The Nezperce herald. (Nezperce, Idaho) 1900-1957, 1906-06-14


man. evidentiy--and extremely good e
look at. just now amusement strux'
sled with admiration In the ciear~enl
features, as be stepped forward anc
again held out his hand
Il PLEASE forgive me- he began, quite
as Qontritely as Ii he really were e
blame Il did not know-it was sc
insufferably stupid Of me- he
stopped. t'You are altogether charm
mg. said his eyes)
Annes face softened-
II am sure Or. NelNsn will lntercels
for me-" he went On. pursuing his adj
vantage.
Anne smiled. 'tDr. Nelson Is not az
home. ! am his daughter. she said
lsimply
Then We are already old friends, "
| declared the man eagerly, In camp
lasl September your father-but nrst
allow me TO present myself / am
| 'tMlsxah Re1aii. announced Johnson,
at the library door. bowling pompersiy
as he held aside the hangings 20 admit
a 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. glanesd
sharply at the newcomer. then stood
with most unreasonable sense OF
disappointment Anne advanced 10 well
come the new@rrival.
Father VIII be delighted. He has
counted SO on your coming-we were
quite distressed over your telegram.
SO glad you managed TO get here after
all" She forced herself TO the usual
conventionallties.
So this was John Rexall. this man
whom she instinctiyely dreaded-per-
haps Ii was the rfckerlug firellghr that
give thar shifting CLEAN 70 his eyes.
She touched a bell. "A light, john
son" she commanded. half nervously.
MIR. RexaH allow me 70 present
Her words tfatied of into amazed 81
ience. The room behind her was empty
door closing softly at the further end
where the erstwhile admirer had gone.
One O'Clock chlmed the tiny time
piece on the mantel Outside the sound
was repeated somewhere in the dis
lance to grayer. deeper tones Anne
shivered. Two hours had passed since
the household had settled into silence,
but so far no sleep had come 70 her
eyes, She had not even undressed. but
still sat upon the hearth rug In front OF
the frs la her coy bedroom. staring
into tie glowing Goals.
II was dreary waiting but some
vague fear had kept her awake. hop
ing nervously for her fathers return.
listening anxfously for the first sound
OF his horses hoofbeats on the gravel
outside. Indeed. IL he did not come
soon she had the horrible conviction
that she would scream In vain she
tried to reason IL away. sitting. her face
Ia her hands. her eyes on the clear
glowing Goals. What matter II she In
Atekr ed ha4
Their had found ccmpanlonableg Was
that such an extraordinary thing.
What II the man she had found con-
genlal--''for you know you did Ike
him. she said TO herself. even n you
did. Here her cheeks supported By /
the slim hands grew unaccountably hot.
What II this man had chosen TO take
his departure suddenly
Was that 80 stranger lie had come 1
TO see her father. and she herself told i
him that her father was not at home. I
But reason az she might. the vague 4
misgivtng remained
Al the sound Of the clock she shivered 4
and getting up from her iOwly 4
position she drew back the curtains q 4
her window. The storm had ceased,
and the snow lay lightly on branch and 4
wall: the night was brilliant with moon.
light. clear as day. fun Of hAllowed
softness-
She stood for q while. speIibound BY Il
the glory Of the scene before her. then i
turned again toward the fire. The
crocuses she had worn that evening In
her belt. now lying wiited on her dress
Ing table. caught her eye. II forgot 20
look at the fiowers--lf the fire dies down
the library VIII be too cold for them.
I win auend them now: anything a
better than waiting here"
She left her room and walked swiftly
along the hall. her soft slippers making
no sound on the floor.
As she reached the staircase a little
Of fear ran through her she
FASTENED her footsteps and ran hurried
IS along the lower hall, which was al
most as Hight as day. II was the eeris
10 the library did she notice a tiny
sieam OF light creeping from beneath
the dooF
johnson has left light for daddy"
she thought. going steadily on and de-
eidedly cheered BY the thought that
gloom did not await her.
Pushing open the door very gently.
she entered the room.
At first the light dazzied her sight.
5he advanced few steps. unconscious
slong, lest she would wake some men,
,er OF the household. and then. pass.
nK her hand over her eyes. looked leis-
rely up. The fire was nearly out She
urned her head, and then-then--she
Uttered faint scream and grasped the
laek OF a chair 70 steady herself
With his back to her-ali unaware Of