The Coalville times. [volume] (Coalville, Utah) 1894-1923, 1908-03-10
THE HOUSE OF
A THOUSAND
CANDLES
By MEREDITH NICHOLSON
Auihof u "THE NNN CHANCE" ZELDA
UANtBOt." tic.


sCumUgrng feet loo Doe hail above and
then down the steps between the line
OF quests arrested iu their descent
came dark laughing rirl iu the rarb
Of Little Rcd Ridne Hood amid gen.
cral applause and laughter
"lrs cliyin' She won the wagcr'"
exclaimed 'hc specialized gentleman
and the girl. who's" dark curls were
shckou about hpr face. ram mp 10 as
and threw her arms about him and
kissed him % was o. charming pie.
turc-'hc figures ON the stairway. tho
pretty. graceful child the eager. happy
faces all about I was too Interested
in the scene 10 be- uncomfortable
Then az the top NJ the stair her
height acconunicd by her gown Of
white. stood Marian Dovcreuy. hest.
tating an instant a. bird pauscs be-.
fore taking wing, and then laughlngly
running between tho lines to whore
Olivia faced her IN mock AFFECTION
To the charm " tn Girl In the wood.
land was added now the dignity Of
beautiful womanhood and my heart
leaped az the thought that I had ever
spoken TO her. that | was there be.
cause she had tainted me with the
risk Of coming
Above. on the stair landing, a deep
toned clock began 10 strike midnight
and every one cried Merry Christ
mast" and "OliyIa's wont" and there
was more hand clappng, In which 1
Joined with good will
Some one behind me was explaining
what had Just occurred. olivia, the
youngest daughter of the house, had
been denied a glimpse Of the ball;
Miss Dcvcreux had made wager
with her host that olivia would APP
pear before midnight; and olivia de-
fcatng the plot against her gained
the main hall at 'he stroke Of ~.
Good night Good night" called
Oliyla-ihc real olyla--in dcrlslon TO
the company. and turned and ran back
through the applaudlng. laughing
throng.
The specialized gentleman was DIV.
las father. and he mochngly robukod
Marian Devereux for having encour.
aged an infractlon OF parent dlsol.
pline. while she was twltting him upon
the loss OF his wager Then her eyes
rested upon me for the first time. She
lifted her brows slightly. but contln.
uod talking placidly to her host. The
situation did not please me; had not
travelled so far and barglarlously On.
tered Doctor Armstrong; house In
quest Of a girl with blue eyes merely
TO stand by while she talked with an.
other man.
drew nearer. lmpatlently; and was
conscious that four other young men
In white walstcoats and gloves quite
as irreproachablo as my own stood
ready to clam her the instant she was
free. / did not propose TO Do thwartod
by the boauN Of Cincinnati and ad.
dressed my host boldly.
Il beg your pardon, Doctor" I
said with an assurance for which
blush TO this hour
IAN right, my boy I. too, have been
In Arcady!" he exclaimed In cheerful
apology, and she put her hand on my
arm and led her away.
"He called me my boy so | must be
passing muster" | remarked. not dar'
Ing to look at her.
Hes afraid not to recognize you.
His inability to remember faces is a
town Joke"
We reached quiet corner Of the
great hall and found seat for her,
you don't seem surprised TO see
me.-you knew / would come. should
have come across the world for this
for just this"
Her eyes We're grave az once.
"Why did you come? | did not think
you were so foolish This Is all-so
wretchcd. You didn't know that Mr.
Pickerng-Nlr Pickering"
She was greatly distressed and tins
name came from her chokingly
Yves; what Of him." / laughed I'll,
Is well on the way 10 California, and
without you'"
"No-you don't know-you don't nm
derstand-he's here! He abandoned
his California trip at Chicago; he telo
graphod me 10 expect him-here-to
night! You must go at once-aI
onCel"
"Ah, but you can't Brighten me-
said, trying 10 realize just what a meet
ing with Pickering in that house nigh
mean,
"No"-she looked anxlolsly about
they We're 20 arrive late, he and thl
Taylorsi they know the Armstrong;
quite well. Th6y may come at an!
moment now, Please go!"
but / have only a few minutes my
self,-you wouldn't have me Sit then
out IN the station down town? Their
are some things / have come TO say
and Arthur Pickering and are no
afraid Of each otherl"
But you must not meet him here
Think what that would mean 10 me
You are very foolhardy, Mr. Glenarm
had no idea YOU would come"
"But you wished to try me,-yo
challenged me"
THAT wasn't met was olivia,
she laughed, more al ease,
thought
Yes. what did you think-that