The Garland globe. [volume] (Garland, Utah) 1906-191?, 1908-02-29
THE HOUSE OF
A THOUSAND
CANDLES
BY MEREDITH NICHOLSON
Author Of THE MAIN CHANCE" ZELDA
CAMERON" Etc.
CHAPTER xIv.-continued.
Copyright 1906 by Bobbs.MerIill Co.

some of the students. | followed Pick
ering rather reluctantly to where the
companions of his travels were pacing
to and fro in the crisp morning air.
AS soon as Pickering had got me
we'll under way in conversation with
Taylor, he excused himself hurriedly
and went off, as / assumed, to be sure
the station agent had received orders
for attaching the private car to the
Chicago express. Taylor proved to be
a supercilIous person. believe they
call him Chilly Billy at the Metropoli-
tan club.-and our efforts to converse
were pathetically unfrultful. The two
ladies stood by, making no conceal
ment of their impotence. Their eyes
were upon the girls from ST. Agatha's
on the other platform, whom they
could see beyond me. ! had jumped
the conversation from Indiana farm
values to the recent disorders In Bull
garia, which interested me more, when
Mrs. Taylor, ignoring me, spoke abb
ruptly to her sister.
That's she-the one In the gray
coat, talking to the clergyman she
came moment ago in the carriage"
"The one with the umbrella? !
thought you said"
Mrs. Taylor glanced at her sister
warningly, and they both looked at
me. Then they detached themselves
and moved away. There was some one
ON the farther platform whom they
wished to see, and Taylor, not under
standing their maneuver-he was real
ly anxious, think, not to be left alone
with me-started down the platform
after them, following. Mrs. Taylor
and her sister walked to the end OF
the platform and looked across, a bis.
cult toss away, to where Stoddard
stood talking to the girl had already
heard described as wearing a gray
coat and carrying an umbrella.
The girl in gray crossed the track
quickly and addressed the two women
cordially. Taylor's back was to her
and he was growing eloquent In mild
well.bred way over the dullness Of our
statesmen In not seeing the advan'
tages that would accrue to the United
States in fostering our shipping indus.
try. His wife, her sister and the girl
in gray were so near that could hear
plainly what they were saying. They
we're referring apparently to the girls
refusal OF an invitation to accompany
them to California.
$50 you can't Colts too bad! We
had hoped that when you really saw
us on the way you would relent," said
Mrs. Taylor
But there are many reasons; and
above all Sister Theresa needs me-"
II was the voice of Olivia, little
lower, a little more restrained than
had known Il: but undeniably It was
she.
But think of the rose gardens that
are waiting for us out there!" said the
other lady. They were showing hel
the Difference that elderly women al
ways have for pretty girls.
ALAS, and again alas!" exclaimed
Olivia. please don't make 1t harder
for me than necessary. But gave my
promise a year ago to spend these
holidays In Cincinnati"
She ignored me wholly and aftel
shaking hands with the ladies returned
TO the other platform. | wondered
whether she was overlooking Taylol
on purpose TO cut me.
Taylor was still at his lecture on tn,
needs of our American merchant ma
rine when Pickering passed hurriedly
crossed the track and began speaking
earnestly to the girl In gray.
"The American flag should commanC
the seas. What we need is not NOR
battleships but more freight car
riers-" Taylor was saying.
But / was watching Olivia Gladly
Armstrong. In long skirt, with he
hair caught up under a gray toque tina
not my Olivia of the tam-o'shantel
who had pursued the rabbit; nor ye
the unsophisticated school girl, VIII
had suffered my idiotic babble; MOI
again, the dreamy rapt organist of tn
chapel. She was grown woman wit
at least 20 summers to her credit, an
there was about her an air of KNOWN
INC WoIlu, anu Vi not DeluS NJ All
person one would make foolish speech
es to. She spoke to Pickering gravely
Once she smiled dolefully and shoe
her head, and | vaguely strove to r.
member where | had seen that loo
In her eyes before. Her gold beads
which had once carried in my poke
were clasped tight about the close co
lar of her dress; and | was glad, yer
glad. that had ever touched anythin
that belonged to her.
Who was Olivia Gladys Armstror
and what was Arthur Pickering's bus
ness with her? And what was II 81
had said to me that evening when
had found her playing on the chap
organ? So much happened that da
that l had almost forgotten, and, I
deed. / had tried 20 forget that mad
a fool of myself for the edifcation I
an amuaing LITTLE school girl 1.-THE