Martinsburg statesman-democrat. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1906-1921, 1909-06-25

SuuttufN. III the Tense NlfelCC OF tilt
room, the mantcl clock strnck 3 Ia deep
chime. like the vibration of "a farolf
church bell The tone was not loud
indeed. the low ron cf the thunder had
been well nigh as ioni hut there was
In the Intrusive metallic cadence a
peculiar suggestion TO the dorriant
mind II penetrated the crust 81
sleep, II touched the inner ear Of The
conscious intelligence. Harry started.
sAudder ran through his frame. he
swayed dizzlly. bis baud went t. his
forehead
In the instant of shocked awakening
Jcsstca was at his side Ia an agony Of
apprehension. her arm thrown about
him, her hand pressed across his iips
her lips at his ear in an aganized
warning:
''IIushl DO not spcakl II Is !. .Ies-
siea, Make no noiser'
She felt her wrist caught In d grasp
that made her vince His whole body
was trembling Violently "Iessical X
he said in painfully articulated wbis-
per ..You? Where am IT.
"rhis II my ROOM she brcalhed.
"yon have heen walking In your sleep.
Make no sound We shall be heard
A low exclamation broke from his
lips. He looked bewilaeredly about
him, his eyes returning TO her face
with a Mortified realization. n came
hereto yonr rooms" The voice was
scarcely audible.
ut was | who brought you here
You were in the halt You would have
been found The house Is, reused.
He turned abruptly 10 the door, but
she caught his arm. "Wbat are yon
going TO do? You win be seem
$50 much the better. lit viii be at
my proper measure as a prowler, a
housebrcaker, a disturber Of honest
sleep."
mo. nol' she protested In a panic.
s'You shall not. VIII not have you
taken for what you are not. ! know.
But they would not know. No one
must see you leave this room. DO you
not think OF me?v
He caught his breath hard think
Of your he repeated hnskily. rs
there even an hour when ! do not
think Of youl Is there day when l
would not die to serve yon2 Yet In
my very sleep
He paused. gazing at her where she
stood IN the half light. misty, uncer-
tain figure. She was curiousIy happy.
The delicious and pangiess sense OF
guilt, however~-the guilt OF the hidden,
not the blameworthy fhing-that was
tingling through her was for him d
shrinking aud acute self reproach.
She was silent. Forgive me- he
said. ''if yon can. I'll can never for
give myself. How can best gof'
For answer she moved to the win.
dow. slender and wraitblike lie fol-
lowed silently. AS she parted the Cur
tain a second Of bright lightning re-
veaied the landscape. the dark hedges
and clustered trees ii biackened. and
she drew him back. with hushed
word. pointing where q lantern was
flashing through the shruhbery.
1T Is a wafcbman,r she said. "He
will be gone presently"
God help meiH be whispered, the
pent passion Of his dreams rushing to
utteranee. why did ! ever see your
face? was reckless and careless then.
4 had damned the decent side OF me
that now is quiverlng alive. ! have
tried to blot your face from my mem
DRY. but II ~ useless. ! shall always
see It."
On the lawn Just outside the window
low voices were heard through the In
creasing rain. They passed. and after
a moment be softly Unmatched the vim
dow.
"Goodby.' he said
She stretched out her hand fle
touched l.. then drew the window
wide AS he stepped noiselessly down
on to the springy turf the lightning
flashed again. a pale green glow that
seemed almost before her face. She
drew back. and the same instant.
through the thunder. the electric bell
on the wall rang sharply. She threw
on her dressing gown, thrust her feet
into slippers and fastened from the
room.
The same fash that had startled Jes-
sica lighted brightly the physician and
the Waterman, who stood at the cor
ner OF the building, having finished
their tour of inspection. 1t was the
latter who had found the open door
and who had aroused the doctor. insist
ing that he had seen man In the ball.
The other had poohpoohed this, but
now by the lightning both saw the
figure emerge from the French window
and disappear In the darkness.
They ran back, the physician ahead
The window was not locked. and they
stepped through 1t into an empty room
sTo be sure,1 said the doctor disgust