Waterbury evening Democrat., 1907-01-31
CHAPTER xvii. : Golden Butterflies.


 and if you are pained to discover the historian lifting anchor and spreading sail contrary to the reckonings of the nautical almanac, I beg to call your at- tention to these items from the time table of the Mid-Western and Southern Railway for December, 1901: The southbound express passed Annandale at exactly 53 minutes after four D. m. I. was scheduled to reach Cincinnati at Il o'clock sharp. This. trust, is sufficiently explicit.
 To the student of morals and mo- tives will say further word. ! had resolved to practice deception in run ming away from Gienarm House to keep my promise to Marian Devereux. By leaving should forfeit my right to any part of my grandfather's es- tate; hut of more immediate import iance was my absence from Clenarm House at this juncture, wEea the at lacks of Morgan ani the strange ways lof Bates made it clearly my duty to remain. Pickering and were en- gagged in a sharp contest. and I was beginning to enjoy it to tue full, but I d!d not faiter in ny determination lto visit Cincinnati. hoping to return without my absenea being discovered; go the next afternoon began prepar- 1ag for my journey.
 "Bates, fear that I'm taking a se- were cold and I'm going to dose myself with whisky and Quinine and go to bed. I shan't want any dinner-noth- ing until you see me again"
 yawned and stretched myself with la groan.
 I'm very sorry. sir. shan't call Ia doctor?"
 Not bit of it. I'll sleep it of and be as lively as a cricket in the morn ing"
 At four o'clock told him to carry some hot water and lemons to my rooms; bade him an emphatic good night and locked the door as he left. Then I packed my evening clothes in a suitcase. threw the bag and heavy ulster from a window, swung myself out upon the limb of big ma pie and let it bend me to its sharpest and then dropped lightly to the ground.
 I passed the gate and struck oil to- ward the village with joyful sense of freedom. reached the station without incident and waited in the freight shed to keep out of sight of the station loafers until my train drew mp. then quietly jumped aboard. bought seat in the Washington sleeper and after supper in the dining car made myself comfortable and dozed and dreamed as the train plunged through the dark. The through passengers about me went Ito bed. and was left sprawled out in my open section, lurking on the .shadowy frontier between the known world and dreamlaud.
 We're running into Cincinnati ten minutes late" said the porter's voice, and in moment l was in the vesti- bule and out. hurrying to hotel. At the St. Botolph I ordered a carriage and broke all records changing my clothes. The timetable informed me that the Chicago express left at half past one. There was no reason why I should not be safe at Glenarm House by my usual breakfast hour in the morning if all went well. To avoid loss of time in returning to the sta .tion l paid the hotel charge and car iried my bag away with me.
 Doctor Armstrong's residence? Yes, sir; I've already taken two loads there"
 The carriage was soon climbing what semed to be a mountain to the heights above Cincinnati. To this day I associate Ohio's most interesting city with lonely carriage ride that was as strange to me as trackless jungle in the wilds of Africa. And my heart began to perform strange tattoos on ny ribs. was going to the house of gentleman who did not know of my existence. to see a girl who was his gaest. tc whom I had never. as the conventions go. been presented. It did not seem half SO easy. now that I was well launched upon the adven- ture.
 I stopped the cabman just as he was about to enter an iron gateway whose posts bore two great lamps.
 That's all right, sir. [ can drive right in-"
 But you needn't" i said. jumping cut. Wait right here"
 Doctor Arnstrons's residence was brilliantly lighted. and the strains of ! a waltz stoie across the lawn cheerily. ] I made detour and studied the house. seeking door by which could enter ! without passing the unfriendly Gib- ! xsitar of host and hostess on guard . to welcome belated guests.
 A long conservatory filled with trop- ] ical plants gave me an opportunity. ! eror,enaie-s were passing idly 1 through it and out into another part 1 sf the house by an exit could not . s>e. A handsome. spectacled gentle l man opened a glass door within a yard of where stcod. snifed the air i and szid to his comrazion as he turn l sd back with a shruS into the conser- vatorv:
 There's no sign of snow. It isn't l Christmas weather at aIl-- He stroIled away through the palms and I instantly threw of my ulster