Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1907-12-14
By HELEN II. MARTIN,
Author ..Tillie A Mennonite Maid"

esq. and II faint light spread through
the room.
A silence followed. There was no
further movement or sound OF any
sort. He waited for what seemed to
him a long time. At last he stopped
and peeped through a crack in the
headboard. His eyes were caught by
the light of Il candle burning III the
wide top of the footboard. And seated
Turk fashion on the bed. her checks
planted on her palms. her elbows on
an open volume on her lap, was a
feminine figure clad In n blue calico
with two thick braids Of
beautiful fair hair hanging owe her
shoulders. Eunice! For n moment he
was bewildered. Questions and suppo-
sitions fairly jumped W each other
in his brain. Whether she had learned
OF his coming to this room and had
followed him thither, why she was not
fearful of the place. whether she was
walking in her sleep, whether she was
Eunice or the specter of Eunice's
mother
But gradually as with strained mus
cles he continued to stoop and gaze at
her his confusion cleared to some def
mite Impressions. She was sitting there
reading us composedly and quietly as
though she were not more ut home
anywhere in the house than here in
this room. She did not appear like one
who had come for the first time into q
haunted bedchamber. And there was
an indefinable something In her way
Of turning the page Of a book which
suggested In some subtle way that she
was used to handling books and &C
customed to reading much.
There was something in the girls
aspect, In her Inconsistencies Of an
observer. In her relaxed and girlish
form. In the childlike innocence and
sweetness Of her face, that thrilled
Kinross with a sudden sense Of a
unique loneliness. His nerves tingled
as he realized his isolation here to-
night with this exquisite young crea-
ture.
He carefully raised himself from his
STOPPING position and leaned against
the wall. How was he to reveal him
self without too greatly startling her?
The shock or fright Of suddenly be-
holding a man in the room when she
supposed herself alone-at the hour Of
midnight, Tonight actually injure
her. Yet he must not any longer leave
her unaware of his presence.
The problem solved itself by his ac-
cidentally touching the headboard at
this moment with his elbow. Instant
ly he thought to reassure her by quiet
ly speaking her name without abrupt
ness.
"Eunice, IT is only 1. Don't be
alarmed"
He stepped out into sight as he
spoke. She had sprung to her feet and
stood painting with alarm, her eyes
wide and startled, her cheeks white.
He spoke again In a matter of fact
way, calculated to disarm her fear.
''I'm very sorry I've frightened you.
l came here to meet the ghost. Are
you it," he smiled.
She sank Imply against the bed. Il
thought" she breathed, that you were
it."
At the sound of her own voice she
seemed to re:oyer herself. Her face
was bright with color now, and her
eyes were brilliant. He saw almost
with amusement that she found nc
cause for alarm or displeasure at his
presence.
He drew an old dusty chair to the
bedside and sat down before her, fold.
ing his arms.
She leaned comfortably against the
foot Of the bed. Evidently she saw
no objection to a midnight chat with
him. She seemed to him in her limo.
cent acceptance of the situation as lg.
norant of evil as an angel.
There seemed so much that he want
ed to ask her that he hardly knew
where to begin. But with a trife less
than her usual timidity before him
she took the initiative.
"You were in this roo when l came
in, weren't you?" she asked, her eyes
wide with wonder.
"Yes-in quest Of the ghost"
"But the room was dark"
He pointed to his lamp on the book
shelf. II blew it out when l heard
you coming, thinking l was going to
encounter the specter."
"You didn't know, did you, that you
would-would find me here tonight"
Again that note of w%istfulness with
which he was beginning to grow ia
miliar.
mo more expected it than I ex.
pected to meet the czar Of Russia"
She appeared SO disappointed to hear
it that he fastened to add, tits the
most delightful surprise l ever had IN
my life"
She beamed upon him frankly. you
are pleased?" Evidently she wanted
him to repeat it.
ITO say l am pleased would be
false. l am overjoyed."
"WhyT"
He was much entertained at her ven
turing to put him through a catechism
"How can you ask when for -four
days you have made it impossible fol
me to have three minutes talk will
you?"
You have wanted to talk with me-!
Her eyes were not mournful now, but
luminous with happiness.
Haven't you wanted to talk to me!'
hn ;,,,,iraI