The Lake County times., 1907-02-09
CHAPTER XVI.
The PASSING OF Olivia.


It was from StOddard that | learned
the truth about Olivia. and l am not,
l fear, greatly ashamed Of hiving in.
vited him to dinner merely to pump
him as to the Armstrong; of Cincin-
natl and their daughter. Olivias
father, Stoddard informed me, was a
retired physician of wealth, who lived
great roars of laughter that broke
from him as I kept protesting that the
girl in gray l had seen at the An
nandale station was Olivia GLADYS
Armstrong. 1t was only when we set
tied down to a comparison Of our i'm
pressions that the truth gradually
dawned upon me-that the girl in
gray was not Olivia Gladys Arm.
strong but Marian Devereux. The
whole thing was ridiculous-my den
sity, my stupid acceptance of the
ground on which Marian Devereux
had chosen to meet me; and was not
convinced until the big chaplain had
given me a circumstantial description
Of the real Olivia child of IS, with
a gypsy face and dark hair and eyes
Where has Miss Devereux gone o"
why. to Cincinnati, with Olivia
Gladys Armstrong" he answered
"They's great chums, you know"
On top of my mail next morning lay
a small envelope, unstamped, and ad.
dressed to me in free running hand
Ferguson, the gardner, left it." ex-
planned Bates.
l opened and read:
"If convenient will Mr.. Glenarm
kindly look In at st. Ag~tha's some
day this week at four O'Clock. Sister
Theresa wishes to see him
I whistled softly. My feelings to-
ward Sister Theresa had been those
of utter repugnance and antagonism.
I had been avoiding her studiously and
was not a little surprised that she
should seek an interview with me.
Quite possibly she wished to inquire
how soon | expected to abandon Glen
arm House; or perhaps she wished to
admonish me as to the perils Of my
soul. IN any event I liked the quality
of her note and | was curious to know
why she sent for me; moreover, Ma
rian Devereux was her niece and this
knowledge had changed my attitude
toward the institution beyond the
wall
At four o'clock I passed into St
Agatha's territory and rang the bell at
the door of the building where l had
left Olivia the evening I found her In
the chapel. A Sister admitted me. led
the way to small reception room
where. l imagined, the visiting parent
was received, and left me. l felt q
/ good deal like a school boy who has
been summoned before a severe mas
ter for discipline l was idly beating
my hat with my gloves when quick
step sounded in the hall and instantly
a brown-clad figure appeared in the
doorway.
/ 1t was a deep, rich voice, q voice oi
assurance, a voice, let me say, of the
world-the voice, too, I may add, of
I woman who is likely to come to the
point without ado The white banc
at her forehead brought into relief
two wonderful gray eyes that were
alight with kindliness She surveyed
me a moment, then her lips parted
with smile.
This room is rather forbidding; L
you will come with ne"
She turned with an air of authority
that was a part of her undeniable dis
tinction. and I was seated momen
later in a pretty sitting room whose
windows gave a view of the dark win
ter wood and frozen lake beyond.
I'm afraid, Mr.. Glenarm, that yo'
are not disposed to be neighborly, ant
you must pardon me If l seem to b.
pursuing you"
Her smile.- her voice, her manne
were charming. I had pictured her 1
sour old woman, who had hidden ava,
from a world that had offered her NJ
pleasure
The apologies must all be on m.
side, Sister Theresa. l have beer
greatly occupied since coming here
distressed and perplexed, even.
Our young ladies treasure the illu
sion that there are ghosts in you
house." she said. with a smile tha
disposed of the matter.
She folded her slim white hand