The Minneapolis journal., 1902-07-15
BOOK vi.
Chapter Nv.

g TGHE ELLERY LIBRARY. IT,.
Alice sat in the Ellery library, before the
fire. That day, for the second time In her
life, she had entered the house. What had
Sotheran been thinking Of to bring her there /?
Did he realize, she wondered, how closely
that mansion was connected with the imagin-
ings of her girlhood? She had shought of
Frank. and nothing but Frank, since she had
entered. .
The portals had seemed to loom over her
like the risen past, and draw her in. The
dusky hall, the old carved furniture, made
her ask herself where were the owners of
that house. She had stood a moment shrink
ing, almost expecting Frank and Dickie to
appear. In going to her room she had stolen
a glance at franks door as she passed 1t
was shut and it's blank surface was eloquent
OF the former years when that room was
empty, and Frank was far away-saving her.
Her room was Dickie's, decorated with all
the care and taste that Sotheran could give
it; but the picture that hung over the man-
tel was of Franks mother, looking at her
with Franks eyes. The picture had hung
in FRANKS room, and Alice had wondered,
as 1t repeatedly arrested her gaze. how often
Frank had stood looking at it.
And at supper, when Ann served at the
table sulkily, Alice had remembered the lit
tie servants devotion to Frank. Mr.. Ellery s
cringing manner inevitably recalled his
nephew's uprightness. And when at last
she sat alone in the library, the three fig
ures on the walls Were like ancestors of her
own, knitting her to Frank.
Her brother came from an interview with
Ellery. Alice he said, II have suddenly
recollected an engagement which I forgot
when l told Henry to come here for you.
He will not be here for half an hour, Will
you tell him that i had to go, and that
will meet him later at the coffee -house?" =
With Frank SO occupying her mind she
did not wish to see Sotheran. 81 will ask
Christine Ann to tell him." she answered
You go at once?'' J=..
YES" he replied, and kissed her good
night
Alone again, she seemed alone with Frank
In that house all thoughts led to him. To
think of Dickie was no escape, since it re-
minded her how Franks influence, reaching
his brother through the widest separation,
had drawn him to his side and now held him
there. Franks persistent strength was to be
marveled at. ..,"
And as she sat, her lover seemed to fill the
room with his personality. Her lover? Yes
His love was hers; she had seen it in his
eyes; she had heard it in his voice. Never
dream that forget!" And she-had she not
forgotten? Shame again, but this time shame
on her Inconsistency, reddened her cheeks
The room was deepening in dusk, but the
hre was bright; and in its turn it spoke to
her OF other fires years ago-the fires of the
cabin in the woods She saw in the flames
the interior of the cabin-Aneeb upon his
bed, bright-eyed Mukkwah, the boy Kewadin,
and old, wrinkled Netnokwa. She saw the
pets dangling from the ceiling the skins
stretched upon the walls She saw herself.
girl with braided hair, dressed in deerskin.
And she saw Frank, smiling, watching her
her instructor and protector
hat
her from Aneeb, to save her from the lieu
tenant (and she shuddered), to follow through
the woods! The finger of God had pointed
him the way. How he had maintained
them! How he had fought against
the Chippewa! And how, through that fam
1shed march, with patient wooderaft he had
kept them both alive until they reached De-
troit!
Yes, she had loved him worthily. Did she
not love him still? What of his later acts
and of his silence? He believed rebellion
right-and was it not? His silence was en-
forced. but he loved her. Then--
She rose suddenly and paced the room.
avoiding the conclusion. Again she began
again she thought Of her life, again she emu
merated her debts to him, again she paused
before the situation. She had loved him: he
loved her. then
Save for the freight the room was dark
but in the wavering light she still felt the
presence Of her lover, and knew that he
was taking possession of her. She had moi
thought of sotheran once; she had not com.
pared. 1t was as If the new had never been
while the Ellery house, with all it's memorie ies
brought back the old. Slowly the struggle
lessened. She caught herself smiling, feelina
that she could not be seen. She came again
to the insistenjt question, and avoided it once
more. 49,
There was knock at the door. Come in. 81
she called, relieved at the Interruption; and
turned to light the candles.
1t was Ann. With hard face she said
| s'There is Captain Sotheran's boy to see
you.' ! f.. ~.-%.