Rocky Ford enterprise. (Rocky Ford, Colo.) 1887-1950, 1907-10-18
THE HOUSE OF
A THOUSAND
CANDLES
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CHAPTER xxv.-centlnvsd.
D MEREDITH NICHOLSON
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Christmas eve. when those vandais
broke In. Bates merely mentioned Il
In tho last report l got from him In
New York. That was all right. ! as.
sumed. OF course. that you had gone
Oh somewhere to get a little Christ
mas cheer: l don't care anything
about it,
but ! had followed hcr-I went to
Cincinnati to see her-don't you un.
derstand? She dared me TO comet
was q trick. part Of the conspiracy
To steal your property"
The old gentleman smiled. II was
an old trick Of his To grow calm as
other people waxcd nnsry.
she dared you to come. did she!
That is quite like Marian: but you
didn't have to go. did you. Jack.'
OF course not: Of course ] didn't
have to 70. but"
stammcrcd. faitcrcd and ceased.
Memory threw open her portals with
n challenge. ! saw Marian on tho
stairway Mt the Armstrong;: heard
her how. soft laughter: felt the mock.
cry Of her voice and eyes: knew
again the exquisite delight OF being
near her. My heart told me well
enough Why I had followed her:
Jack. I'm glad I'm not buried up
there In that Vermont graveyard with
nobody TO exercise the Right Of sunr.
dianship over you. I've had my mis-.
GivinEs about you: used to think you
were q born tramp: and you dixap.
pointed mo In turning your back on
archltecturc.-the noblcst OF all pro
fcxsionA: but this performance Of
you know that . siri iikc Marian Do.
vercux Isn't likely to become the agent
OF any rascal: DO you really believe
for q minute that she tempted you to
follow her so you might forfeit your
rights To my property"
hut why was she trying to find
those notes Of his? Why did she
come back from Cincinnati with his
party? II you could answer me those
things. maybe I'D admit that I'm n
fool. Pickering. imagine. Ii n pretty
plausible fellow where women arc con.
-cerncd."
For Gods sake. Jack. don't speak
Of that girl rs women! put her In
that will OF mine Just TO pique your
curiosity. knowing that II there was
penalty on your marrying her you
would be wholly likely to do it.-for
that's the way human beings are
made. But you've mixed II all up now
and insultcd her In tho grosscst way
possible for fellow who Is really =
gentleman. And don't want to lose
you: I want you hero with me! These
rich Americans. who go to England to
five. don't appreciate the beauty Of
their own country. This landscape Is
worthy of the best that man can do.
And I didn't undertake to build a
crazy house out here but one that
should have some dignity and charac.
ter. That passage around the chin.
ney is an indulgence. Jack.-I'll admit
it's q little bizarre.-you see that
chimney isn't SO big outside as II Is
inland he laughed and rubbed his
knees,-"and my bringing foreign
laborers here was really to make It
easier to get things done my way.
Wait till you have seen the May-apples
blossom and heard the robin sing in
the summer twilight.-help me to
finish the house.-then II you want
to leave I'll bid you Godspeed."
The feeling in his tone, the display
OF sentiment SO at variance with my
old notion of him. touched me in spite
of myself. There was n characteristic
nobility and dignity In his plan: 1t
was worthy OF him. And had never
loved him as now. when he finished
this appeal. and turned away to the
window. gazing out upon the somber
woodland.
"Mr. Donovan is ready to go. sir"
announced Bates at the door. and we
went into the library. where Larry and
Stoddard were waiting.