Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1907-05-24
THE HOUSE OF A
! THOUSAND CANDLES
By Meredith Nicholson

night found her LOOMING for Picker
ing's notes in the passage at the Door
of Bewilderment!
She had lifted the lantern row. and
l was striving to touch the wax taper
to the wick, with imminent danger to
my bare fingers.
They don't really light we'll when
the oils out she observed, with an
exasperating air of wisdom
took it from her hand and shook
It close TO my ear.
"Yes; of course, it's empty" NUT
tered disdainfully, and threw it from
me.
"Oh, Mr.. Glenarm." she cried. turn.
ing away toward my grandfather.
I heard his stick beating the rough
path several yards away. He was
fastening toward Glenarm House.
q think Mr.. Glenarm has gone
home"
"oh, that is too bad" she ex.
claimed.
Thank you! He's probably at the
chapel by this time. If you will per.
nit me-"
Not at all"
A man in the sixties should not
tax his arteries too severely. I was
quite sure that my grandfather ran
up the chapel steps; I could hear his
stick beating hurriedlv on the stones.
If you wish to go farther"-I be-
/ gan.
was indignant at my grandfather's
conduct; he had deliberately run off,
leaving me alone with a young woman
whom l had resolved never to see
again.
Thank you; I shall go back now.
was merely walking to the gate with
Mr.. Glenarm. 1t is so fine to have him
back again, so unbelievable"
1t was Just sucn a polite murmur as
one might employ in speaking to ar
old foe at friends table.
She listened moment for his step:
then, apparently satisfied, turned bach
toward st. Agatha's. followed, I'm
. certain hes'tating, marking her defn
lite Onward fight. From the folds O
her cloak stole the faint perfume o
violets. The sight of her, the sount
OF her voice, combined to create-anC
to destroy!-a mood with every step
| was seeking some oolorless thin,
to say when she spoke over her shoul
der:
You are very kind. but am no
the least afraid, Mr.. Glenarm."
But there is something wish :,
say to you, now that we have met.
should like"
she slackened her step.
"Yes."
u am going away"
! Eyes; of course; you are goinj
away"
Her tone implied that this was some
thing that had been ordained from tn,
beginning Of time, and did not mat
ter.
And | wish to say a word abou
Nr. Pickering" l added.
She paused and faced me abruptly
We were at the edge of the wood
and the school lay quite near. Sh
caught the cloak closer about her AM
gave her head a little toss l remem
bered well, as a\trick compelled b,
the vagaries of woman's headdress.
Il can't talk to you here, Mr.. Glen
arm; l had no intention of ever see
ing you again; but | must say this +
you
Those notes of Pickering's-I shal
ask Mr.. Glenarm to give them to yoi
as a mark of esteem from me-"
She stepped backward as though
had struck her.
You risked much for them-an
for him" went on.
"Mr. Glenarm, | have no intention
of discussing that, or any other ma
ter with you"
1T is better So"
But your accusations, the thing
you imply, are unjust, infamous!"
The quaver in her voice shook m
resolution to deal harshly with her.
IF | had not myself been a wi
ness" began.
"Yes; you have the conceit of you
own wisdom. | dare say"
But that challenge to follow Vol
to break my pledge; my running ava!
only to find that Pickering was clos
at my heels; your visit to the TUNE
In search of those notes-don't yo
know that those things were a blo'
that hurt? You had been the spir
of this woodland to me. Through a
these months, from the hour | watcl
ed you paddle off into the sunset
your canoe, the thought of you mad
the days brighter-steadied and chez
ed me, and awakened ambitions that
had Observation-Disclosures az
And this hideous struggle here
seems so idle, so worse than useles
now! But I'm glad l followed you
I'm glad neither fortune nor duty kel
: me back. And now l want you /
know that Pickering shall not sufft
, for anything that has happened.