The news-democrat. (Providence, R.I.) 1906-1909, 1906-10-10
THE NEWS DEMOCRATS DAILY STORY
The House of a
Thousand Candles
MEREDITH NICHOLSON
Copyright by
The Bobbs Merrill Company

He placed before me a note bearing the
same date as my own. IL was n sharp re-
buke OF Bates for his failure to report
absence. and he was ordered 10 prepare
TO leave on the first of February. CLOSE
your accounts at the shopkeepers and
will audit your bills on my arrival"
The tone was peremptory and con-
temptuous. Bates had failed to satisfy
Pickering and was flung off like a smok-
ed-out cigar.
How much had he allowed you for ex-
penses, Bates?'
He met my gaze imperturbably.
He paid me fifty dollars a month as
wages, sir. and l was allowed seventy
five for other expenses"
but you didn't buy English pheasants
and champagne on that allowance"
He was carrying away the coffee tray
and his eyes wandered to the windows
mot quite. sir. You see"
"But don't see!'
1T had occurred to me that as Mr.
Pickering's allowance wasn't what you
might call generous 1t was better to aug
ment tt Well. sir, I took the liberty of
advancing a trifle, as you might say. to
the estate. Your grandfather would not
have had you starve, SIR
He left hurriedly, Is though to escape
from the consequences OF his words and
when / came to myself Larry was gloom
Larry Donovan, I've been tempted 10
kill that fellow dozen times! This thing
is too damned complicated for me.
wish my lamented grandfather had left
ne something easy. T> think OF it
that fellow. after my treatment Of him
my cursing and abusing him since came
herel Great Scott man, I've been en-
joying his bounty. I've been living on his
money, And all the time he's been trust
ing In me. just because Of his dog like
devotion TO my erandfathers memory.
Lord, I can't face the fellow again.
~-"As / have said before you're rather
lacking at times in perspicaelty. Your
Intelligence Is marred by large opaque
spots. Now that there's a woman in the
case you're less sane than ever. Bah,
these women! And now we've got TO go
TO work"
Bah these women! My own heart
caught the words. was enraged and Bit
ter. No wonder she had Oeen anxious for
me to avoid Pickering after daring me TO
follow her!
We called a council Of war for that
night that we might view matters In
the light OF Pickering's letter. His as
suredness in ordering me TO leave made
prompt and decisive action necessary on
my part I summoned Stoddard TO our
conference. feeling conndent OF his friend
Illness
"Of course" said the broad shouldered
chaplain. "if YOU could show that your
absence was on business OF very grave
Importance. the courts might construe In
that you had not really violated the VIII.
Larry looked at the ceiling and blew
rings OF smoke angudly. | had not dis
closed TO either OF them the cause OF my
absence. on such matter l knew |
should get precious little sympathy from
Larry. and had moreover. feeling that
could not discuss Marian DevereuN with
any one; / even shrank from mentioning
her name. though Il rang like the call
OF bugles I'm my blood.
She was always before me-the charm l.
ed spirit Of youth. linked 10 every foot OF
the earth, every gleam OF the sun upon
the e-bound lake. every glory OF the
winter sunset. All the good impulses ]
Ind ever -stlned were quickened 20 life
by the thought Of her Amid the days
perplexites | started sometimes. thinking
I heard her voice her girlish laughter.
or saw her again coming toward me down
the stairs. or holding against the light
her fan with its golden butterflies
really knew so little OF her. could as
sociate her with no home. only with that
last fling Of the autumn upon the lake.
the snow driven woodland. that twilight
hour at the organ in the chapel those
stolen moments AZ the Armstrong;: I
resented the pressure of the hours af-
fairs. and chafed at the necessity for talk