The Irish standard., 1907-06-29

night I found her looking for Picker.
lngs notes in the passage at the Door
of Bewilderment!
She had lifted the lantern now, and
I was striving to touch the wax taper
to the wick, with imminent danger to
my bare fingers.
"They don't really light well when
the oils out" she observed, with an
exasperating air of wisdom
took 1t from her hand and shook
it close to my ear.
Eyes; of course, it's empty" NUT
tered disdainfu!ly, and threw it from
me.
ooh. Mr.. Glenarm!" she cried, turn.
ing away toward my grandfather.
/ heard his stick beating the rough
path several yards away. He was
Fastening toward Glenarm House.
II think Mr. Glenarm has gone
home"
ooh. that is toe pad." she ex.
claimed.
Thank you! He's probably at the
chapel by this time If you will per-
nit me-
Not at all!"
A man in the sixties should not
tax his arteries too severely. was
quite sure that my grandfather ran
up the chapel steps: could hear his
stick beating hurriedly on the stones.
"If you wish to go farther''-I be.
gan.
was indignant at my grandfather's
conduct; he had deliberately run off,
leaving me alone with young woman
whom I had resolved never to see
again.
Thank you; shall go hack now
was merely walking to the gate with
Mr. Glenarm. 1t is SO fine to have him
back again, so unbelevable!"
1t was just such polite murmur as
one might employ in speaking to an
old foe at friends table.
She listened moment for his step;
then, apparently satisfied. turned back
toward st. Agatlla's. I followed. I'M
certain, hesitating, marking her detin-
lte onward fight. From the folds of
her cloak stole the faint perfume Of
violets. The sight of her, the sound
of her voice, combined to create-and
to destroy!-a mood with every step.
was seeking some colorless thing
to say when she spoke over her Shout
der:
"You are very kind, but I am not
the least afraid, Mr.. Glenarm."
But there is something wish to
say to you, now that we have met. I
should like"
She slackened her step.
Yes"
Il am going away"
Eyes; of course; you are going
away"
Her tone implied that this was some.
thing that had been ordained from the
beginning of time, and did not mat
ter.
"And wish to say a word about
Mr.. Pickering" added.
She paused and faced me abruptly
We were at the edge of the wood
and the school lay quite near. She
caught the cloak closer about her and
gave her head little toss remem.
bered well, as a trick compelled by
| the vagaries of woman's headdress
II can't talk to you here. Mr.. Glen.
! arm; l had no intention of ever see
ing you again; but must say this to
| YOU"
"Those notes of Pickering's-I shall
ask Mr.. Glenarm to give them to you
as mark of esteem from me-
! She stepped backward as though l
had struck her.
You risked much for them-and
for him" l went on.
"Mr. Glenarm, l have no intention
of discussing that, or any other mat.
ter with YOU"
"It is better So"
But your accusations, the things
you imply, are unjust, infamous"
i, The quaver in her voice shook my
resolution to deal harshly with her.
IF had not myself been a wit.
ness" l began
Eyes; you have the conceit of your
own wisdom. I dare say"
But that challenge to follow you,
to break my pledge; my running away,
only to find that Pickering was close
at my heels; your visit to the tunnel
in search of those notes-don't you
know that those things were a blow
that hurt? You had been the spirit
of this woodland to me. Through all
these months, from the hour watch.
ed you paddle off into the sunset in
your canoe, the thought Of you made
the days brighter-steadied and cheer
ed me. and awakened ambitions that l
had Observation-Disclosures ago.
And this hideous struggle here-it
seems so idle, so worse than useless
now! But I'm glad followed you
I'm glad neither fortune nor duty kept
me back. And now want you to
know that Pickering shall not suffer
for anything that has happened l
shall not punish him; for your sake
| he shall 60 free"