turned. sit is all
right" she said in low tone to the
still lingering servant. "You may 90, I"
and slowly and almost reluctantly the
maid withdrew. They heard her voice
the next moment in the dining room
as though answering question. "Lieu-
tenant Maynard, she said, ''to see
Mrs. Barry" whereat Mrs. Stannard
looked in some surprise into the room
beyond, but no one was then i'll sight.
1t was the cook, fancy" said Mrs.
Barry. "She usually comes to me about
this time each day to get her orders, and
being very particular, not to say su-
perior, person, she did not wish in her
kitchen attire to come into the presence
of gentlemen. Bridget is quite swell
when she goes to town. Do sit down
awhile, Mr.. Maynard. We are all glad
to see you, and again her arm seemed
more closely to encircle Nathalie. sit
is good to hear your voice again, espe-
cially when you say such good words "
Only too Willingly Maynard found
chair and drew it toward the couch.
Nathalie made an effort to rise, but
Mrs. Barry held her firmly, murmuring
some encouraging words in her ear
Then Mrs Stannard came forward
again.
81 think will go over home awhile
now and look after matters there. Then
I'll come to you again, Mrs Barry. Mr..
Maynard will have a chance to talk
with you while I'm gone. :"
Again Mrs. Barry held out her hand
you have been ever SO good to US, and
We'll be glad indeed when you can come
back, both of us. Would you mind tell
ing cook to make little tea now for
Nathalie?" The lSneeling girl shook her
head in protest, but unavailingly Mrs.
Stannard disappeared through the din
ing room door and went to the kitchen
just beyond. She returned in moment.
Bridget isn't there, but told Mary
She thinks Bridget may have gone up
stairs q moment She left her in tho
dining room. Mary will make the tea. :"
II didn't hear her go up said Mrs
Barry, "but it may be-. She's the quiet
s.
81, q 81