Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1907-04-27
THE HOUSE OF A
THOUSAND CANDLES
By Meredith Nicholson
"oh. Mr.. olenarmi" she cried. turn
By Meredith Nicholson

ing away toward my grandfather.
] heard his stick beating the rough
path several yards away He was
Fastening toward Glenarm House.
Il think Mr.. Glenarm has gone
home"
oh, that IS too bad" She ex.
claimed.
Thank youl He's probably at the
chapel by this time II you win per-
NIT me-"
Not at ALI"
A man in the slxnes should not
tax his arteries too severely. was
quite sure that my andfather ran
up the chapel steps. could hear his
stick beating hurriedly on the stones
IF you wish to 90 iarther"-I be-
gan.
! was indignant at my Erandfather's
conduct; he had deliberately run off,
leaving me alone with young woman
whom ] had resolved never to see
again.
THANK you; / shall go back now.
was merely walking to the gate with
Mr. Glenarm. II is so ihe to have him
back again, so unbelievablel"
It was just such polite murmur as
one might employ in speaking to an
old foe at a friends table.
She listened moment for his step;
then, apparently satisfied, turned back
toward st Agatha's ! followed, I'M
certain, hesitating, marking her defin-
tie onward eight 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 mood with every step
| was seeking same eolorless thing
TO say when she spoke over her shout
der:
You are very kind but l an rot
the least afraid, Mr., Glcnarm"
But there is something | wish to
say to you, now that We have met !
should like"
She slackeaed her step.
Yes"
Il am going away"
Yes; of course; you are going
away"
Her tone implied that this was some
thing that had been ordained from the
beginning of time, and die not mat.
And | wish to say 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 a 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; ! 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 a mark of esteem from me-"
She stepped backward as though |
had struck her.
You risked much for them--and
for him" | went on
"Mr. Glenarm, l have no intention
of discussing that, or any other mat
ter with you"
1T is better So"
but your accusations, the things
you imply, are unjust, infamous!"
The quaver in her voice shook my
resolution to deal harshly with her.
IF l had not myself been a wit
ness" l began.
yes; you have the conceit of your
own wisdom, l 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 blow
that hurt? You had been the spirit
of this woodland to me. Through all
these months, from the hour I 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 /
had -abandoned--long 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. I
shall not punish him; for your sake
he shall go free"
A sigh so deep that IL was like a sob
broke from her She thruss forth her
hand entreatingly.
why don't you go to him with your
generosity? You are so ready TO be
lieve i'll of me! And I shall not de-
fend myself; but will say these
things to you, Mr.. Glenarm: | had no
idea, no thought of seeing him at the
Armstrong; was a surprise to me
and TO them-when he telegraphed
he was coming. And when | went in.
to the tunnel there under. the wall
that night had a purpose-a pur.