The Delta independent. [volume] (Delta, Colo.) 1886-19??, 1907-09-06
THE HOUSE OF
A THOUSAND
CANDLES
BY MEREDITH NICHOLSON
Author Of THE MAIN CHANCE" ZELDA
DAMER0k." Etc.
CHAPTER xIx.-Continued.
Copyright 1905 by Bobbs-Merrill Co.

Tut! They don't all marry the sons
of brewers" retorted. You assured
me once, while your affair with that
Irish girl was on. that the short upper
lip made Heaven seem possible, but
unnecessary; then the next thing l
knew she had shaken you for the
bloated maltster. Take that for your
impertinence. But perhaps it was
Bates?"
l did not wait for an answer. l was
not in a mood for reflection or nice dis
tinctions. The man came in just then
with fresh plate of toast.
Bates, Mr.. Pickering has learned
that was away from the house on the
night of the attack, and I'm ordered off
for having broken my agreement to
stay here. How do you suppose he
heard of it so promptly"
From Morgan, quite possibly. l
have letter from Mr.. Pickering my
self this morning. Just moment,
sir"
He placed before me a note bearing
the same date as my own. 1t was
sharp rebuke of Bates for his failure
to report my absence promptly by
wire, and he was ordered to prepare to
leave on the first of February. CLOSE
your accounts at the shopkeepers' and
l will audit your bills on my arrival"
The tone was peremptory and con-
temptuous. Bates had failed to satisfy
Pickering and was flung of like a
smoked-out cigar.
How much had he allowed you for
expenses, Bates?"
He met my gaze imperturably.
He pays me $50 a month as wages,
sir, and | am allowed SIS for other ex
penses."
But you didn't buy English pleas
ants and champagne on that allow
aIce!"
He was carrying away the coffee
tray and his eyes wandered to the win
dows
Not quite, sir. You see"
But l don't see!"
ut had occurred to me that as Mr..
Pickerings allowance wasn't what you
might call generous it was better to
augment it Well, sir, l took the lib
erty of advancing trifle, as you might
say, to the estate. Your grandfather
would not have had you starve, sir"
He left hurriedly, as though to escape
from the consequences of his words,
and when l came to myself Larry was
gloomily invoking his strange Irish
gods.
Larry Donovan, I've been tempted
to kill that fellow a dozen times! This
thing is too damned complicated for
me. wish my lamented grandfather
had left me something easy. To think
of it-that all the time I've been ours
Ing and abusing Bates since | came
here I've been enjoying his bounty
and he's been giving me the fat of the
and, just because of his devotion to
my grandfather's memory. Lord, l
can't face the fellow again."
LAS have said before, you're rather
lacking at times in perspicacity. Your
intelligence is marred by large Opaque
spots. Now that there seems to be a
woman in the case you're less sane
than ever. Bah, these women! And
now we've got to go to work"
Bah, these women! My own heart
caught the words. l was enraged and
bitter. No wonder she had been anx-
lous for me to avoid Pickering in Gin
einnati, after daring me to follow her
there!
We called a council OF war for that
night that we might view matters in
the light of Pickerings letter. His
assuredness in ordering me to leave
made prompt and decisive action
necessary on my part. l summoned
Stoddard to our conference, feeling
confident of his friendlincss,
"Of course" said the broadshoul-
dered chaplain, 'if you could show that
your absence was on business of very
grave Importance, the courts might
ronstrue in your favor"
Larry looked at the ceiling and blew
rings of smoke languidly. / had not
disclosed to either of them the cause
Of my absence. On such matter I
tnew | should get precious little sym
1athy from Larry. and l had, more
over, feeling that could not discuss
Marian Devereux with any one; even
shrank from mentioning her name.
though it rang like the call OF bugles
N my blood.
She was always before me,-the
charmed spirit Of youth. linked to
avery foot of the earth, every CLEAN of
he sun upon the icebound lake, every
glory Of the winter sunset. All the
good impulses l had ever stifled were
luickened to life by the thought Of her.
Amid the days perplexities l started
sometimes, thinking heard her voice,
ner girlish laughter, or saw her again
soming toward me down the stairs. or
solding against the light her fan with
is golden butterflies. I really knew
20 little OF her; / could associate her
with no home, only with that last fling
of the autumn upon the lake, the snow
driven woodland, that twilight hour at
:he organ in the chapel. those stolen
oloments at the Armstrong;. / re-
septed the pressure OF the hours af-