Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1908-11-10
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The cab stopped. The girl rose
and descended to the walk. The driver
touched his hat and refined the horse
away. Good night. ma'am." he bade
her, cheerfully. And she told him
Good night" in her turn.
For moment she seemed BIT hest.
tant and fearful, left thus alone. The
house in front OF which she stood. like
its neighbors, reared a high facade to
the tender, star-lit sky, its windows
with drawn shades and no lights, wear
ing singular look Of blind patience
1t had a high stoop and q sunken
area. There was dull glow In one
of the basement windows.
II was very late-or extremely early
The moon was down, though its place
was in some way filled by the golden
disk OF the clock in the Grand Central
stations tower. The air was impreg
mated with the sweet and fragrant
breath Of the newborn day. In the
tunnel beneath the street trolley car
rumbled and whined and clanked lone
somely. A stray cat wandered out OF
a cross street with the air OF sea
soned debauchee; stopped, scratched
itself with inimitable abandon, and
suddenly, mysteriously alarmed at
nothing, turned itself into a streak OF
shadow that fled across the street and
vanished. And, as II affected by its
terror, the gray girl slipped silently
into the area and tapped at the lighted
window.
Almost Immediately the gate was
cautiously opened. A woman's head
looked out, with suspicion. "oh, thank
Heavings!" 1t said, with abrupt fer.
vor. 81 was afraid 1t mightn't be you
Miss Sylvia. I'm so glad you're back
There ain't-hasn't been minute
these past two nights that haven't
been in a fidget."
The girl laugh I'd quietly and passed
through the gateway (Which was
closed behind herr into the basement
hall, where she fingered brief mo.
ment
my father, Annie?" she inquired.
"He ain't-hasn't stirred since YOU
went out, Miss Sylvia. He's sleepin
peaceful as . lamb"
Everything is all right, them"
Now that you're home, it is, praises
bel" The servant secured the inner
door and turned up the gas. Not II l
was to be given notice tomorrow
mornin'," she announced, firmly, will
ever consent to be party to such
goin's-on another night"
"There will be no occasion, Annie"
said the girl. Thank you. and-good
night" 5
A resigned sigh-"Good night, Miss
Sylvia"-followed her up the stairs.
She went very cautiously, careful to
brush against no article Of movable
furniture in the halls, at pains to make
no noise on the stairs. At the door OF
her fathers room on the second floor
she stopped and listened for full mo-
ment; but he was sleeping as quietly,
as soundly, as the servant had de-
clared. Then on, more hurrfedly, up
another flight, to her own room, where
she turned on the electric bulb in
panic haste. For 1t had just occurred
to her that the telephone bell might
ring before she could change her cloth
ing and get downstairs and shut her
self into the library, whose closed door
would prevent the bell from being
audible through the house.
In less than ten minutes she was
stealing silently down to the drawing
room floor again, quiet as spirit Of
the night. The library door shut with
out sound; for the first time she
breathed freely. Then, pressing the
button on the wall. she switched on
the light in the drop-lamp on the CEN
ter table. The telephone stood be-
side it.
She drew up chair and sat down
near the instrument, ready to lift the
receiver off its hook the instant the
bell began to sound; and waited, the
soft light burning in the loosened
tyesses of her hair, enhancing the soft
color that pulsed in her cheeks, fading
before the Joy that lived in her eyes
when she hoped.
For she dared hope-at times; and
at times could not but fear. So greatly
had she dared, who greatly loved, so