Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1907-06-27
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CHAPTER Xxx.
The Return Of Marian Devereux.
"Siater Theresa has left air.n

Bates had been into Annandale to
mail some letters, and was staring
|out upon tho park from tho library
window when he entered. Stoddard,
having kept watch the night before,
was at home asleep, and Larry was
of somewhere In the house treasure.
hunting, WIS feeling decidedly dis.
eouraged over our failure TO make any
progress with our Investigations. and
Bates news did not interest me,
well, what Of IT," l demanded,
without turning round.
Nothing sir; but Miss Devereux
has come bsck!"
Tho DEVIL"
turned and took a step toward the
door.
Il said Miss Devereux." he repeated
in dignif1ed rebuke. "She came up
this morning. and the Sister left at
once for Chicago. Sister Theresa de-
ponds 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"
who came; will you tell me that"
Why, the people whove been trav-
cling with Mr.. Pickering came back
with him, and Miss Devereux came
with them from Cincinnati. That's
what learned in the village. And Mr.,
Pickering is going to stay"
Pickering stay"
AT a 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?'
1T 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 Armstrong; my flight
from Annandale, and her return could
have no other meaning than that there
was a strong tie between them, and
that he was now to stay on the ground
until should be dispossessed and hel
rights established She had dared ms
to follow her. and my forfeiture hao
been sealed by that stolen interview
at the Armstrong;. It was a black rec
ord. and the thought of it angered me
against myself and the world.
Tell Mr.. Donovan that I've gone t
st. Agatha's," | said, and | was soor
striding toward the school.
A Sister admitted me. Somewhere
IN the building music lesson was II
progress, and consigned the invento,
OF pianos to hideous torment as scale.
were pursued endlessly up and dowr
the keys. Two girls passing through
the hall made a pIeteXt of looking fo
a book and came in and exclaimed
over their inability to find it witt
much suppressed giggling that addet
further to my rage.
The piano pounding continued and
waited for what seemed an inter
minabe time 1t was growing darl
and a maid brought lamps. l took
book from the table. 1t was The Lift
of Benvenuto Celhni" and Marian Dey
ereux was written on the fly leaf, b.
Enthusiastically tho same hand that ha
penned the apology for Olivia's pei
formances. ] saw in the clear flowin
lines Of the signature, in their lack O
superfuty her own ease, grace an
charm; and, in the deeper stroke wit
which the *" was crossed, felt
challenge. a readiness to abide by cor
sequences once her word was giveI
Then my own inclination to think we
OF her angered me. and I dropped tn
book impatiently as she crossed tn
threshold
Il am sorry to have kept you wal
ing, Mr. Glenarm. But this is my bus
hour"
Il shall not detain you long. came
II hesitated, not knowing why ha
rome.
She took a chair near the open doc
and bent forward with an air of after
ton that was disquieting. She wor
black-perhaps to fit her the bette
into the house Of somber Slsterhoo
I seemed suddenly to remember hi
from time long gone, and the effo
Of memory threw me off guard Sto
dard had said there were sever
Olivia Armstrong;; there were ce
tainly many Marian Devereuxs. TT
silence grew intolerable; she was wal
ing for me to speak, and blurted;
Il suppose you have come to tai
charge of the property
do you?" she asked.
'sAnd you came back with the exec
tor to facilitate matters. I'm glad
see that you lose no time"
oh" she said lingeringly, as thous
she were finding with difficulty Il
note In which | wished to pitch Il
conversation. Her calmness was ma
dening.
II suppose you thought 1t unwise
walt for the bluebird when you had b
guiled me into breaking promis
At AA