Waterbury evening Democrat., 1907-02-04
CHAPTER xxx. The Return of Marian Devereux.

mail some letters, and was staring out upon the park from the library window when he entered. Stoddard, having kept watch the night before, was at homo asleep, and Larry was of somewhere in the house treasure. hunting. I was feeling decidedly dis couraged over our failure to make any progress with our investigations, and Bates news did not interest me.
 We'll. what of it?" I demanded, without turning round.
 Nothing, sir; but Miss Devereux has come back"
 "Tte devil!''
 turned and took a step toward the door.
 T said Miss Devereux," he repeated in dignified rebuke She came up this morning, and the Sister left at cnce for Chicago. Sister Theresa de- bends particularly upon Miss Dever. eux,- -so I've heard, sir. Miss Devereux quite takes charge when the Sister goes away"
 You seem full of information, re- marked, taking another step toward my hat and coat.
 And I've learned something else. sir"
 "Well?"
 They all came together, sir.'
 'sWho came; will you tell me that?"
 Why, the people who've been trav- cling with MT. Pickering came back with him, and Miss Devereux came with them from Cincinnati. That's what l learned in the village. And MT. Pickering is going to stay"
 Pickering stay!"
 At cottage across the lake for a while. The reason is that he's worn out with his work, and wishes quiet. The other people went back to New York in the car"
 He's opened his summer cottage for January, has he?"
 Tt does seem the least bit odd, sir," replied Bates, moving away.
 had been blue enough without this news. Marian Devereux had come back to Annandale with Arthur Picker ing; my faith in her snapped like a reed at this astounding news. Being now entitled to my grandfather's prop erty she was losing no time in return ing. She and Pickering had discussed together at the Armstrongs' my flight from Annandale, and her return could have no other meaning than that there was strong tie between them, and that he was now to stay on the ground until should be dispossessed and her rights established. She had dared me to follow her, and my forfeiture had been sealed by that stolen interview ct the Armstrong;. It was black rec. ord, and the thought of 1t angered me against myself and the world.
 "Tell MT. Donovan that I've gone to St. Agatha's," said. and was soon striding toward the school
 A Sister admitted me- Somewhere in the building music lesson was in progress, and consigned the inventor of pianos to hideous torment as scales were pursued endlessly up and down the keys. Two girls passing through the hall made pretext of looking for . book and came in and exclaimed over their inability to find it with much suppressed giggling that added further to my rage.
 The piano pounding continued and l waited for what seemed an inter- minable time. It was growing dark and a maid brought lamps. I took book from the table. It was "The Life of Benvenuto Celhni" and Marian Dev. ereux was written on the fly leaf, by unmistakably the same hand that had penned the apology for Olivia's per formances. I saw in the clear, flowing lines of the signature, in their lack of superfuity. her own ease, grace and charm; and. in the deeper stroke with which the X" was crossed, I felt a challenge, 6 readiness to abide by con- sequences once her word was given. Then my own inclination to think well of her angered me, and dropped the book .mpatiently as she crossed the threshold.
 T am sorry to have kept you wait ing. Mir. Glenarm. Bu. this Is my busy hour"
 "r shall not detain you long. ' came" L hesitated. not knowing why ' had come.
 She took a chair near the open door and bent forward with an air of atten- tion that was disquietins. She wore black-perhaps to fit her the better into the house of somber Slsterhood. I seemed suddenly to remember her from time long gone, and the effcrt of memory threw me of guard. Stod- dard had said there were several Olivia Armstrongs; there were cer- tainly many Marian Devereuxs. The silence grew intolerable: she was wait ing for me to speak. and blurted:
 T suppose you have come to take charge of the property"
 Do your she asked.
 And you came back with the execu- tor to facilitate matters. I'm glad to zee that you lose no time.-
 -Oh," she said lingeringly. as though she were finding with difficulty the note in which I wished to pitch the conversation Her calmness was mad dening-
 T suppose you thought 1t unvise tc wait for the bluebird when you had be guiled ms into breaking a promise when I was trapped. defeated.-
 Her elbow on the arm of the chair her hand resting against her cheek