Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1907-05-17
THE HOUSE OF A
THOUSAND CANDLES
By Meredith Nicholson

grand1atner; i resolved never TO think
or speak Of her again.
The fight was over and there was
nothing more for me to do in the house
by the lake. After a week or 80
should 90 forth and try to win a place
for myself. / had my profession;
was an engineer, and / did not ques-
ton that ! should be able to find en-
ployment. As for my grandfather,
Bates would care for him, and should
visit him often. ! was resolved not
to give him any further cause for anx.
iety on account Of my adventurous
and rowing ways. He knew well
enough that his old hope Of making an
architect Of me was lost. forever; and
now wished to depart in peace and
seek some part Of the world where the
trails were new and there we're tracks
to lay and bridges to build.
These thoughts 30 filed my mind
that forgot that my grandfather was
patiently waiting for an answer.
Il should like to do anything you
ask; l should like to. stay, here always,
but ! can't Don't misunderstood me.
/ have no intention Of going back to
my old ways. ! squandered enough
money in my wanderings, and | had
my Joy OF that kind Of thing. shall
find employment somewhere and 20
to work"
But Jackie bent toward me
kindly,-"Jack. you mustn't be led
away by any mere Quixotism into lay
Ing the foundation of your own for
tune. What / have is yours, boy.
What is IN the box in the chimney Is
yours now-to-day."
Il wish you wouldn't! You were al.
ways too kind; and deserve nothing,
absolutely nothing"
I'm not trying to pay you, Jack. /
want to ease my own conscience,
that's all" YEp
But money can do nothing for
mine" / replied, trying to smile. I've
been q reckless spendthrift all my
days, and now I'm going to work. II
you we're infrm and needed me,
should not hesitate, but the world
will have its eyes on me now"
Jack, that will Of mine did you a
great wrong; II put mark upon you,
and that's what hurts me; that's what
/ want to make amends for! Don't
you see? Now don't punish me, boy.
Come! Let US be friends!"
He rose and put out his hands.
II didn't mean that don't care
about that! 1t was nothing more than
| deserved. These months here have
changed me. Haven't you heard me
say was going to work."
And ! tried to laugh away further
discussion Of my future.
TT will be more cheerful here in
the spring." he said, as though seek.
Ing an inddcement for me to remain.
When the resort colony down here
comes TO life the lake is really gay"
| shook my head. The lake, that
pretty cupful Of water, the dip and
glide of a maroon canoe, the remem-
brance OF a red tam-o'-shanter merg-
Ing afar of In an October sunset
my purpose to leave the place
strengthened as | thought Of these
things. My nerves were keyed to a
breaking pitch and, losing control Of
myself, | turned upon him stormily.
80 Miss Devereux was the other
person who shared your confidence!
Do you Understandable you appre-
ciate the fact that she was Pickerings
ally?"
II certainly do not" he replied
coldly. I'm surprised to hear you
speak so of woman whom you can
scarcely know"
Eyes. know her! My God, I have
reason to know her! But even when
l found her out did not dream that
the plot was as deep as it is. She
knew that II was a scheme to test me,
and she played me into Pickering's
hands. caught her down there in
the tunnel acting as his spy, looking
for the lost notes, that she might gain
grace In his eyes by turning them
over to him. You know how ! always
hated Pickering,-he was too smooth,
too SNUG, and you and everybody else
were forever praising him to me. He
was always held up to me as a model;
and the first time saw Marian Dever-
eux she was with hint was at
Sherry's the night before I came here.
suppose she reached st. Agatha's
only few hours ahead OF me-"
"Yes, Sister Theresa was her guar.
dian. Her father was a dear friend,
and knew her from her early child.
hood, You are mistaken, Jack. Her
knowing Pickering means nothing
they both lived In New York and
moved in the same circle"
But It doesn't explain her efforts
10 help him, does it?" l blazed. HE
wished to marry her.-Sister Theresa
told me that,-and | failed-I failed
miserably to keep my obligation here
II ran away to follow herr"
"Ah, to be sure! You we're away
Christmas eve, when those vandals
broke in. Bates merely mentioned II
In the last report / got from him In
New York. That was all right. as
sumed, Of course, that you had gone
! M soneWhere IN get n littla Chriet,