Pullman herald. [volume] (Pullman, W.T. [Wash.]) 1888-1989, 1905-05-27
CHAPTER XIV.

Hour after hour | lay tossing about
in a sleepleSs, mental agony. Clara was
undoubtedly in the same house with me,
exposed to heaven knows what sufferings
and prosecutions and yet, for any hope
OF seeing or succOring her, | might as
well have been hundreds of miles away.
At last, unable to lie there any longer,
| rose and dressed myself A fire was
still smoldering in the huge CRATE, and a
night light was burning upon the table.
The nurse, by her hard, regular breaF
ing, seemed to be in n deep sleep, and
moved about cautiously. Her face "
turned 20 the open side of the sofa.
crept behind it and inserted my tre5
bling hand beneath the pillow, feelf
further and further until my fng9
touched a hard suhstance-it was Il
ward key. Little by little l drew
away-she still sleeping profoundly
fitted il noiseessly in the lock, turned
and the next moment found myself &.
large. dark hall, Mt the foot of an inn
mensely wide staircase.
| closed the door softly behind me.
4 long window. that stretched upwards
from the first landing, admitted sufi-
cient light TO guide me. and, with
noiseless step. l crept up the stairs. At
the top Of the first flight was a long
corridor. on each side Of which, as far
as / could see. for the further end was
lost In obscurity. was a line Of doors.
Now came my difficulty: the slightest
error would not only defeat my present
object. but consign me to a stricter sur
VIGILANCE than ever, and perhaps bring
about Clara's removal to some spot to
which ! could obtain no clue. Suppose
by chance. that ! should 20 to Judith's
chamber door? l shuddered at the
thought.
/ stood for some moments at the he'd
- the corridor, irresolute what to
listening eagerly for the slightest sol
that might guide me. But the sile'
WAS deathlike. Down the corridor
moved noiseleSsly. Through the or
ices ~ the third door came faint strea
If light and faint mutiled sounds. eth
means or a low, monotonous singin.
the walls and doors were so thick, Il
t was difficult 10 distinguish which. .
I listened more eagerly, until | f.
cied ] could distinguish Clara's vol
I paused for a moment. and then, "
wy heart heating in my throat, tapl
gently. Breathlessly | waited for
erai seconds. No answer. Then | {
f ped n second time n little louder.
sound IF moving, and then a soft, tire
u.ous voice. that thrilled my very Sc
F asked family. who is there?"
/ rouI doubt no longer. The }
{ was in the lock outside. | tried it-tu
"a it-opeued the door-met her VIII
E I sought-heard n low cry OF aston
E meut. and my darling was in my arms
I A. that moment | fancied that he.
sound like the click OF a lock in
f corridor I suddenly turned, dsengaE
. myself from her arms, and looked o
f Al seemed precisely as | had left il
na light no object, no sound; il m
have been fancy. | gently drew
key from the outside. and. reversing
Iorkea the door from within. We W
/ aIaue-ua one could surprise US now
To her eager questions. how had
covered her. ! scarcely knew what
answer for. the first excitement OF
meeting over ] rypeuted that | had
ssreh- TO- Could / have freed her
Der enemies then. and then only, ",
r. hafe been justihahleI As il wa.
vac feeding Wy own hopeless pas.
na1 engaging more and more closely
affections u g Supplemented girl.
meath fhs very roof that sheltered
fmrlacshle woman who claimed as
husband On. 40 this was weak. CT
.aaIy Reak. and felt il so. and ye