The Washington times., 1905-10-15
PART III-CHAPTER XI.

In Anrla's room the close cloak of
dusk had shaken itself out; on the floor
the strip of Eastern carpet-colored as
ever, seemingly unchangeable-loom
a somber suggestion of orange and
blue; on the wall John Desinskfs por-
trait of a red-haired child, softened and
mellowed by time, still gazed wonder
ingly at an unfathomed- world by the
narrow bed. her knees pressing the old
prayer-marks. her elbows buried in the
patched quilt. knelt Anna herself-very
quiet, very inert. She knelt with bent
head and listening ears. her heart beat
ing in little starts and jerks, her mind
under steady control, lest in the silence
and solitude of the house it might crash
into wild confusion
For many minutes she remained still.
her hands pressed tightly over her eyes.
soundless prayers. Then sharply and
unexpectedly the Dutch clock downstairs
struck nine.
She rose nervously. glancing behind
her at the shut door: then she walked
to the wash-stand. poured some water
into the basin. and bathed her face.
The cold OF the water refreshed her.
she used the towel slowly, then laying
IL aside moved to the small unsteady
dressing table and took up a comb.
There was practically no light in the
room, but mechanically she passed il
through the coil of hair above her fore
head-moYing as II in a dream. Still
with the same dazed action she bent to
replace 1t, but before it could touch the
table it dropped from her hand with
clatter, and she caught the table ledge
nervously, jarring its contents. Down
stairs-not at the shop entrance. but at
the small door leading from the yard
into the passage-some one was knock
ing with hurried impatient taps
Anna paled, then the relief and possi-
5llity of Il human presence-any human
presence-SeiZed her; and cropping her
way in confused haste to the door. she
opened 1t and stepped on to the corri-
dor.
On the corridor she paused; before her
lay the stairs. dim and steep: to her
right showed the shut door of her faith
er's room, a black patch In the heavy
gloom She shivered a louder, more i'm
patient knock sounded through the
house. She gathered her strength to-
gether, as a frightened child might
have done, and without look TO either
hand ran down the stairs as If pursued.
The ground floor reached. she hurried
through the kitchen, opening the bars
of the yard door with unsteady hands:
then from the kitchen she passed into
the yard itself. where the moss OF
mold chung to the walls and the grass
blades forced themselves between the
! cobbles There. there was light: over
head the sky. pale and summer-Iike. was
scattered with countless stars: from the
wall of the passage gas lamp threw a
sickly glow
Another knock fell on the door: she
drew quick grateful breath. The
thought that fellow-creature was with
in three feet held wonderful attraction.
She crossed the yard hastily and paused
by the door in the wall.
Who's there? she asked. who are
you?"
For an interval there was no reply.
She leant close to the chink; she heard
some one stir abruptly: she could have
sworn that she heard some one take and
let go breath.
WHO is it?" she asked again nervous
ly. Johann? DR.. Kaine-?"
There was a fresh second of uncertain
waiting; then a voice-the one voice
comprising everything. promising every
thing-broke on her, eager and alert
Il. dearest-Maurice. Let me in"
Her fingers grasped the bolt, then
hung nerveless and incapable She
/ leant against the woodwork family, her
lips parted, her senses swaying.