The Montgomery advertiser., 1908-06-27

As he rose from the sofa. with the violent motion of a strong man startl- cd into unconscious activity, he sent . shock of fear to the eager child who had strayed into the room through the open window. Had he presented a normal appearance, she would probab- ly not have been frightened. She would have recognized his identity despite the changes. and have sprung to him so impulsively that she would have been In his arms before she had time to think. But now all she saw was a great beard topped with mass of linen and lint. which obscured all the rest of the face and seemed in thi gloom like gigantic and ominous turban.
 In her fright she screamed out. He in turn, forgetful for the moment ot his intention of silence. called aloud:
 ''who is that Pearl. who had been instinctively backing towards the win- dow bv which she had entered. and whose thoughts in her fright had gone back to her mother--refuRe in time or danger--Crted out.
 ',Nfother. Mothers. It is him! It is The Manw She would have run to- wards him in spite of his forbidding appearances; but the shock had been too much for her. The little knees trembled and gave way. the brain rs, led: and with a moan she sank down on the floor in swoon.
 Harold knew the voice the instant she spoke: there was no need for the enliRhtening words
 Pearl! Pearl he cried. Come to me. darlingl" But as he spoke he heard her moan. and even the soft thud of her little body on the thick carpet. He guessed the truth and groped his way toward where the sound had been for he feared lest he might tramplo upon her in too great eagerness. Kneel- ing by her he touched her little feet. and then felt his way to her face - Now when some action was required of him he felt in all It's acuteness the heiplessness of his blindness. In his confusion of mind he lost the direct ion of the door. and going to the win dow pushed forward the Tapping blind and went out on the balcony. He knew from the freshness of the air and the distant sounds that he was in the open. This disturbed him. as he wished to fnd some one who could attend to the faintipg child But as he had lost the way back to the room now. he groped along the wall of the castle with one hand. whilst he held Pearl securely in the other. As he cali- ed out for help.
 When he came opposite the window of the Mandarin room Mrs. Stonehouse saw himi she ran to him and caught Pearl in her arms She was so agitat- ed, so lost in concern for the child that she never even thought to speak to the man whom she had come so faT to seek She walled over the child.
 Pearl! Pearll What is 1t. darling' It is -motherw She laid the girl on the sofa. and taking the flowers out Of glass began to sprinkle water or the 'child's face. Harold knew her voice and waited in patience. Present iy the child sighed; the mother. rA. Iieved. thought of other things at las1 and looked around her.
 There was yet another trouble. There on the floor, where she had slip ped down lay Lady de Lannoy in a swonn. She called out instinctively, forgetting for the moment that the man was blind, but feeling all the old confidence which he had won in her hoart.
 ~"oh' Mir. Robinson. help me! Lady de Lannov has tainted. too. and do not know what to dol" As she spoke she looked up at him and remembered his blindneas. But she had no time to alter her words: the instant she had spoken Harold. who had been leaning against the window-sash. and whose mind was calmer since with his acute hearing he too had heard Pearl sigh. seemed to leap into the room.
 (COntinued TomOrroyv.)