The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1902-09-27
Oliver said, dangerously near

HYou will occupy your usual room, Mr..
Vernon Baker will see to you. And
we dine at seven
| Oliver murmured his thanks as the
Bentleys left the room.
mot even the slightest prayer, not an
expression of regret for him or Muriel /;
only towards fear of telling her, said
he to himself
| divers preparations for dinner were
quickly made, and he was standing again
by the window alone, when Muriel came
in. The moment he had dreaded had
now come,
ssOliver," she said seriously
eyes" he replied, still looking out at
the sea-
"Will you look at me, please, straight
at me p she asked.
He turned slowly.
"Why, what is it p
"Cyrel always said you were the most
honorable and truthful boy or man he
ever knew. Tell me your real news.
And her eyes, the most candid in the
world he thought, were looking at him
from the most innocent, the most truthful
face he ever knew. Whatever came or
went, he could not lie with those eyes
looking into his. And yet, how could he
tell her the truth? His eyes fell, and he
turned his face aside.
"Ah, don't turn away; tell me what you
know, she urged. "Has he gone away
from me p
"Not that, not that, he replied ca
gerly.
''Has he gone away from all of us p
Eyes, we think So
"Dead Is he dead p
And her startled eyes looked wildly at
him.
Oliver grew afraid, yet her face de-
manded the truth more than ever
''We are afraid so,'' he murmured very
gently.
The life died out of her face She
swayed for a moment, and then Oliver
was just in time to catch her as she fell
forward in dead faint
He supported her to the couch, and was
ringing violently for assistance as her par
ents entered the room. They saw at a
glance what had happened.
"You have told her?'' Mr. Bentley
asked with vexation, as Mrs. Bentley ran
to the white-faced, unconscious figure.
eyes; I couldn't help it" Oliver re-
piled.
''Couldn't help it?'' Mr.. Bentley re-
peated scornfully. "And perhaps your
foolishness has killed my child
Certainly Muriel condition was alarm
ingly serious. After strangely long pc
riod of absolute inconsistencies she came
back to half comatose life, to listless-
ness of body and mind more distressing to
see than any kind of pain could possibly
have been. Nothing interested her; she
ignored all questions and sat staring at the
fire, muttering uncannily.
Two hours passed bringing no change.
Daylight faded, the room remained un
lighted save by the red fire into which the
pale face of Muriel was peering so ixedly
with a look which told of mind stIaying
on the border line of reason Fitful CLEANS
of the moon came through the wrack of
flying clouds, and the wind had risen to
perfect hurricane The scene was burning
itself into Oliver's brain, and he felt that
each moment was terrible with the prom
ise of tragedy.
An exceptionally loud gust of wind shook
the house and seemed to fill the room with
noise. Itawoke Muriel from her lethargy
"What is that p she asked.
'The wind,'' replied her mother, ga
storm is raging.
'sIs the beacon lighted p came the
quick question.
ssOh, yes, DEAR answered her mother.
Muriel started up, stepped to the win
dow and looked out. She saw at glance
that no light shone from where the beacon
stood.
cit is not lighted 1t must be, she
said firmly.
"We cannot reach it now. No boat
could live in such sea, Mr.. Bentley
said
cit must be lighted Murial repeated
resolutely, her eyes flashing.
sBut Muriel, DEAR her father urged,
more coaxingly, "there is no necessity.
1t is never lighted except when boats are
out at night
Light it, light it, Muriel repeated
again and again. And then she burst forth
more scornfully: "You are towards all;
you will let good men go to their deaths
while you stand idle. >
II tell you, Muriel, that no boats are
out, her father said sternly.
She ignored the remark of her father
and demanded
'sWhere is David p
David, weather beaten old fisherman,
was brought to her, and sad and very much
startled he looked when he saw pale,
wild-eyed figure asking him to light the
beacon which stood within quarter of
mile of raging sea between it and the
shore
CAN right, missy; don't ee worry,
there amt no boats out -
"You won't 90. Then | will go my
self Mr. Vernon, will you come with
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