Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-03-10


At the sound of the clock she shivered
slightly, and getting up from her lowly
position. she drew back the curtains Of ner
window. The storm had ceased and the
snow lay lightly on branch and wall; the
night was brilliant with moonlight. clear
as day. fun of hallowed softness.
She stood for a while. speiibound by the
glory of the scene before her, then turned
again toward the fire. The crocusas she
had worn that evening in her belt, now
lying wiIted on her dressing table, caught
her eye. Il forgot to look at the flowers
if the FIRE dies down the library will be too
cold for them. / will attend them now;
anything is better than waiting here
She left her room and walked swiftly
along the hall, her soft slippers making no
sound on the polished floor.
A. she reached the staircase little sensa-
ton of fear ran through her; she fastened
her footsteps and ran hurriedly along the
lower hail. which was almost as light as
day. Not until she was close to the library
did she notice tiny CLEAN of light creep
ing from beneath the door
johnson has left light for daddy" she
thought, going steadily on and decidedly
cheered by the thought that gloom did not
await her.
Pushing open the door very gently she
entered the room.
At first the light dazzled her sight. She
advanced a few steps unconsciously tread
ing lightly. as she had done all along lest
she should wake some member of the house
hold. and then, passing her hand over her
eyes. looked leisurely up. The fire was
nearly out. She turned her head, and then
-then-she uttered a faint scream and
grasped the back of a chair to steady her
self
With his back to her-all unaware of her
entrance-a bull s-eye lantern throwing its
powerful rays on the floor beside him
knelt the late arrival-her fathers friend
before her fathers safe
Facing her, beside a window, from whose
curta.ned recesses he had evidently just
stepped, covering the other with the point
of a cleaning pistol-barrel, stood her name
less cavalier of the early evening. His eyes
bright and steady, were immovably fast
ened on the man before him.
Hands uDi' he said.
An inarticulate sound came from the
other mans throat; his face grew livid.
He flung up his hands palm outward.
who the devil are your he cried, be-
tween his teeth. His eyes were fixed with
deadly hatred upon his foe.
For moment no sound but that of the
falling embers of the dying fire disturbed
the stiffness that reigned within the IL
brary.
ing wildly, wondering what the end would
be. Then, suddenly the silence was broken
by the distant sound of horses hoofs COM
ing nearer. noise of wheels on the gravel
outside, quick-spoken order to the driver,
and some one came along the porch. through
the hall and into the room. Anne gave
quick little cry of relief and joy Daddy
she cried.
He stopped in amazement, looking from
the men to Anne, and then from Anne back
to the men. The nameleSs one did not relax
his vigil. He Yves rather pale, but perfectly
self-possessed, and kept his eyes on the
man before him, but at Anne's glad cry of
Daddy a slight smile crossed his face.
Then suddenly, Unexpectedly, across the
grim quiet of that awful silence came an
unmistakable chuckle, and the doctors
voice.
Nothing surprising. I warned you things
were pretty lively herein March"
The day, begun so strenuously, was fast
drawing to an end. The shadows closed
softly in on the white world outside; inside
the bright light of the great pine fire
streamed cheerily over the room.
Anne tucked herself comfortably in one
corner of the huge Davenport. IF this
thing keeps up much longer" she an
nounced dramatically, Il shall lose my
voice"
"As bad as that?" laughed John Rexall.
Every bit. This last narrowing recital
to Tom makes the third since luncheon,
Il can understand" she went on, reflect
lively. that that man might have gotten
hold of your telegram in some way, either
at the station on the road, and SO dis
covered that you were expected and de-
ldySO, anu III lildL way COHCelNeu Inc luSd
of impersonating you That part is clear
enough But what l cannot understand is
how he knew we did not know you by
sight"
His face was familiar I have seen him
somewhere before. Probably he was hang
ing around the camp last fall and judged l
would know only the doctor. He had to
take some rsks-probably conceived the
whole Idea at once when he saw the doctor
leave. Sort of spontaneous inspiration, as
ii were
His weak point was In not knowing you
had come"
He did not know 1t at first. fancy he
had a fairly clear idea of my presence later
In the game
but If he"
Never mind him now" he pleaded by
your own statement you in danger of
losing your voice over him; and / want you
to save your voice" he continued softly,
''for better purposes"
Anne looked up at him. ''Yes?' she
cueried.
Il want you to save It to talk to me-to
promise me something he went on, earn
estly.
wave Of delicate color dyed Anne's face
from brow to chin. Her eyes fell before the
light in his. And that promise"
ITO let me know you better-to write to
me. Then, perhaps, next year, when the
crocuses come again, you'll promise me
more-when you know me-"
His face was very grave.
We'll, perhaps"-Annes dimpIes showed
in sudden mischief-'in March, she added.
When the crocuses come In March-again."