The news-democrat. (Providence, R.I.) 1906-1909, 1906-10-26
TIE NEWS DEMOCRATS DAILY STORY
To be published in daily instaments on this page
The House of a.
Thousand Candles
MEREDITH NICHOLSON
Copyright by
The Bobbs Merrill Company

OF didn't mean that don't care about
that! II was nothing more than / de-
served. These months here have changed
me Haven't you heard me say I was
going TO work?'
And l tried TO laugh away further dis
cussion OF my future.
1T will be more cheerful here in the
spring" he said, as though seeking an
inducement for me 10 remain when the
resort colony down here comes to life the
lake is really gay"
I shook my head. The lake. that pretty
cupful OF water. the dip and glide of a
certain canoe the remembrance OF red
tam -shanter merging afar of in an oc-
sober sunset-my purpose to leave the
place strengthened as thought or these
things. NV nerves were keyed TO break
ing pitch and turned upon him storm
lily. - 40. Tho otber per-
son who shared your confidence! Do you
understand-do you appreciate the i"''
that she was Pickering,s allyYs o,5,,,
~ certainly do not" he repneo Coluly
"rm surprised to hear you speak so or
"a woman whom you can scarcely Know
Yes, l know her; my COD, i nave ie
son 20 know her! But even when 1 rouhu
her out I did not dream that the plot
was as deem as II is. She knew that IL
"A
me into chickering's hands, / saw her only
a few nights ago down there In the tunnel
acting as his spy, looking Tor the iose
notes that she might gain grace in MS
ewes by turning them over TO hlm lou
know I always hated Pickerlng-he was
TOO smooth, TO SNUG and you ana every
bodv else were for ever praising him 10
me- He was always held up TO me as
model. and the first time i saw Marian
Devereux she was with him-it was at
sherry's the night before / came mere
s5ppose she reached st. Agathas only
few hours ahead of me-
yes. Sister Theresa was her guardian,
Her father was dear frlenu' anu = Nv
her from her early childhood. You are
mistaken. Jack Her knowing Pickering
means nothing-they both lived In New
York and moved in the same circle
"Rut II doesn't explain her efforts TO
helm him, does it?" I blazed. He wishcu
10 marry her-Sister Theresa told me that
and 7 failed I failed miserably TO Keep
my obligation here-l ran away 10 ioiio"
her." o,..
"Ah. to be sure! You were away Christ
mas Eve when those vandels broke III.
Bates merely mentioned II In the iast
report I got as 7 came throush NV
York That was all right. assumed OF
course. that you bad gone OF somewhere
10 get n little Christmas cheer' ooh
tdTt dnNlHlHt dbohN
But I followed her-I went 10 Clncin-
natl TO see her. She dared me TO come III
was a trick, part OF the conspiracy to
steal your property.
The old gentleman smiled. IL was
familiar way OF his. to grow calm rs
other people waxed angry.
she dared you TO come. did she. Ihat
is quite like Marian: but you didn't nave
TO go. did you Jack?"
"Of course not; OF course | didn't have
TO go. but
I stammered. faltered and ceased. Mem
ory threw open her portals with a chal-
lenge. / saw her on the stairway at the
Armstrong; heard her low, soft laugh
ter | felt the mockery OF her voice ana
eyes | knew again the exquisite delight
Of being near her. NV heart told me wen
enough why I had followed her.
"Jack. I'm glad I'm not buried up there
in that Vermont graveyard with nobody
20 exercise the right OF guardianship over
you. I've had my misgivings about you;
] used 10 think you were born tramp;
and you disappointed me In turning your
back on architecture-the noblest OF all
professions. but this performance or
yours really beats them all Don't YOU
know that a girl like Marian Devereux
isna likely 90 become the agent OF any
rsscal7 DO YOU really believe for a min
i. ute that che tempted you to follow her.