Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1903-12-17
CHAPTER XIV.
The Secret Panel.

the house and reached the ears or the
others, who now flung wide the door
and rushed In.
what is It? What has happenedf"
they cried.
81 don't know!" exclaimed my lady,
thoroughly and almost superstitlously
alarmed. Bring n light don't
knowi"
Her voice was tremulous with agita-
ton. And when a light was brought 1t
showed the girl still standing erect in
the middle OF the room, her gaze fas-
tened on the window. her hands hang
Ing loosely by her side.
They crowded around her In Ques-
tioning establishment
what was it. Miss Atherton-what
was it,"
The face she turned to them wore
such a strange expression-an express
sion of love and ecstasy, blended with
awe. Her lips were family smiling.
There was a tinge Of color in her soft
cheek which gave 1t the appearances Of
a delicate blush rose.
Tell us!" they insisted.
Il saw him there!" she whispered,
pointing to the window-"there!"
Whom do you see. dear?" Cynthia
asked, gently, as IL she were speaking
to a frightened child.
CL~ w~~ wnoL Cffv pnaCnn
had just come back to her, and this
sudden shock had sent 1t tottering to
the verge of oblivion.
"Why, OF course" she said slowly,
pantingly. and looking round at them
with blue, bewildered eyes. "Clive!"
'Clive!" they echoed, blapkly.
"Clive!" Cynthia Lennox repeated.
what are you saying?"
They glanced from one to another In
quick dismay.
Ny lady came swiftly forward and
stood among them AN imposing figure
Ia her Grape and sables.
let me explain. / was In fault.
Rashly and shamefully forgetful of
Miss Atherton's so recent illness. !
spoke to her a great deal tonight
about-my SON. I showed to her his
picture. Quite suddenly she leaped up
with a scream. She fancied she saw
him at the window, I presume. for she
fixed her gaze upon 1t and called his
name. I was wrong to have In any
way agitated q brain so lately disor
dered. 1t cannot have yet regained its
mental balance. Poor child"
The little group looked vaguely re
lieved at the explanation.
"Come up to my ROOM" my lady
said, addressing Laurie. Come up and
lie down a little while, dear, and you
will feel better. Comet"
She looked up at her, that queer. far
away look still in her luminous eyes,.
The elder woman put her arm
around her and drew her gently to-
ward the door.
There she turned her head, and send
ing a swift glance of meaning back,
tapped her forehead significantly.
But she only said:
I'VE will not come down to dinner,
Cynthia You will pardon us!"
And so they passed out together,
Lady Carrington's arm encircling and
supporting the slender form of the
girl, whose head leaned ON her shout.
der, and whose lovely. loose hair
flashed and glittered sunnily against
their dusky dresses.
Ny lady's room was a large, octagon-
shaped apartment furnished In a style
rich, massive, antique. The prevailing
hues OF wine-color and gold were used
throughout with harmonious and artis-
tic effect.
They had barely entered when Lau-
RE Lisle dropped In & chair and. COW
ering her face with her hands, burst
into a food of tears.
Probably neither had before suspect
ed how weak she really was. The re-
action of the fierce excitement she had
undergone was telling on her. II was
growing on her when she allowed her
self to be led passively away. II had
reached It's N now.
"Clivc, Give. Clivel" she murmured.
Ny lady shook her head sadly.
Poor little thing! Delirium againi
How she clings to that one name
poor. little. sensitive thingi"
She persuaded her to lie dowE on
the great, fourposted bed. and forced
q little cordial between her lips.
At last the fierce scbs ceased. and
she lay quite still. very faint and
weary. She fell to staring at the pam
e'ed walls, In curious, childish fash
ion.
What o queer-shaped room II was.
anyhowl-unlike any other she had
eyer seen. And those massive ma
hogany panels-how many we're theref
She began to count them by the
light OF the uncertain IRE which
glowod In the crate.