The southern sentinel. (Winnfield, La.) 1883-1910, 1901-09-13
. ot~ The House on he Narsh." etc.
tCopyrisht ises. By Robert Bonners sonal

Of this sort, which he had indeed
looked upon as highly imaginative
but now his love made him snatch al
this or at any way of escaping the
dreadful possibility of having to &C
knowledge that Nell was a thief.
The sleep-walking notion had
brought him some comfort, and he felt
quite hopeful about clearing up the
mystery, when a faint noise outside
his door made him start up and listen
He peeped out upon the landing. but
there was no one to be seen. How
ever. he kept his door ajar and
watched.
In a few minutes be felt a rush OF
cold air from the ground-foor Of the
house. and dashing quickly out upon
the landing. he came face to face with
Nell herself. as she ran up the stairs.
Now IL it had not been for the
strange occurrence of the night Cliff
ford would have thought nothing Of
this early meeting. People rise early
in the country. and Nell had the live
stock to attend to. as sne had told him.
taking her turn with the servants. The
fact of there being a visitor in the inn.
too. would have explained SATISFACTORY
ly the care she took not to make any
noise.
But with his mind full Of the agony
Of unwilling suspicion, the young man
could not help noticing that Nell looked
guilty and frightened. that the color
suddenly left her cheeks. and that she
stammered in her efforts to give him
greeting.
"You-you get up very early. II
had not expected to see you down be-
fore eight O'clock" she managed to
say at last.
And there was in her eyes. as she
looked shyly up at him. an unmistak-
able anxiety which made his manner.
as he answered. short and cold
81 was disturbed in the night" he
said. stif3y.
And he avoided her eyes a. steadily
as she avoided his.
"Dis-turbed~ exclaimed Nell. faint
".
And then she looked up quickly In
his face with a glance SO full Of in
quiry. Of fear, that, against his wish
and his win. Cli6ord's own eyes met
hers with a suspicious frown.
what was 1t that disturbed your
asked the girl
He hesitated. Surely this candid
was a proof of innocence. not
guilt Surely q thief would have been
ready with q glib speech. with a look
Of overdone surprise. He looked away
again. absolutely unable to frame. to
her. the story Of his adventure.
"Oh, don't know. 1t was nothing.
I suppose" he answered. confusediy.
He felt the girls eyes were upon
him. but he would not meet them. He
must speak about his loss. of course.
but It should be to her uncle. not to
her.
what are you going to do with
yourself TIN breakfast timer she
lsked. pleasantly. I'VE have no nice
garden where you could walk about
IN Q pleasant lawn and pick roses.
VIII you 60 out over the marsh and
oathe in the sea? could show you
he way to the ferry. Or would it be
90 slow for you to watch US turn the
,ows out?"
Innocence! Surs,v this was limo
.ence. Clifford only hesitated for q
During that moment he told
himself that he would conquer his
ceiling for the girl. that he would not |
I'M the risk Of becoming more infat- |
lated than he was. But the next mo-
nent the girl conquered. and looking
lown into the fair. sweet face. he was
eady to think that his own senses had
led to him. that the hand which had
obbed him could not be Nells.
So he followed her out into the fresh
air. helped her to turn the
|olts and draw the bars to let out the
ows for their days wanderings over
he marsh. and to look for the eggs
which hay warm In the nests Of the
owl-house.
Long before breakfast time the oc-
Of the night had become q
ALI forgotten nightmare. and Clifford |
vas enjoying Nelps unaffected. lively |
halter as much a. on the previous |
az. Only when his hand touched |
lers. a she took the basket Of eggs |
rom him. did Clifford remember. with |
shudder. that 1t was the same touch |
vhich he had felt In the night, the
anne smooth. soft skin. the same slen-
er little fingers; 20 that he was
ound. before he met the landlord. to
ONE hack to his old theory that Nell
vas q somnambulist.
It was Z disagreeable business. that |
{ making known his loss to George
;larik But II had to be done. and a.
Don a. he had had his breakfast
1iRord followed the landload to the
ront AZ the house. where he was tax
q down the shutters. and told him
. had something unpleasant to relate
D HIN
Ths young man Ct once perceived.
y Z sudoen change to sullen expec-