The news-democrat. (Providence, R.I.) 1906-1909, 1906-08-30
THE NEWS DEMOCRATS DAILY STORY
To be published in daily instalments on this page
The House of a
Thousand Candles
MEREDITH NICHOLSON
MEREDITH NICHOLSON
Copyright by
Che Bobbs Merrill Company
CHAPTER w.

he was out OF patience with Bates. with
Fess ,.Ss S,n,iSess woodland, and, must con-
'Ienarm, my grandfather
aeae 0"lle out presently upon gravelly
flanking. 'peu su"ue' vi
This is the Glenarm dock. sir. and
mats the boathouse."
ne waved his lantern toward a low
1ueture that rose dark beside us. As
argSt Sent Sdmrd RseTnS out out int into It the
anoe. -
It's boat. sir" whispered Bates.
lding the lantern under his coat
| brushed past him and crept to the end
the dock. The paddle dipped on silent
and evenly In the still water but the
ound grew fainter A canoe is the most
racefp4 the most sensitive, the most in
Kpicable contrivance OF man. With its
addle you may dip UP stars along quiet
nores or steal into the very harbor OF
reams. l knew that furtive splash in
anty, and knew that n trained hand
ielded the paddle. My boyhood sum
ers in the Maine woods were not I fire.
lently find, wholly wasted.
The owner OF the canoe had evidently
olen close 10 the Glenarm dock. and
hd made off when alarmed by the noise
our approach through the wood.
Have you n boat here?"
The boat-house is locked and haven't
e key with me. sir" he replied without
kcitement.
"Of course you haven't it," I snapped
II OF anger at his tone of irreproach-
de respect and my own helplessness.
had not even seen the place by day
Eht, and the woodland behind me and
Ike at my feet were things OF shadow
d mystery. In my rage l stamped my
OF.
Lead the way back" roared.
had turned toward the woodland
hen suddenly there stole across the
nter volce-a woman's voice, deep,
lsical and deliberate.
Really ! shouldn't be so angry IL
pre- you!" IL said. with lingering note
the word angry
who are you? What are you doing
ere?" l bawled.
Just enjoying little tranquil
FAR out upon the water heard the dip
d glide OF the canoe. and saw family
outline for a moment: tn6n TT WAS
ne The lake, the surrounding wood.
re an unknown world-the canoe. a
az OF dreams. Then again came the
ce:
Good night. merry gentlemenr
II was a lady sir" remarked Bates,
er we had waited silently for a full
mute.
How clever you arev' I sneered. II
bpose ladies prowl about here at night,
boting ducks or into peoples houses -
IT would seem quite likely, sir"
should have liked TO cast him into
lake, but he was already moving
ay. the lantern swinging at his side. |
owed him back through the woodland
the house.
~ spirits quickly responded TO the
ering influence OF the great library.
TIRED the fire on the hearth Into life
sat down before IL. tired from my
mp I was mystihed and perple Sed
the incident that had already mark
my coming. IL was possible, 10 be
uh
sed my head I'm the little din Ing
m had been a wild shot that car1 ed
evil intent dismissed at once the
that Il might have been fred from
lake; II had crashed through the
ss with too much force 10 have come
far: and. moreover. / could hardly
yine even balls fndinR an
mpeded right OF way through so
se a strip Of wood. ! found ~ DIM
to get rid OF the idea that somo
had taken a pot-shot at me.
he woman's mocking voice from the
added 90 my perplexity u was
I reflected, such a voice as one
ht expect TO hear from country
nor could I imagine any errand
would excuse a womnn's presence
,ad on an October night whose cool
inspired FIRST condolences with IRE
lamp. There was something haunt
I'm that last cry across the water:
ept repeating itself over and over
Y ears. II was a voice Of quality.
reeding and charm
;ood night. merry gentlemen
Indiana. I reflected, rustics, young
lA men or women. were probably
Greatly given 20 salutations OF tust
temper.
tes now appeared.
leg pardon. sir: but your rooms