, 1908-04-16
Che HOUSE OF O.
THOUSAND CANDLES
By MEREDITH NICHOLSON

u ras the more marked from the fact
MAT the hood of her habit concealed
her face.
"What you say is very serious"
ayes. and his offcnse is equally Sc
ions 1t may seem odd for me to be
.,ylng this to you when I am a strang.
,r-when you may be pardoned for
having no very high opinion of me"
She turned her face to met was
,,ngularly gentle and refined-not n
face to associate with an Idea of self.
seeking or duplicity.
n sent for you, Mr.. Glenarm, b.
cause | had a very good opinion OF
Won; because, for n reason, you are
the grandson of your grandfather
and the friendly light in her gray eyes
drove ava any lingering doubt I may
have had as to her sincerity. 81
wished to warn you to have a care for
your own safety. | don't warn Won
against Arthur Pickering alone, but
against the countryside. The Idea of
hidden fortune Is a%lluring; a mys.
terious house and a lost treasure
make a very enticing combination. I
fancy Mr.. Glenarm did not realize that
be WAS creating dangers for the peo.
pie he wished to help"
She was silent again, her eyes bent
neditatively upon me. Then she smoke
ibruptly.
"Mr. Pickering wishes to marry nv
niece"
All, l have been waiting to hear
.hot am nypanH.r rI, oIoI 4
that he has so noble an ambition. But
Miss Devereux isn't encouraging him
near as I car make out. She "a.
fused to 20 to California with his
party-I happen to Know that"
That whole California episode
would have been amusing If It had not
been ridiculous. Marian never had
the slightest idea Of going with him.
but she is sometimes a little-shau
say ne: verse;"
'rlrasr do! I like the VOID ana
the dpa!ity!"
And Mr.. Pickering's rather elab-
crate methods of wooing-"
Hes as heavy as lead!" l declared.
-Amuse Marian up to a certain
point; then they annoy her. lie has
implied pretty strongly that the claim
against me could be easily adjusted II
Marian marries him. But she will
never marry him, whether she benefits
by your grandfather will or however
that may bel"
Il should say not" I declared with q
warmth that caused Sister Theresa to
sweep me with those wonderful gray
eyes. But first he expects to find this
fortune and endow Miss Devereux
with 1t. That Is a part of the scheme.
And my own interest in the estate
must be eliminated before he a
wing that condition about. But, Sis
Tor Theresa, I am not 80 easily got
nd of as Arthur Pickering imagines.
My staying qualities, which were al
ways weak in the eyes of my family.
have been braced up . trile."
Yes"
l thought pleasure and hope were
expressed in the monosyllable, and my
heart warmed to her.
Sister Theresa, you and I are IN
derstanding each other much better
than I imagined we should"-and we
both laughed. feeling 4 real sympathy
growing between u.s."
Yes. l believe we are"-and the
smile lighted her fac again.
so a tell you two things. The
frst is that Arthur Pickering will
never ind my grandfather's lost for
tune. assuming that any exists. The
second IL thai in no event will he
marry your niece"
You speak with q good deal of con
hdence." she said and laughed a low,
murmuring laugh. l thought there was
lrelief in 1t. But / didn't suppose Ma
Irian's affairs interested you"
They don't, Sister Theresa. Her
AFFAIRS are not of the slightest import
ance-but she Isl"
There was frank inquiry In her eyes
now.
But you don't know her-you have
missed your opportunity"
ITO be sure, l don t know her; but I
know Olivia Gladys Armstrong. She's
4 particular friend Of mine-we have
chased rabbits together. and she told
me . great deal. l have formed a
very good opinion of Miss Devereux
In thai way. oh, that note you wrote
about Olivia's intrusions beyond the
wall! l ought to thank you for It
but really didn't mind"
"A note? never wrote you a note
until to-day"
Well. some one did" l said. then
the smiled.
oh. that must have been Marian!
She was always Olivia's loyal friend
and apologist."
Il should say So"
But you shouldn't have known
ohvia-it 10 objectionable! II she
played tricks upon you. you should