The Irish standard., 1907-05-11

shortly. and we wished to anticipate
his movements as far as possible.
CHAPTER Xxx.
The Return of Marian Devereux,
Sister Theresa has left, sir"
Bates had been into Annandale to
mail some letters, and l was staring
out upon the park from the 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. 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"
The DEVIL"
turned and took a step toward the
door.
81 said Miss Devereux," he repeated
in dignified rebuke. She came up
once for Chicago. Sister Theresa de.
Ponds particularly upon Miss Dever.
evx.-so I've heard, sir. Miss Devere,x
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 who've been trav,
cling with MIR. Pickering came back
with him, and Miss Devereux came
with them from Cincinnati. That
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?"
ut 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 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
at the Armstrong;. 1t was black rec
ord, and the thought of it angered me
against myself and the world.
Tell Mr.. Donovan that I've gone tc
st. Agatha's." said, and was soon
striding toward the school.
A Sister admitted me- Somewhere
IN the building a 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 TO,
s. book and came in and exclaimed
over their inability to find it with
much suppressed giggling that added
further to my rage.
Tho piano pounding continued and
waited for what seemed an inter
minable time. 1t was growing dark
and maid brought lamps. took a
book from the table. 1t was THE Life
of Benvenuto Celllni" and Marian Dew
ereux was written on the fly leaf, by
Enthusiastically the same hand that had
penned the apology for Olivia's per
formances. saw In the clear, flowing
lines Of the signature, in their lack Of
supcrhuity, her own ease, grace and
charm; and. in the deeper stroke with
which the tx" was crossed, l felt g
challenge, readiness to abide by con
sequences once her word was given
| Then my own inclination to think well
OF her angered me, and l dropped the
book impatiently as she crossed the
| threshold.
Il am sorry to have kept you wait
Ing, Mr.. Glenarm. But this is my busy
hour"
Il shall not detain you long. came, u
II hesitated, not knowing why had
| come.
She took q chair near the open doc,
and bent forward with an air of atten
ton that was disquletlng. She wore
black-perhaps to At her the bette.
into the house OF a somber Syste~hood
ITO no copt,nvoa,