The news-democrat. (Providence, R.I.) 1906-1909, 1906-09-05
THE NEWS DEMOCRATS DAILY STORY
To be published in daily installmcnts on this page
The House of a
Thousand Candles
MEREDITH NICHOLSON
MEREDITH NICHOLSON
Copyright by
The Bobbs Merrill Company
CHAPTER w.

In moment a man plunged tnrorrn
the wood and stumbled over lover
hanging vine and fell. not ten Yards
from where / lay. To nv great surnrise
IL was Morgan. my acquaintance of the
morning. He rose. cursed his i'll luck
and. hugging the wall close. ran toward
the lake. Instantly the pursuer broke
into view II was Bates, evidently
much excited and with an ugly cut across
his forehead. He carried a heavy club.
and-afteF -iistcutug for a moment for
sounds OF the enemy he hurried after the
caretaker.
1t was not my row. though / must say
IL quickened my curiosity. Strengthened
myself out. threw my legs over the
school side Of the wall and lighted
cigar, feeling cheered by the opportunity
the stone barricade offered for observing
the world.
As l looked off toward the little church
y found two other actors appearing on
the scene. A girl stood I'm a little open
f1ng Of the wood. talking to a man Her
hands were thrust into the pockets OF
her covert coat; she wore a tam o.
shanter, that made bright bit OF color
| IN the wood. They were not more than
ttwenty feet away, but wild growth OF
young naples lay between us. screening
1he wall. Their profies were toward me.
me clearly. as she addressed her COM
panion. He wore a clergyman's high
waistcoat. and l assumed that he was
the chaplain whom Bates had mentioned.
In am not by nature an eavesdropper. but
the girl was clearly making a plea OF
some kind. and the chaplains stalwart
ngnre awoke in me an antagonism that
held me 10 the wall
IF he comes here i shall go away. so
you may as well understand 1t and tell
Jhim. l shan't see him under any cir
cumstances. and I'm not going TO Florida
|or California or anywhere else I'm a pri-
|vate car no matter who chaperones IT,"
Certainly not. unless you want to-
certainly not" said the chaplain you
understand that I'm only giving you his
message. He thought II best"
Not TO write 10 me or to Sister There
pa!" interrupted the girl contemptuously.
P'what a clever man he is!'
And how unclever I ann said the
clergyman. laughing. well, l thank you
for giving me the opportunity TO present
his message"
She smiled. nodded and turned swiftly
howard the school. The chaplain looked
after her for few moments, then
walked away soberly toward the lake.
He was a young fellow, clean shaven and
dark. and with a pair Of shoulders that
gave me n twinge OF envy. l could not
yuess how great factor that vigorous
fgure was 10 be in my own affairs.
AS I swung down from the wall ana
walked toward Glenarm House, my
thoughts were not with the athletic chap
ain, but with the girl. whose youth was
reflected, marked by her short skirt,
The unconcern with which her hands were
Thrust into the pockets Of her coat, ana
The irresponsible tilt OF the tam-o shan
tsr There Is something iaunty. a sug-
rcstion Of spirit and Independence I'm "A
am o. -shanter. particularly red one. II
he red tam-o'- -shantcr expressed, 50 10
speak. the keynote of st. Agatha's, the
rnximity OF the school was not so pHd
thing after all.
In high humor and with n sharp appe-
ite, I went In 10 luncheon.
CHAPTER vi.
THE GIRL AND THE CANOB.
"The persimmons are of the place. SIT.
Mr. Glonarm was very fond Of the fruit
I had never seen persimmon before,
but WASH 1 In a mood for experiment. The
F~ost- broken rind was certainly forbid
hing, but the rich pulp brought sur
brise Of 10Y 90 my palate. Bates watched
ne with respectful satisfaction. His grav-
~ was I'm no degree diminished by the
resence OF a neat strip OF hesh-colored
eurt plaster over his right eye. faint
uggestion OF arnica hung In the air
This a quiet life." I remarked. wish
ne 10 give him an opportunity TO explain
Ne encounter Of the morning.
"You are quite right. sir. As your