The Spokane press. [volume] (Spokane, Wash.) 1902-1939, 1909-08-28

Nv e. PHILLIPS oPPENHElM
Copyright, 1905, by Dodd, Mead & Co.

1 MOyat laia her hand upon the han.
die Of the door and motioned to me
to enter.
I shock my head.
"Not tonight" l shouted. II am
drenched."
For few moments. at any
rate" she pleaded: "The others
will not be home yet, and | will
make you something hot. Father is
(expecting you to supper"
shook my head and staggered
on. At the corner Of the street
looked behind. She was holding on
to the door handle, still watching
me, her skirts blowing about her in
confusion. For moment | had half
a mind to turn back. The dead
loneliness before me seemed i'm
bued with fresh horrors-the lone
Illness, my fireless CARTE and empty
larder. Moyat was at least hospi
table. There would be a big fire
plenty to eat and drink Then l re
membered the man coarse hints
his unveiled references to his daugh
trS and his wish to see them settled
In life. his superabundance of whis
ky and his only half-veiled tone OF
patronage. The man was within his
rights. He was the rich man OF
the neighborhood, corn dealer
farmer, and horse breeder. | was
an unknown and practically desti
tute stranger, come from heaven
knew where, and staying on-be
| AZ fao
body and soul together here than
In the town. But my nerves were
all raw that night. and the thought
Of John Moyat with his hearty
voice and slap on the shoulder was
unbearable. l set my face home.
wards.
From the village to my cottage
stretched perfectly straight road
with dykes on either side. No soon,
er had | passed the last house, and
set foot upon the road, than | saw
strange things. The marshland
which on the right reached to the
sea, was hung here and there with
sheets of mist driven along the
ground like clouds before an April
tempest. White flakes of spray
salt and luminous, were dashed in
to my face. Teh sea, indriven up
the creeks, swept the road in many
places. The cattle, trembling with
fear, had left the marshland, and
were coming. lowing, along the
high path which bordered me dyke
And all the time an undernote OF
terror, the thunder of the sea rush
ing in upon the land. came like q
deep monotonous refrain to the
roaring OF the wind.
Through it all | battled my way
hatless, soaked to the skin, yet find
ing a certain wild pleasure in the
storm. BY the time had reached
my little dwelling l was exhausted
My hair and clothes were in wild
disorder, my boots were like pull
upon my feet. My remaining
strength was expended in closing
the door. The fire was out, the
place cold, | staggered towards the
easy chair, but the floor seemed
suddenly to heave beneath my feet
For two days l had had little t
eat; my larder was empty. My
limbs were giving way. a mist wa!
before my eyes and the roar of thu
sea seemed to be in my ears, ever
in my brain. My hands went on
like blind mans, and | suppose
broke my fall. There was rest, a
least, in the Inconsistencies which
came down like a black pail upoI
my senses.
1t could have been only a shor
time before opened my eyes. Som,
one was knocking at the door. Out
side | could hear the low painting
of motor car, the flashing Of bril-
liant lamps threw a CLEAN of ligh
across the floor of my room. Again
there came sharp rapping upoi
the door. | raised myself upon m,
elbow but made no attempt a
speech. The motor was the Row
chester omnibus. What did these
people want with me? was hor
ribly afraid of being found in sucl
straits. lay quite still, and praye(
that they might 60 away.
But my visitor, who ever he was
had apparently no idea of doint
anything Of the sort. | heard The
latch lifted and the tall bulky form
of man filled the threshold.
heard the door close. then thu
scratching Of a match. Shielded il
the hollow of the mans hand, 4
burned clearly, and | knew | wal
discovered.
The man was wrapped In hug,
ulster. He was so tall that his cal
almost brushed my ceiling. | raised
myself upon my elbow and looked
for the first time at Mostyn Ray
He had the blacklist and heavies
eyebrows | had ever seen, yer,
piercing eyes and finely shaped
mouth, firm even to cruelty.
should have known him anywhere
from the pictures which were fiji
ing the newspapers and magazines
AS for me, there Is no doubt tina
| was pitiful object. OF color
had never very much, and my faint
ing fit could scarcely have i'm
proved matters. My cheeks, | hat
noticed that morning when shaw
ing. were hollow. and there wer'
black rims under my eyes. With m.
disordered clothing and hair,
must indeed have presented |