The southern sentinel. (Winnfield, La.) 1883-1910, 1901-11-15
E Of" The house on hs Narsh." etc1

escape the gaze or the lustful eyes
but keeping q sharp eye on his move
ments all the time.
She felt keen resentment agains
Miss Theodore. who. in her amiablt
folly. had exposed her to this persecu
ton. Luckily that lady herself ap
peared a few seconds later, and Their
Nell at once made the excuse of going
to fetch the tea-things to get out OF
the room.
Once outside the door. however. she
ran through the passage to the back OF
the house. slipped out into the garden
and ran home across the fields as fas,
as her feet little feet could carry her.
| "Since she likes his society so much,
she may enjoy tete-a-tete with himr'
she said to herself, not without a bit
tectress had betrayed her i'm her Gag
erness to reclaim the prodigal.
Before she reached the Blue Lion.
Nell had made up her mind what to
do. She felt that she must have some
advice Of a more solid. more worldly
hihu tli0t VI
narrow-minded Miss Theodore. So she
wrote a little note. the first she had
ever sent him. TO Clifford King. and
sent II by a safe hand to Stroan to
catch the night mail.
Her note was very short. containing
as it did. only the following words:
Dear Mr.. King:
''If 1t would not be too inconvenient
to you to come down to Stroan to-mor-
row. should be very glad of the OPP
portunity Of asking your advice upon
a matter in which do not dare trust
my own Judgment, and do not dare
to consult my uncle.
with apologies for my audacity in
asking such a great favor.
Believe me, yours sincerely.
NELL CLARIS."
Then she passed sleepless night.
torturing herself by wondering what
Jem Stickels would do. and whether
Clifford would come-this she did not
greatly doubt-and how she should tell
him il he came.
And on the following evening, Just
when she had given up all hope of
seeing him. and just when the time
appointed by Jem Stickels for her
to meet him was approaching. she saw
Clifford, from her seat by the open
door of the sitting room, walk into the
bar.
Nell sprang up with little cry, and
Clifford. catching sight Of her. flushed
a deeper red than his walk had given
him. and going quickly through the
bar and along the passage. pushed
open the door Of the little sitting-room.
and stood before her.
The girl had been so anxious for
his coming that all her little moidenly
arts Of affected surprise. of indiffer-
ence. of reserve. were in abe-ance; and
he saw before him the girl he loved.
with love confessed in her blue eyes
Fer one moment he stood looking at
her. q little awe-struck, as q lover
ought to be. at discovering how much
more beautiful she was than he re-
her. Then, not unnaturaIly
taking hef summons for just a little
more than it was intended TO be,
caught her in his arms. and pressing
her against his breast. covered her
face with kisses.
Nell uttered little cry; she thought |
II expressed CONSERVATION. alarm; but |
Clifford read the sound differently.
and kissed her again.
''Oh. Mr.. Kingw painted the girl. as |
so0n a. she could draw back her head |
enough TO speak, you don't under
stand. I sent for you to advise me.
that's all Il"
II quite understood" replied Cliff
ford. calmly. not letting her 60 very
lar. "And I am longing to put my pro-
ressional knowledge at your service.
But first"
He stopped short. arrested in the
middle OF his speech by q violent start |
b the part Of Nell. who was looking
With eyes full Of alarm Mt the door
which led into the garden.
The upper part Of this door was OF |
ylass. snd she had suddenly perceived
hat = face was pressed to the outer
Tide.
who Is TIP asked Clifford. as soon
ls he saw what had arrested her at
ention.
And without waiting for an answer.
,e sprang across the little room. 10
ward the glass door. Nell sp-ang at
er him. and clutched at his sleeve.
sNever mind. Don't CO." she wh:x-
'ered app-ehensively. 1T IL only lem
'tickels- Don't open the door,"
But as Clifford stopped. under the
'ressure Of her earnest entrsaty. the
ound OF hoarsely uttered curse
cached their ears: the face was quick
Withdrawn. aud the next moment,
nth a loud crash OF brosen glass.
ems fist came through the upper part
{ the door. and strucs Clifford full In
he chest.
Nell saw. even before the blow was
ealt. that there was an open knife
hA