Lawrence democrat. (Lawrenceburg, Tenn.) 1884-1925, 1906-06-15

man. evldently-and extremely good to
look at. Just now amusement struE-
gled with admiration In the clear-eut
features, as he stepped forward and
again held out his hand.
PLEASE forgive me- he began. quite
as contritely as II he really were to
blame. IL did not know-lt was so
inHunerably stupid OF me" He
stopped. C'You are altogether charm
ing said his cyes.)
Anne's lace softened.
Il am sure DR.. Nelson win intercede
for me-" he went on, pursuing his adj
vantage.
Anne smiled. CDR. Nelson Is not at
home. I am his daughter" she said
simply.
"Then we are already old friends"
declared the man eagerly. I'm camp
last September your father-but first
allow me 10 present myself. / am"
"Mistah ReXall,' announced Johnson,
at the library door, bowling pOmpcrsly
as he held aside the hanglngs to admit
slender, dark-eyed man. who adj
vanced a step into the room and then
stood uncertainty In the dim light.
The surprise on Anne's face was
equaled by that of the man beside her.
He turned with a quick start, glanced
sharply at the newcomer, then stood
motionless In the shadow.
With a most unreasonable sense of
disappointment Anne advanced to well
come the new arrival.
Father win be delighted. He has
counted so on your coming-we were
quite distressed over your telegram.
So glad you managed 10 get here after
all" She forced herself to the usual
conventlonalities.
So this was John Rexall. this man
whom she instinctively dreaded-per-
haps It was the Pickering freight that
give that shifting CLEAN 10 his eyes.
She touched q bell. "A light, John
son." she commanded, half nervousiy.
"Mr. Rexall, allow me TO present"
Her words trailed Off into amazed sic
lence. The room behind her was empty.
A door closing softly at the further end
where the erstwhile admirer had gone.
One o'clock chimed the tiny time
piece on the mantel. Outside the sound
was repeated somewhere In the dis
lance to graver. deeper tones. Anne
shivered. Two hours had passed since
the household had settled into silence,
but so far no sleep had come to her
eyes. She had not even undressed. but
still sat upon the hearth rug in front of
the fire in her cozy bedroom, staring
into the glowing Goals.
1t was dreary waiting, but some
vague fear had kept her awake, hop
| ing nervously for her fathers return
listening anxiously for the first sound
Of his horses hoofbeats on the gravel
outside. Indeed, If he did not come
soon she had the horrible conviction
that she would scream. In vain she
tried to reason 1t away, sitting, her face
in her hands, her eyes on the clear
glowing Goals. What matter II she in
stinctively distrusted the man her ia
Their had found companlonable? Was
that such an extraordinary thing
What If the man she had found con.
genlal-"for you know you did like
him." she said to herself, "even If you
did" Here her cheeks supported by
the slim hands grew unaccountably hot
What If this man had chosen to take
his departure suddenly?
Was that so strange? He had come
to see her father, and she herself told
him that her father was not at home
But reason as she might, the vague
misgiving remained.
At the sound of the clock she shivere(
Slightly. and getting up from her lowly
position she drew back the curtains o
her window. The storm had ceased
and the snow lay lightly on branch ant
wall; the night was brilliant with moon
light, clear as day, full Of hallowe'
softness.
She stood for a while, spellbound b,
! the glory of the scene before her, thei
/, turned again toward the fire. TIL
| Ha haa AhoA ,
, her belt, now lying wilted on her dress
ing table, caught her eye. II forgot t
look at the fiowers-if the fire dies dow
: the library will be too cold for then
will attend them now; anything
: better than waiting here"
She left her room and walked swift
: along the hall, her soft slippers maxim
no sound on the floor.
AS she reached the staircase a littl
e sensation of fear ran through her; sh
' hastened her footsteps and ran hurried
ly along the lower hall, which was a.
: most as light as day. 1t was the eeri
t time of night. Not until she was clos
: to the library did she notice tin
I CLEAN Of light creeping from beneat
e the door.
I johnson has left light for daddy
she thought, going steadily on and d,
cidedly cheered by the thought the
u gloom did not await her.
Pushing open the door very gentl,
: she entered the room.
!, At first the light dazzled her sigh
She advanced few steps, unconscioul
Z ly treading lightly, as she had done a
along, lest she would wake some men
Der of the household, and then, pass
J, ing her hand over her eyes, looked lei
! urely up. The fire was nearly out. ST
turned her head, and then-then-sf
uttered a faint scream and grasped II
2 back of chair to steady herself.
With his back to her-all unaware