Evening journal., 1900-12-12
CONTINUED From Monday)

NOulu Hpl lual ulHnl. lneie was some
thing in the intense quiet and repose Of
the great house. after all the excitement
Of the last few hours. that oppressed me-
Everything seemed, as l lay awake, so
unnaturally silent. There was not a
sound in the wide CRATE where the last
ashes Of the fire were silently giving up
the ghost; not a rumble of wind in the
old chimney which had had so much to
say the night before. i tossed and turn
ed, and vainly sought for sleep now on
this side. now on that
At last / gave up trying. half in the
hope that it might steal upon me una
wares. ] Thought of the play and the
ball. of poor Charles and his debts-of
anything and everything, but it was no
good. ln the midst Of a tumble of dis
connected ideas / suddenly found myself
listening again TO the misunderstanding
as if it had been broken by a sound
which | had not heard. Ny watch
licked loud and louder on the dressing
table, and presently gave quite a start
as the distant stable clock tolled ont the
hour-one- -twO-thrce- four had
gone 20 bed before 3. Had l only been
awake an hour. 1t seemed incredible.
Getting mp on tip toe, vaguely afraid
myself Of breaking the silence, / noise
lessly pushed aside the heavy curtains
and looked out
The moon had set, but by the frosty
starlight the outline of the great snow
laden trees and the wide sweep of white
drive We're still dimly visible. All was
silent without as within. Not a branch
moved or let fall its freight of snow.
There was not a breath Of wind stirring.
was on the point Of getting back into
bed when / thought in the distance |
heard a sound. listened intently. MOI,
! must have been mistaken All. again,
and nearerl held my breath could
distinctly hear a stealthy step coming
up the stairs. Ny room was the nearest
TO the staircase end of the corridor, and
any one coming up the stairs must pass
my door. With a presence of mind
which l am glad to say rarely deserts
me blew out my candle, slipped to the
door and noiselessly opened it a chink.
Some one was coming down the corr-
dor with the ightness of a cat, candle
in hand, as a faint light showed me.
Another moment and saw Charles, pale
and haggard, still in evening dress, com
ing toward me. He was without his
shoes. He passed my door and went
noiselessly into his own room, little
further down the passage. There was
the faintest suspicion of sound, as Of a
key being gently turned in the lock, and
then all was still again, stiller than ever.
What could Charles have been after,
wondered. He could not have been re-
} turning from seeing Denis, who was not
only much better, but tsas in the room
beyond his own. And why had he still
, got on his evening clothes at o'clock in
the morning? determined to ask him
: about it next day as 1 got back into bed
again, and then, while wondering about
it and trying to get warm, fell fast
asleep was only reused, after being
I twice called, to find that it was broad
daylight, and to hear the boxes being
carried down of many Of the guests who
were leaving by an early train.
was late, but not so late as some
Breakfast was still going on. Evelyn
and Ralph had been up to see theii
. friends off, but Gen. and Mrs. MarstoI
4 and Carr, who were staying on, came il
4 after I did. Lady Mary and Aureh:
d were having breakfast in their Owl
{. rooms. think nothing is more drearl
t than a long breakfast table laid 70
# large numbers with half dozen pick
niclzing at it among the debris left b.
earlier ravages. Evelyn, behind tn
great silver urn, looked pale and pre-
l. occupied and had very little to say 70
,e herself when / joulneyed up to he
u end of the table and sat down by her
F. She asked me twice if took sugar, ant
)i was not bright and alert and ready i
n conversation, as think girls should be
u Carr, too, was eating his breakfast in s.
lence beside Mrs. Marston.
1t was not cheerful And then Charlie
came in, listless and tired and withou
Is an appetite He sat down wearily o
m the other side Of Evelyn and watche
J.. her pour out his coffee without word.
e "The Carews and Edmonts and Lad
= Delmour and her daughter have ju'
- gone" said Evelyn, "and Mr.. Denis"
eyes" replied Charles, seeming topu
himself together; Denis came to m
room before he went He looked
lu wreck, poor fellow; but not worse tha
- some Of us. These late hours, the
frisl1ings with energetic young creatur
n in the schoolroom, these midnight reve
re are too much for me. feel perfe
lie wreck this morning, too"
He certainly looked it.
"Have you had bad letters" sa
Evelyn, in low voice.
=, He laughed little-a grim laugh
m ne and shook his head But had yests
ne day" he added, presently, in low ton
ne " shall have to try change Of air aga
soon. G;n afraid"