Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1902-07-03


the house.
She sat listening thus. straining her
ears to catch the slightest sound. Sud-
denly there came a loud clamor at the
front door. an imperative knocking thar
caused Ends heart to come into her
mouth. Who could it be? What strang-
er had passed the dogs in that way?
She heard Grabbed. sour. but cour-
ageous old Williams so to the door.
She heard the clang of bolts and the
rattle Of chains, and then a weird cry
from Williams. A voice responded that
brought Enid, trembling and livid. into
the hall. A young man with dark. en-
ceedingly handsome face and somewhat
cffeminate mouth, stood there. with
eyes for nothing but the shining. flower
decked casket on the trestles. He
seemed beside himself with grief and
rage. He might have been falsely
imprisoned convict face to face with the
real culprit.
"Why didn't you let me know" he
cried. "Why didn't YOU let me know?"
His voice rang to the roof. Enid few
to his side and placed her hand upon his
lips.
"Your mother Is asleep Frank" she
said. "She has had no sleep for three
nights. A long rest may be the means
of preserving her sanity. Why did you
come here?"
The young man laughed silently. 1t
was CHASTITY mirth to see. and 1t
brought the tears into Ends eyes. She
had forgotten the danger of the young
mans presence.
st heard that Chris was ill.," he said.
"They told me that she was dying. And
could not keep away. And now I have
come too late! Oh. Chris. Christ
He fell on his knees by the side of the
coff1n his frame shaken by fearless
sobs. Enid bit her lips to keep back
the words that rose to them. She would
have given much to have spoken the
truth. But, at any hazard. she must
silent. She waited until the par
cxysm of grief had passed away, then
she touched the intruder gently on the
shoulder.
"There is great danger for you in this
house" she said.
What do I care for danger when
Chris lies yonder?' -.
But, dear Frank, there are others to
consider besides yours self. There is your
mother, for instance. Oh, you ought not
to have come here tonight. If your
father knew!"
my father? He would be the, last
person in the world to know. And what
cares he about anything, so long as he
has his prints and his paintings? He
has no feelings, no heart, no soul,
may say"
CRANK, you must go at once. Do you
$c
He has ears like hare; it will be moth
ing less than miracle unless he hears
your voice. And then"
The young man was touched at last.
The look OF grief died out Of his eyes
and a certain terror filled them.
L think that should have come in
any case" he whispered. II don't want
to bring any further trouble upon you.
Enid, but wanted to see the last of
her. came here, and some of the
dogs remembered me. If not might
have had no occasion to trouble you.
And won't stay, seeing that Henson Is
here. Let me have something to re-
member her by; let me look into her
room for moment. If you only knew
how I loved her! And you look as If
you had no grief at ally
Enid started, guiltily. She had quite
forgotten her role for the time. Indeed,
there was something Enthusiastically like
relief on her face as she heard the por-
ter's bell ring from the lodge to the
house. Williams shuffled away, NUT
tering that he would be more useful in
the house than out of it just now, but a
glance from Enid subdued him. Pres.
emily there came the sound of wheels
on the grave outsidel
"They have come for the-the coffin"
Enid murmured. Frank, it would be
best for you to go. Go up stairs, if you
like; you know the way. Only, don't
stay here"
The young man went off, dreamily A
heavy grief dulled and blinded his
senses; he walked along like one who
wanders in his sleep. Christiana's door
was open and lamp was there. There
were dainty knick-knacks on the dress
ing table, vase or two Of faded flow
ers-everything that denotes the pres
ence of refined and gracious woman
hood.
Frank Littimer stood there, looking
around him for some little time. On
the table by the bedside stood a photo
graph Of a girl in a silver frame. Lit
timer bounced upon it hungrily. 1t was
good picture-the best of Christiana's
that he had ever seen. He slipped out
into the corridor and gently closed the
door behind him. Then he passed along
with his whole gaze fixed on the por-
trait. The girl seemed to be smiling out
Of the frame ut him. He had loved
Christiana since she was a child; he felt
that he had never loved her so much as
at this moment. Well, he had some
thing to remember her by-he had not
come i'll vain.
1t seemed impossible yet to realize
that Christiana was dead, and he
would never look into her sunny, tender
face again. No; he would wake up
presently and find 1t had all been
dream. And how different to the last
time he was here. He had been snug
gled into the house. and he had occupied
the room with the oak door. He"
The room with the oak door opened,
and big man with a white bandage
around his throat stood there with tot
tering limbs and an ugly smile on his
loose mouth. Littimer started back.
s.Repina1di" no exclaimed ct didn't