Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1907-07-19
. CHAPTER XVII.
A Vale of Tears,


reach the house several minutes be-
fore Miss Weston, and just in time to
see Miss Carney come out Of the
door and peer into the darkness in q
dmid, hesitating way.
"Oh, it's you Mr.. Ware" she q.
claimed, with nervous little laugh.
I am so glad. ! couldn't see who It
was at first, and I'm In such fdgety
state tonight that am almost ready
to start at my own shadow"
She came down the steps and stood
9 By my side, while the light from the
open doorway streamed out and
touched Der face so softly that It
poised IN the surrounding darkness
like some faint, angelic picture ideal.
i1ed by q masters hapa. a-~-
VI came out to try and find Annie"
she went on, she does not answer
when l rap at her door and thought
she might be here. My! what was
sthat?" she gasped, coming closer to
me and grasping my arm.
It was only an owl far away in the
timberland and, when | told her, she
laughed quietly but almost hysterical-
ly, and still chung to my side while we
listened to the weird, unearthly sound
that was waited again and again to
our ears from out of the blackness of
. the opposite river bank.
She shivered slightly and l said:
80 you are cold, Miss Carney. LIE me
. get you a wrap, and then, won't you
take little walk? There's a chill In
the air tonight and the exercise will
do you good"
She made no reply, but looked at
me gratefully, as if had done her
some great service There was warm
wooden golf cape just insid the door,
and, snatching it up, l fastened back
and threw it over her shoulders,
clasping it myself at her throat while
she drew her hands under it and
nestled comfortably in it's generous
folds.
We turned and walked slowly down
the path under the stars, away from
the house and with our backs to the
road along which l knew Miss Weston
would pass in another minute.
After few moments silence,
broken only by the drowsy splashing
of the river and the cheerful, friend
ly hum of the insect bands that make
BALI the charm of an October night
Miss Carney said, with contented
little shrug:
y. ooh, how delightfully."- warm and
comfortable this cloak is, Mr.. Ware.
You always seem to know exactly what
. ! need, for am not nervous any more
and really believe it was nothing but
the cold after all We mustn't go far,
for ought to be looking for Annie
this very minute. We can turn at the
tennis court, can't WEI"
whenever you WISH" | said, with
an effort, for l was becoming intoxi-
Gated with the glory of her presence
and her slightest hint served me as a
command.
u really must not stay a minute
longer she murmured, almost apollo
getically. Annie has had such hard
day of it and must see if there is any
thing she wants. l suppose she Is
asleep and did not hear me tap, for I've
looked everywhere for her and was
just going back to her room when |
saw you come out of the night like a
-like--a-Oh! l mustn't say ghost,
Mr.. Ware! It's no longer a joke, is
it,"
We HAD stopped at little rustic ar.
Dor by the side of the walk and nv
hand rested on the trellis in front of
Miss Carney. She did not speak, and
thought she was laughing softly to
herself when suddenly she leaned for
ward and hot tear fell on my wrist
and was followed by another and an.
other as she gave up entirely and
choked with convulsive sobs.
why, you mustn't do this" l ex.
claimed, solicitously, laying my hand
tnstinctively on her arm and then
drawing it away in guilty fashion.
You are completely unstrung, Miss
Carney. The day has been too much
or you, and you need rest and quiet.
Shall we 60 back into the house?
Not yet" she sobbed. Not yet, Mr..
Ware must not go until l have con.
troll OF myself again. Oh, it is aw.
j ful-awful! l don't know what |
shall do"
why, what is it?" asked anxious.
ly, as stood helplessly by her side.
You surely haven't let this little af.
fair Of the morning take such a hold
Of your"
oh, no-no-no-" she moaned. 81
am going to tell you in moment, lust
Is soon as l can talk coherently. You
viii forgive me, won't you, Mr.. Ware
but. there is no one else to whom l can
60, and yet / seem to do nothing but
take up your time with my trials and
Worriments"
led her out into the path again
thinking she would grow calmer as
We walked, and she said no more until
we were nearing the house, when
she resumed in a plaintiye tone
broken occasionally by a half-suppress