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

more gratifying TO her savage disposi-
tion than to take away the diamond
that has created this difference be-
tween you and her, and to reduce you
once more to her level? 1t is the only
hope she can have Of getting you away
from Miss Lascelles, and restoring the
former condition of equality upon
which your companionship with her
rested"
Again 1 was compelled to admit the
force Of Van Hoeck's argument.
But why" I asked, "should Brace
trust such a perilous undertaking to
his daughter?"
"For an obvious reason" he replied
"If you caught her in the act OF rob.
bing, you should not raise your hand
against her; If you caught him. you
would blow his brains out. For her
you would find excuse; for him none."
In this there was truth also.
"Talking of that" he continued.
"what arms do you keep about you for
defense?
None" I replied.
81 thought So Take this" he said.
drawing a long clasp knife from his
breast pocket.
He showed the spring with which
the narrow blade opened, and the
catch which locked it Mt the back Of
the horn handle, ana made me prom.
ise to use 1t for my defense. no mat
ter who attacked me. l also prom
ised to close my window, which l hab.
itually kept open at night, aud to So
cure the fastening Of that as well as
the door before going to bed. Finally,
he exacted that l should once more
inclose the Hesper in the leather case
and strap it to my wrist the last thing
at night.
The Judge did not return until dusk.
Tie was fatigucd, and his general ap'
pearance indicated pursuit through
rough and thoTny ways.
II hev seen the Kid" he said; "but
she would not listen to reason; ana
not being Altered of spiling her clothes
she naturally got the best Of the argu-
ment and played 1t low down on her
father"
He advocated starving her into bet
ter behavior, and would have had the
door closed to cut off her communca-
tion with the dairy, but Miss Lasccllcs
would not listen to this; she would not
Weld to fear, and declined to change
her room or alter her ordinary hab'
itulcS.
We separated n little before II. Tho
night was close and stnffy. | had no
inclination to go to bed, especially as
had given Van Hoeck my word to
close the window beforehand.
There was reading lamp in my
room. lit it, put out the candle and
seated myself in a comfortable chalr
with a book Not sound was to be
heard after the clock struck IL. read
on without moving from my chair un-
til T.. From time TO time | had taken
my eyes from the book and listened
intently-not in anticipation of hearing
the mysterious tapping at my own VIM
dow, but in apprehension of its be-
ing repeated upon Edith's-and as the
last stroke of midnight reverbcrated
through the still night | closed my
book and listened again. The silence
without was so complete that the burn
ing of the oil in the lamp at my side
was distinctly audible.
At that moment | heard board
creak. 1t was so slight sound that.
had my attention been fixed upon the
book, | should not have noticed 1t. \
could not tell where it came from; |
was not sure that it was not from the
foor under my foot as ! changed my
position. Instinctively | looked to-
ward the window. | could see nothing
beyond the circle Of light reflected by
tie lamp shade. 1t was also too alb.
surd to take the lamp to the window
there was no board there to creak. l.
waited some minutes, and there being
no repetition of the sound. | reopened
my book, but paused with my finger
On the page to listen once more. A
shuddering sigh. like that of child
who is crying itself to sleep, reached
any ear.
went to the window, drew up the
blind softly, and looked out; for the
sound had seemed to come from dis
tance. and I thought 1t might be the
hutter of leaves in breeze. But the
night was unchanged-heavy and still,
the moon obscured, and a thin gray
veil or mist hanging over the lawn, as
Edith had seen it the night before. l
opened the door noiselessly All was
dark. / could see only the mullion of
the bay standing cut vaguely against
the grayness. listened. All night
heavy curtains were drawn across the
head of the corridor, shutting it Off
from the passage upon which 1t abut-
ted at right angles; nevertheless, l
could hear the stentOrous breathing or
the Judge or Van Hoeck from the
rooms beyond. l am sure that the
sound | had heard was not imaginary,
and determined, If possible. to discoV-
er the cause. l went back to the ta-
BILE and fetched the lamp.
had turned to where I stood by the
door, when my eyes fell upon some
thing lying at the threshold. Another
step and / should have put my foot
dpon it.
In steadying the shade, my left hand
screened the light as l withdrew 1t
/ saw that the object at my feet was
Lola!
She had curled herself upon the mat
within the embrasure of the door. Her
face was toward me, and pillowed up