Condon globe. (Condon, Gilliam Co., Or.) 189?-1919, 1902-02-20
cuAprnR a.

hhyb, ulh manner fult OF the most intense
sclf.contempt.
CHAPTER XII.
A CLEAN of moonlight coming through
the open window puts the lamp to
shame, aud eompels Vera's attention.
How sweet. how heavenly fair the gar
den seems. wrapped In those pale. cold
beams! She can see Il from where she
sits on the deep. cushioned seat OF the
old.fashloned window, aud longing 10
rise and Ro into II, to feel the tender
night-wlnd beating on her burning fore.
head, takes possession of her.
Catching up light shawl 10 cover the
evening gown she wears. she steals. care
fully us might guilty soul. by Griselda's
bed, along the dusky corridor, down the
staircase, aud past the servants quar-
ters where light under Mrs. Grunch's
door warns her that that remorseless foe
has MS yet refused to surrender herself
TO slumber,
A small door leading into the garden
Is close 60 this, aud moving swiftly up
the narrow stone passage that brings her
10 Il she opens the door, and 40 closing
~ NANNA AARAA HhG NAh NN@NAu kAC uVMHt
at any moment, she turns 10 find herself
alone Ia the exquisite perfumed silence
OF the night.
How long she thus gives herself up TO
the sweet new enjoyment OF life she
hardly knows until she hears the ancient
bclfry clock telling the midnight hour.
II startles her. Has she indeed been
here so long? What IL Griselda should
wake and be alarmed for her? She
moves quickly in the direction OF the
house, and at last. regaining the inner
garden, begins TO think her pleasant so-
Journ AZ an end.
She has nearcd the strawberries and in
voluntarily turns her glance their way as
they lie upon her left: involuntarily, too.
she seeks to pierce the darkness that en-.
vclOps them, when she stops, and presses
her hand convulsirely TO her breast. Who
Is it--what Is II. moving there, In the
mysterious gloom?
''Dop't be frightened II Is /. Scaton," I"
says most unwelcome voice.
ABR she says. She Is angry beyond
doubt, and still further angered by the
knowledge that there Is more OF relief
than coldness In the simple exclamation.
Il had no Idea you were here at all"
she says, family, after pause that has
grown sufficiently long to be awkward.
II am afraid have startled you. II
had known | shonid not, OF course, have
come here"
You make 1t very hard for me-" she
, says, with touch Of passionate impa-
tience.
THAT is uajust," says he, reused In
turn. "ro make your life easier Is my
hearts DESIRE"
Are YOU succeeding, do you think ?
Does IT," with gathering scorn, make
my part smoother, when you compel me
TO see that you stay away, or only come
here at hours inconvenient to you, be-
cause-because of me2"
She turns aside sharply, and walks a
step or two away from him. Somehow
ut this instant, the growing chill of the
early night seems to strike more sharply
on her senses, and shiver not to be
suppressed stirs her whole frame.
you are cold" he exclaims, coming
up to her with hasty stride. "What
madness It Is, your being out at this
hour! Come, come back to the house."
She agrees silently to this proposition,
and follows him across the grass to the
small oaken door that had given her
egress-only to find 1t barred against her!
Seaton, having tried It. glances at her
in mute dismay.
Crunch must have fastened II, on her
way to bed. The bolt is drawn" says
he, slowly.
"Do you mean that can't get imp
asks she, as IL unable to credit so terri
BILE an announcement.
"Oh, dare say 1t can't be so bad as
that" hastily. Only" hesitating, as IL
hardly knowing how to explain, "the
front door IL Of course locked and chain
cd, and the servants, with the exception
Of Crunch, oil asleep at the top of the
house; late arrangement of my fathers,
as the original servants quarters lie be-
low. am afraid, therefore, that IL we
knocked forever, It would have no effect.
However can try to do something, but
in the meantime you must not stay out
here In the cold"
"You may feel IL cold. DON'T" re-
turns she ,perversely. "Not so long as
the moonlight lasts, shall find 1t lonely
either. l." raising her unfriendly, beau
tiful eyes to his-'I assure you shall be
quite happy out here, even though l stay
till the day dawns and the doors are
| open again"
'Happyp" As he repeats her word
he looks at her with a keen scrutiny. "A
word out Of place, surely; given the best
conditions, hardly dare to believe you
could ever be happy at Greycourt."
Happy or unhappy" says she, with
quick resentment, her mind being dis
tressed by this awkward fear of having
to pass the night from under any roof,
surely it can be nothing to you'll Why
affect an interest in one who is as hate
ful to you as am?" A little FIRE has
fallen into her tone, and there is ill-sup-
pressed contempt in the eyes she lifts to
his. Perhaps he is driven by 1t into an
anger that leads to his betrayal.
Hateful to me! Do you think you are
that, Vera2" says he, in low tone, but
one full Of fierce and sudden passion
passion long suppressed. do you hon.
estly believe that?" His manner is al
most violent, and as he speaks he catches
both her hands in his, and crushes them
vehemently against his breast. II would
to heaven" he says, miserahiy, that
| that were sov'