The Republican. [volume] (Mountain Home, Idaho) 1903-1909, 1908-02-27
THE HOUSE OF
A THOUSAND
CANDLES
By MEREDITH NICHOLSON
Author oil THE MAIN CHANCE" ZELDA
CAMERON" Etc.
CHAPTER discontinued.
wv lsht 1905 by Bobbs- MerlilI Co.

SIT. But III AFRAID, ST.
"Of course you're afraid" shouted
enraged anew by his hating speech
you have every reason In the worlt
to be afraid. You've probably heard
that I'm bad lot and worthless ad
yenturer but you can tell Sister The
resa or Pickering or anybody you
please that I'm ten times as bad as
i've ever been painted. Now clear out
of heren
knocked about the library all morn
ing without easing my spirit, and
after luncheon | went off for tramp,
Winter had indeed come and pos.
sessed the earth, and 1t had given me
a new landscape. The snow continued
to fall In great, heavy fakes, and the
ground was whitening fast.
A rabbits track caught my eye and
followed it. hardly conscious that |
did so. Then the clear print of two
small shoes mingled with the rabbits
trail. A few moments later | picked
up an oyershoe, probably lost in the
chase by one of Sister Theresa's girls
/ reflected. | remembered that while
at Tech had collected a diversity of
memorabilia from school girl acquaint
ances, and here | was beginning a
new series with a string of beads and
an overshoei
A rabbit Is always an attractive
quarry. Few things besides riches are
so elusive and the little fellows have,
/ am sure, a shrewd humor peculiar to
themselves. rather envied the school
girl who had ventured forth for walk
In the first snow storm of the season,
and recalled Aldrichs turn on Gau-
tiers lines as | followed the double
trail:
+Howe'er you tread, tiny mould
Betrays that light foot all the same
Upon this glistening, snowy fold
At every step 1t signs your name"
A pretty autograph, indeed! The
snow fell steadily and | tramped on
over the joint signature of the girl and
the rabbit. Near the lake they parted
company the rabbit leading off at
tangent, on line parallel with the
lake. while his pursuers steps pointed
toward the boat house
There was, so far as | knew. only
one student of adventurous blood at
st. Agatha's, and was not In the least
surprised to see, on the little sheltered
balcony of the boat house, the red tam
o'-shanter She wore, too, the covert
coat | remembered from the day | saw
her first from the wall Her back was |
toward me as drew near; her hands |
were thrust into her pockets. She |
was evidently enjoying the soft ming
ling OF the snow with the still, blue |
waters of the lake; and a girl and a
snow storm are, If you ask my opin.
bon, pretty combination. The fact of
girls facing winter storm argues
nightly In her avor,--testifies, If you
Will allow me, to a serene and daunt-
less spirit for one thing, and sound
constitution for another.
1 ran up the steps, my cap In one
hand, her oyershoe In the other. She
drew back trifle, just enough to bring
my conscience to Its knees.
Il didn't mean to listen that day.
just happened to be on the wall, and
1t was thoroughly underlined trick
my twitting you about it--and should
have told you before If Id known how
to see you"
May trouble you for that shoe?"
she said with tremendous dignity.
They taught that cold dlsdain of
man. suppose as required study at
st. Agatha's.
"oh. certainly! Won't you allow
meT'
Thank you, moi"
She took the damp. bit of rubber--a
wet overshoe, even il small and hal
lowed by associations, isn't pretty--as
Venus might have received soft.
shell crab from the hand of fresh
young norman. was between her
and the steps to which her eyes turned
Iongingly.
"Of course, II you won't accept my
apology can't do anything about 1t:
but hope you understand that I'm
sincere and humble, and anxious to be
forgiven"
"You seem to be making a good deal
IF a small matter"
! WASN'T referring to the oyershoe!'
said.
She did not relent.
IF you'll only go away"
She rested one hand against the
corner of the boat house, while she
affixed the overshoe to her foot. She
wore / noticed, brown gloves with
tufts.
How can go away! You children
ire always leaving things about for
ne to pick up. I'm perfectly worn out
some girls beads about with
ne; and ! spoiled a good glove on
your overshoe"
I'll relieve you of the beads. If you
please"
She thrust her hands into the peck.
It's OF her coat and shook the tam-o'-
'hanter slightly. to establish 1t in a
more comfortable spot on her head. | \