The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1898-02-11

sweet strains. His face was buried il
his clasped hands. Hot tears trickle,
down his cheeks unchecked. Sobs shool
his frame violently. The moments fey
by unheeded.
A moments pause. She was alone
he knew, for no sound of voices mingled
with her music. He wanted to find he,
alone. He would make sure. He coul(
not make his confession to the assembled
family. He moved softly toward the
window whose shutters Maxwell hat
forgotten. AS the camera fixes its cho.
Sen picture with tho speed of lightning
SO be in that first miserable glance
through the lace curtains of the window
fixed in his memory forever the peaceful
beauty Of the home he had lost.
Not an item escaped him. From the
flashing freight, illumining the por-
traits of his father and his mother,
down to Nanny James gay turban,
swaying as she nodded in sleep. it all
branded itself on his brain. And Mari
anne herself, how pure the profile of her
sweet face looked at that moment
Should he raise the window and take
her in his arms before she suspected his
presence?
1t was then She turned her head. A
pallid face, a pair of burning eyes, damp
clusters Of hair clinging to all uncovered
brow-it was as if Reginald's ghost
were looking at her through the lace
curtains Of the window. She screamed
and lost consciousness.
Without connected thought in his
confused brain he turned and fled. By
the time Marianne had recovered suffi-
GENTLY to make herself understood he
was a mile away on the nag he had
hired in Cloverdell, and no one believed
word she said about having seen him.
Il tell you, Maxwell, I saw him as
plainly as l see you. He was standing
jnst outside the window by the piano.
He was as pale as ghost, and he had
no hat on"
"And tell you," said Max, trying
to buster very vigorously, "that I've
been over every inch of the front gal.
lery, and there's no sign of anything or
anybody. What i'll the mischief would
Reggie be peeping in the window for
instead of coming in through the door,"
Nobody could answer this question,
and as Nanny Jane insisted on put
ting the trembling girl to bed the group
dissolved itself into SO many wondering
and mystified atoms Miss Monckton
carried herself as beseemed prophet
justified by events
Forging through the darkness, with
no definite aim save to put as great
distance as possible between him and
those he had wronged, Reginald caught
the glimmcr of dim scattered lights
which he knew must be burning in the
cabins Oh the Bascom place. His fathers
injunction flashed into his mind. Sure
ly if ever he had need of friend it
was at this moment.
"If ever you find yourself in tight
place, boy, 60 to Merriman Bascon.
He is a gentleman and a good friend of
mine"
He would tell his story to Colonel
Bascom and gethim to break it to Ma
rianne and Maxwell As Bascom lived
alone this intrusion would not incom-
mode him much.
A turn to the left, sharp climb up
the curving driveway, and he was at the
colonel's door. Oscar admitted him and
recoiled slightly at sight of the pallid
face.and tumbled aspect of this evening
caller, but there was ono law and only
one obtaining in his code of instruc-
lions. Discourtesy to none. .. a
"Tho colonel was away, but Miss
Bascom would be glad'-
Entirely uncomprehending tho first
,lause in this softly muttered invitation
20 enter, Reginald flung the soft felt
lat he had unconsciously carried under
lis arm all evening Oh the hall rack,
passed Ills hand over his
Wind blown hair and followed Oscar
into Miss Bascom's pres
nee.
Jessica laid down her book and /
danced up. Sho was alone, the colonel
aving ridden away with DR.. Hillary
lorthcote.
"A gentleman, Missy" said Oscar,
'olding the door open for the visitor to 2!
,ass through.
Jessica stood up, looking very stately
nd trifle surprised. Reginald looked
t her q silent amazed second. Who