Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1900-02-28
CHAPTER XXn.

ChAI L L.
Night has quite closed in. a night ex-
teptionally wild and violent. when once
more tn sound of wheels upon the gravel
without catches Vere's ear.
Perhaps she, had been listening for il
is even in a measure prepared for il.
but even il so, this does not prevent the
sudden agitated change that overspreads
her face as she hears it. Her pulses
quicken unpleasantly and she half rises
70 her feet.
An hour, two hours. pass, and she Is In
her room dressing for dinner, when q
servant brings her a note.
Il have TO thank you for the kind in
yitation which Griselda gave me. Busi-
ness matters have compelled me to come
here again-for the last time-to-night;
to trpspass, for the last time, upon your
hospitality. l beg you will not let my
presence disturb you: my stay win be 81
short that l dare to hope you will NOT
mark the coming or going"
4 quick wave of color dyes Vera'l
face: she lays the letter with studied
slowness upon the table near.
My compliments to Mr.. Dysart, and
hope he will dine with me tonight" she
says. calmly. but with an unconscious
touch Of hauteur. How does he dare to
treat her like this, to persist in believing
or rather, TO pretend to belieye-that
his presence is so distasteful to her
What Is he to her, one way or the other
that she should care whether he was In
her house or out of it?
At dinner, however, she will have an
opportunity OF widening his knowledge
somewhat. 1t will be the simplest thing
to let him see how utterly unimportant
an item he is in the scheme of her exist
ence. There is a brilliant light in her
eyes as she turns to receive the woman
who has now come back with an answer
to her message to Dysart.
There is a timidity in the woman's All
that warns her.
Mr.. Dysart's compliments and thanks
madame, but he has already dined in
town"
"Fasten this bracelet" says Vera. hold
ing out her arm. She is aware that the
woman is watching her. curiously if ner-
vOusly, and she so moves that the sudden
pallOr of her face, the sole thing that
shows her Indignation. shall not betray
her. That will do; you can CO." she
says after awhile. She sweeps down
stairs almost in the servants footsteps
and into the green drawing room, Il
smaller apartment than the usual recep
ton rooms, and now looking delicately
cozy beneath the touches of lamps and
freight, and with the perfume of many
flowers hanging around it.
The wind, the thunder, the lightning,
still rage, but the rain has ceased, and
N the murky heavens above, a pale, sick
ly moon is striving feebly to break a way
through the dense clouds. Suddenly the
door is thrown open by an agitated hand,
and the woman who had attended her
upstairs comes hurriedly, without cere-
mony, into the room.
"Oh, madame, l thought you would like
to know-that you should be told she
stops, frightened by the expression OF
Nera's face.
'.well?' says Vera, going a step nearer
to her.
There Is q ship in great distress, ma
out there" pointine
vaguely In the direction Of the ocean,
upon the rocks. they say! There Is
scarcely any hope
But the life-boat?" cried Vera. sharp
ly, forgetting everything now but the aw-
full thought of death-and death SO near
out there upon those cruel rocks, with
the boiling, murderous waves leaping to
receive their prey.
Yes, madame, but that accident yes
terday-you will remember it?-they say
il has disabled six Of the men, and 1t is
almost certain death to go at all, and the
hands being short, there must be volun-
teers. and who will risk their lives
the townbred girl stops short with a
culver, and covers her face with her
hands.
Volunteers! W4ers IL Mr.. DysartT'
cries Vera, suddenly, with prophetic in
stinct. "Speak. girl" turning fiercely on
her maid.
Gone down to the beach. madame, to
see what can be DONE"
Gomez says Vera. slowly, as II dazed
and then again, gone" A little convlu-
sive shiver runs through her-it Is the
final breaking up of any lingering de
ceits, any last illusions, that she may
still have clung to.
Order the carriage" she says, after a
minute or two, during which mistress and
maid have remained silent. This sudden
waking-up has been so far a shock that
il has killed all immediate nervousness.
She feels chilled. calmed, strengthened.
The moon has in a measure conquered
the clouds, and now shines out with a
pale, watery luster, that rather adds to
than takes from the weird wildness Of
the night. The thunder still rattles over
head, and vivid flashes light the black
ness. Here and there, as the carriage
passes by the outskirts Of the wood. these
intermittent bursts Of light show where
Il tree has been felled, or the road ripped
up. or a small bridge carried bodily
away by the force Of the swollen cur
rent underneath.
All through the deadly crashing Of the
storm a booming sound may be heard al
!1ng intervals. Half maddened by it.
and by that other greater fear. Vera lies
back in the carriage, pressing her nm
gers now to her ears, now to her throb
bing brow, that feels a. II It were burst
ing.
Arrived at the entrance to the village,
drive of about 4 mile from Greycourt.
she stops the carriage. and opening the
door springs to the ground. A sudden
gust of wind passing by almost dashes
her to the earth, but by a superhuman
effort she defies it, and half blinded by
the flashing lightning, and bewildered by
the raging storm. she turns aside, and
runs painting, struggling, down . side
pathway that shs knows leads - the
beach below.