Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1907-12-14

have to search you out In a haunted
room at midnight in order to do 1t.
Why do you make it SO difficultY'
II have not meant to make 1t diff
cult. Oh, no. indeed. But you know 1
am kept very closely at work"
II know. But why haven't you come
out to me in the evenings-to the
spring house or to the terrace by the
gatey"
al think" she said, her color deepen
ing and her eyes falling, ut wouldn't
have bcen-maidenly."
"VVell, then, at least you might be
about somewhere where ! could come
to you"
ABE keeps a Jealous watch upon
me-" she said without looking up.
abe? Abe be hanged!
"And then" she added, her head
sinking n little lower, II would not
wish to obtrude myself when all your
mind must be occupied with-with the
girl you said you loved"
WHAT" he asked, puzzled. "Oh, you
refer to the stately GeorgianaY' He
laughed. "Georgiana also be-blessed,
I should say. l tell you. Eunice, the
one and only thing l have desired
since l last talked with you has been
to go on with that talk"
LET US go on with 1t now" she said,
a deep contentment radiating from her
at his words.
"All right" He relaxed and leaned
back more comfortably In his W
chair, resting his forehead on his fin
gers and looking as complacently sat
isfied as she did.
"But first" she said timidly, II
would ask a promise Of you"
Eyes, Eunice."
"Will you not betray to Mr.. or Mrs.
Morningstar that you saw me here?'
why don't you wish them to
know he asked, feeling his compla-
cency disturbed by her apparent cow
ardice.
"They would be very angry"
"Why need you care for that"
"But they would stop my coming In
the future. / have kept them from
knowing these many years"
These many years? You have been
In the habit Of coming to this room:"
Every night for many years"
"Ahaw he exclaimed. Then you are
the ghost! The Pickering light seen
at the windows by passersby is your
candle"
Eyes"
"What did you come for?'
ITO read"
He sat upright in his chair. "For
many years you have been reading the
books in this room|
Eyes"
He stared at her for an instant
spellbound with establishment. Then
he sank back in his chair, fitting to-
| gether the tips of his fingers, a habit
Of his when trying to think things out.
II see," he said slowly. Il sec."
He asked her a question abruptly.
.Why would the Morningstars stop it
II they knewY
'They would think 1t made me less
strong to work for them-staying up at
night. You will not tell themY" she
repeated anxiously.
"Of course l shall not tell-that goes
without saying, child. But" he asked
%curiously, "were you never afraid to
come h~ere-knowing the place was
haunted?"
II had great fear. But my longing to
read the books was even greater"
"Your refusal to tell me the other
evening how you came by the few
books you had read-you were afraid
I might betray your"
ALWAYS the great dread has been
upon me Of having this only pleasant
thing in my life taken away from me.
It has made me cautious. But / would
trust you now" she said with a re-
strained eagerness, with any secret
1 had-I would trust you toto the ut
termost!"
THANK you, Eunice," he answered
gravely, an odd feeling Of pleasure
stirring in his heart.
He drew himself up and leaned to-
ward the bookcase, examining in the
light of his new knowledge their titles.
$50 then it has been your secret read
ing that has made of you such an
anomaly in the midst of these Morning
stars. Living among them, but never
of them, your real life has been spent
in the world of fiction and history and
poetry. Yes" he nodded, II begin to
see daylight now"