The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1907-09-21
just heard from Godensky, pravca
To see him waiting for mn go


Just heard from Godensky, / prayca
TO see him waiting for me.
Nobody Except Ivor, concerning
Whom I'd given orders) would be lef
III so late al night, during my absence,
not even Raoul himself; so IL he mad
come to reproach me, or break with
me. lie would have to stand outside t,,o
locked gate till I appeared. r looked
for him longinEly, but he was moi
there. There was. to be sure a rnot,t
brougliam In the street, for a wonder
empty as a desert, after eleven o'clock),
but a girls face peered out at me-
from the window--an inpish. curious.y
abnormal little face 1t was--extin.
gushing the spark OF hope that sprang
to life as caught sight of the car.
sriaEe.
It was standing before the closed
gate OF house almost opposite mira
and the girl seemed somewhat inter-
ested in me: but was not at all n.
tercsted IN her, and hate being stared
at as If l were something In rnu-
scum.
I The gate is always kept locked a:
night, when I'm at the theatre; but
Marianne has the key, and we let our
selves in when we come. for only old
Henri Sits UP. and he is growing q
little deaf. A moment and we ZERO
inside. the chauffeur spinning away 10
the garage.
| Usually, am newly delighted every
night with my quaint old house and
Its small tut pretty garden. to which
IL seems delightful TO come after hours
or hard work at the theatre. But to-
night, though cheerful light shona
out from between the drawn curtains
of the salon. the place looked mex
pressbly dreary. even forbilding. to
me. ] felt that hated the house.
though / had chosen it after long
search for peacefulness and privacy.
How gloomy, how dead, was the .treet
beyond the high wall. with all ~ win
dows closed like the eyes OF co: 7es.
| There was a moist. depressing smell
OF earth, after long-continued rains. in
the garden. No wonder the place had
been to let at bargain Tor ,ong
term! There had been a murder In
1T once, and II had stood empty for
twelve or thirteen of the fifteen years
| since the almost forgotten tragedy.
had been the tenant for two years
now--beforc ] became n star with 4
theatre of my own in Paris. I had
| had no fear of the ghost said to haunt
this house. Indeed. Remembered think
! ing and saying,athat tue story only
r.iade the place more interesting. But
now / said TO myself that wis..ed l
4 had never spoken so lightly. Perhaps
| the ghost had brought me bad luck.
/ felt as X the murder must have hap
| pened on Just such still, brooding.
| damp night AS this. Maybe II was
/ the anniversary. If / only knew.
4 I went in doors. Marianne following.
! Henri, very thin. very preciss, withered
/ like winter apple, had fallen into
/ doze in the hall. where he had sat.
/ hoping TO hear the stopping of my
L E -yr-~ al
! blinking just he had done often
before, and would often aEain-if lise
/ were TO go on for me in the old way.
L He regretted not having lizard lade-
| r,olsellc. Would Mademoiss!le take,
4 supper?
1 No. Mademoisele would not take
| supper. She wanted nothing, and
/! Henri might go TO bed. THANK
| Mademoiselle. When hive Closed taa
house."
But, / don't want the house closed"
tx said. Il shall sit up for while. It's
! bot--clpse and stuffy- i may want tho
4 windows open"
i "The visitor Mademoisellc expected
/ did not arrive. Perhaps--
4.1f he comes, Marianne or ] VIII
4 let him In. But he may not come, now
LIT Is so late"
4 When Henri had gone, l told Ma
i rianne that she might so. too. did
i not want her to wait. II the person
4 had expected should call, 1t was n
i very old friend: in fact. Mr.. 1vor Dui,-
4 das, whom Marianne must remember In
#l.London. He was to calf he did
i csll.-only on a matter of business
/ which would take but a few min ites
to get through. and possibly he would
Il not even come into the house. II tie
/ gate-bell rang, ] would answer 1t my
Il self, and speak with Mr.. Dundas, per-
Il haps lin the garden. Then would let
4 him out and com estraiGht upstairs.
4 Marianne might goto bed l. she liked.
81 do not like, unless Mademoiselie
!. particularly desires me to do So. said
. she. II do not rest we'll when | have
!. not been allowed to undress Made
hoiselle."
..St up then. In your own room, and
!, wait there for me till 1 ring for YOU,
], replied. 81 shan't be late. whether
Mr.. Dundas comes or doesn't come;
/ .'Supposing the gate-bell should ring.
!; and Mademoiselle should 60. yet u
Il, should not be the Monsieur she EXPECTS.
!, but another person whom she would
not wish to admit?" e g
. knew of what she was thinking
:. and Of whom.
4rhere's no fear of that. No lear
!, of any kind" answered
She took off my cloak, and went up,
stairs reluctantly, carrying my JSW o'
box. 81,
IL walked into the drawinE-room.
/, which was lighted, and looked very
i. bright and charming with its many
II flowers and framed photographs, ana
! the delightful Louis Quinze furniture
+ (which I had SO enjoyed picking up here
and there at antique shops or at prl-
A vate sales
I flung myself on the sofa, hut
: could not rest. In moment was &up
/, again, moving about, looking at the
! clock comparing it with my watch,
! wondering what could have happe..e.d
a 10 make Ivors fail in keeping Ills
: promise to be prompt at. the hour OF
twelve. M
Q no be Continued Monday0