Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1907-08-29

vet her long black lashes were wet,
and clung to her cheek with an undried
tear.
Even Van Hoeck, if he could see
you now, poor child" said to myself.
"could not think ill Of you"
would not awake her; withdrew
the light until she was in shadow.
placed it on the table, fetched my
book, and seated myself where could
read and yet watch the sleeper. AS 1
did this, the clock in the belfry chimed
the half hour. l looked at my watch
and saw that it was 1890.
could not fix my attention upon the
book for some time, my mind being oc-
cupied with conjectures to account for
Lola's presence 1t fitted in with Van
Hoeck's theory and warning in some
respects, yet-possibly because my
Judgment was biased by sentiment
l could not believe she had come there
with any sinister intention. I was
rather disposed to think that she had
found solitude no longer, and had
sought this resting place to be near
the only friend she knew.
AS l pondered my eyes grew accus-
toned to the gloom, and I could see
dimly the girls face, her arms scarce
ly diStinguishablc against her dusky
camiSole. and the darker mass of her
red petticoat. She did not move. If
she had evaded her father, it is pOSsi.
bic that she had fatigued herself as
we'll as him. My heart was stirred
with pity, and l resolved that when
she awoke l would try. if she would
listen to me, to reason her out of her
savage isolation, and induce her to ac.
ccpt the Kindness that Edith longed to
bcstow upon her. l would not pur-
poSely awake her, for in sleep there
was the relative happiness of forget
fulness.
1t was past when I again began to
read. From time to time l looked
away from the page and assured my
self that she was still sleeping. And
so | sat watching and reading until
past 4 o'clock, when the light began
to fail, my eyes grew heavy. and un-
consciously fell asleep. was awoke
by my book falling from my hands to
the floor. The lamp was yet alight,
but burning 50 dimly that, looking 90.
wand the door, could see nothing. l
carried the lamp that way. Lola was
gone.
When we met at breakfast Edith
was in her customary bright and cheer
rul mood. Ecassured by her appear
ancc. Sir Edmund said, smiling:
"Well, my dear, has there been any
recurrence Of strange sounds and spec
tral sights during the night"
Yes" she answered; 'but they did
not frighten me, for knew it was
only poor Lola"
"Lolaw exclaimed.
81 had left light burning she
said: "the blinds were turned down
ward and the light shone upon them;
the tapping woke me. 1t was just the
same sound that heard before. While
| was looking at the blind before the
open window, the tapping stopped and
| saw q finger come down between the
! third and fourth laths from the bot
tom. and turn the third; after that the
finger slid in between the next two,
and turned the second. Then l saw
two lustrous black eyes looking
| through. Almost Immediately after
ward they disappeared. Don't DO
afraid. Lola l said, in a low voice.
Cor I feared if she were frightened she
might slip from that terribly narrow
ledge. l waited few minutes to give
her time to get back to the bay, If she
intended to-, and then I'drew up the
blind and looked out There was no
ono there, and the window In the hay
was as we left it last night-closed.'
"Are you sure it was Lola" l asked.
"Yes; they were her eyes,
"Do you know what time 1t was
when you saw herr" asked.
II can be sure of that, for in taking
nv watch from the stand, it fell,
breaking the glass and stopping the
hands, and very soon after that l
heard the clock strike"
/ She showed me the watch. The
minute hand was so bent that 1t could
not pass the hour hand; when l lifted
It the movement recommended proving
that the spring had not run down.
The hour marked by the hands was
five minutes to one.
"At five minutes to one Lola was
sleeping at my door," I said.