Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1903-07-15
17OME at last!

HFTE 0ElD anu uuDLSlld eIOPPCu
from the girls hands. For the
Snst four days she had sat In her
Pullman section, picturing this home
coming, and now that it was deed
accomplished she could have cried as
Ehs Rugged the hideous old marble lion
that guarded the steps.
Safely homeI Yes; but explanations
would be in order: and from the alb
gsnce Of lights 1t would seem that her
1ather was dining Quit Well! A
shrug; a laugh; and she ran up the
steps.
The hall was unchanged; the same
carved chairs, the same lounge by the
staircase. The last time she had slid
down those banisters Hardwick Hol-
den had caught her as she bumped up
against the post at the bottom, and
laughed aloud over her performance.
A step sounded on the upper stairs,
then q cough. Masters out" an in
Visible some one remarked; and Bess
aarted through the nearest door. The
voice was strange one. and she was
mot prepared to make explanations to
new servants.
She laughed again as she tiptOed
into the half lit library. What right
had father to break into her plans this
rEay by being out? What would he
shink Of her crossing the continent
alone2 What would other people think
Aunt Annie-and Hardwick Holden,
Cor instance. Hardwick had no bust
ness to think anything; she had not
come to see him!
Bess smiled serenely; but the Sc
Renity changed. What allied athe IL
Drary2 Mothers picture had been
taken down, and the table--why, the
dear old library table was gone! She
had sat on that table when she was
q mite and played checkers with
father during the black, creepy hour
OF 9 and z. In later years she had
sat there and wept over her first
geometry problems, which father in
despair had tried to solve for her,
and couldn't; and life had been a
Rowling wilderness to them both I'M
TN Hardwick brought sage counsel
and arranged to come in evenings and
help her. That table would have to
come back; it shouldn't be pushed
aside; 1T stood for big Slice Of home.
And the dear, old, beautiful times were
all going to come back, too.
now. Bess decided as she smoothed
back her hair; for Hardwick had SO
much tact. Tact? Surprising Hard
wick, with his superabundance Of
sAct, should consider it necessary to
Eeep out Of the way! If he once
made up his mind to it, he coyld be-
come invisible, even If his great,
empty, lonely house were only across
The street. She knew that Of old; it
had happened once when. among 9th
his own business; and the time that
followed had not been a pleasant one.
The room had become uncomforta-
bly, hot, and Bess pulled off her jacket
with sense Of injury He needn't
nave been so stupid as to write on to
New York three months before and
ask her to marry him.
Ehe next moment she was scramb-
sing her belongings together and had
slipped into the chubby hole of a room
adjoining the library; for the step that
Pad first sent her flying into the IL
sbrary was abroad in the hall.
Ten minutes later Bess was reused
by the sarcastic comment. Don't let
nae disturb you. Take your own
time"
! This must be a new butler. "Look
aere-" Bess began, sharply; but
the UNan interrupted
"0h. see. All right A precious
mess you've made. Did these rags
come out Of that drawer?" He picked
them up. Look as though they might
Aave been sunbonnGt once. Master'll
be mortal angry over this"
gess stamped her foot. i
Miami"
"Xoung woman. more'n likely you'll
40 to the lookup"
But just then voice outside the door
interrupted voice that was we'll
known to her.
'SWhat is it. Roberts?'
please, sir, this young person."
/ ''Yes, I see. You can go, Roberts"
'~SlaaIl go for the police?" Roberts
asked. hopefully.
"No! Get out, will your
Roberts vanished. Then Hardwick
Holden came forward, hesitated, stop
ped. Something in the girls eyes for
Aade further approach.
@If you were so terribly anxious to
get rid Of these-these things
voice was little more than whisper
MS she pointed to the Uttered desk and
s8Oor-"Why couldn't you have sent the
the letters to me when l was in New
Xork-instead Of sending them back
aOme2"
s'Bess, how did you get in?" he ask