The Montgomery advertiser., 1907-09-23
GABLES
THE HOUSE OF THE SEVEN G

1 world and we can be as iight-hearted as Phoebe herself
 My Godl What is to become of usr' | sobbed the old maid. Come. Let us go away said Clif- ford eve will leave this dreary old house. Comet Comet" M4
 Scarcely knowing what she did, Hep zibah threw a cloak over her and hold ing clinords hand went out Into the gathering groom. Guided by him. she knew only that she was on Q train speeding rapidly through the country. from the train to village station platform. Then the sud- den energy which had animated the poor man left him. You must take the lead now. Hepzebah," he said. shivering.
 ''Oh. God. our Father" calculated poor, gaunt Hepzibah. She paused q moment to consider what her prayer should be. ''oh, God. our Father. are we not Thy children? Have mercy upon us" 2}s
 The next afternoon when blooming Phoebe tripped out of the omnibus she saw crowd around the ancient por- tai of the House of Seven Gables. Vague murmurs ran through the gathering. Judge Pyncheon was missing. The au- thorities had been sent for. There was something fearful inside the old house. Holgrave opened the door to the scared girl
 what has happenedr she asked, eagerly. Where is Cousin Hepzibah7'
 Phoebe" replied Holgrave. sum mon all your fortitude, Judge Pyn- cheon is dead in wonder room. sitting under the portrait of the Colonel--and Clifford and Miss. Hepzibah have dis- appeared. Nay, it is not as you sus- pect; there has been no crime commit ted. The Judges death was 0 natural one and in accordance with the family idiosyncrasies. Clifford and his sister. startled at death so similar in all re- spects to the one which caused Cliff lords Imprisonment. lost their heads and have fled"
 sTf there has been no crime commit ted" replied Phoebe, why not throw open the doors? Call in the people to sec. The authorities will be here soon, any way
 T hoped, I prayed.r said Holgrave, that the fugitives might return first"
 ''No, no. Do not wait. Open the doors." commanded the girl. M
 Phoebe" said the young man sol- emnly, 'in all our lives there can never be another moment like this. Phoebe is it ali terror--nothing but terror2 Are you conscious of-no joy that makes this the only pcint of life worth liv- HE Aott
 Tt seems a sin to talk of joy at such a time" replied Phoebe, tremb- ling.
 But, Phoebe, this moment must not pass without the spoken word. I love you" exclaimed the photographer. Do you love nie2'
 You look into my heart" said she, letting her eyes fall. You know I love you"
 There were steps in the passage. It was Hepzibah.- who had returned. lead ing the now d0ciie Clifford
 The death of Judge Pyncheon changed to loud utterances rumors that had been whispered for years. Ills own death had been exactly like that of his uncle Jaffreys. people perceived Many of the Pyncheons had died fin this manner, from the old colonel down. suddenly. with hemorrhage from the throat. It was the blood old Wizard Maule had given the accursed race to drink.
 | old Jaffrey had caught his nephew of the same name. afterward the Judge, ransackiRg his papers. and he had died from the excitement. said all the town, putting into definite words at last the suspicion of many years. Then the