Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1909-01-30
"a - perfectln 80

aEllauoH ana surprise plotted the puE-
zle OF his presence there. she forgot
that it WAS the dead OF night: that
she was in her nightgOwn. 1t flashed
across her mind that some near and
desperate trouble had befanen him.
All the protective and maternal in her
love welled up. She went quickly to.
ward him.
He die not move or STIR and then
she realized thar. though his eyes
seemed 20 look az her. II was with
passive. trauced fxity. They saw moth
Ing. He was asleep.
She halted, deep compassion and a
painful wondermcnt holding her. feel
ing with a thrill tie power she pos
sessed over him, Then, like a cold
wave. surgcd over her a numbing sense
OF his position. How had he entered ?
Had he broken locks Ike a burglar?
The situation was anomalous. What
should she do? Walked abruptly. the
result might be disastrous Discov-
cred. his presence there when al slum-
bcrcd, suspected as he had been. would
be ruiuOus. She must get him away.
out o. the house. and quickly.
a breath OF cool air swept past her.
putting out the lamp-an outer door
was open At the same instant she
heard steps beyond the curve CT the
han, Or Brcnt's voice peremptory and
iuquiring. Her nerves chilled. he.
blocked the sole avenue OF retreat.
No. there was one, other and only one
"a single way 90 shield him. Quiet
and reSourccful now. though her
cheeks were hot. she took the hand OF
the unconscious man. drew him silent
and unresistiug lnto the friendly shad-
ow OF her room. closed the door noise
lcssly aud bolted &C.
For moment she stood motionless.
her heart beating violently. Had he
been seen? or had the opea door ere
ated an alarm? Releasing his hand
gently. she found her way softly TO
stand. lighted tiny night taper and
threw n shawl about her. a sudden
confusion tingicd through her veins.
sense OF maidenly S9ame. opposing the
sweet reminder or their real relation
ship-was he not in fact her husbandq
that lay ever beneath her thought 20
Justify and explain.
Suddenly. in the tense silence OF the
room. the mantol clock struck 3 In deep
chime. Ike the vibration OF faron
church bell. The tone was not loud
indeed. the tow roll of the thunder had
been we'll nigh as loud but there was
in the intrusive metallic cadence
peculiar suggestion 20 the dormant
mind. IL penetrated the crust OF
sleep IL touched the inner ear OF the
conscious intelligence. Harry started.
a shudder ran through his frame. lac
swayed dizzlly. his hand went 10 his
forehead
In the instant OF shocked awakening
Iessica was at his side in an agony of
apprehension. her arm thrown about
him, her hand pressed across his lips.
her lips az his ear In an agonized
warning:
Hush! Do not speak, II is /, Jes-
sica, Make no noiser'
She felt her wrist caught in a grasp
that made her vince. His whole body
was trembling violently. ''Jessica|
he said In painfully articulated whis-
per. You? Where am I?r
This is my ROOM" she breathed
you have been walking in your sleep
Make no sound. We shall be heard"
A low exclamation broke from his
lips. He looked bewilderedly about
him, his eyes returning TO her face
with Mortified realization. "I-came
hereto your rOomT' The voice was
scarcely audible.
1T was / who brought you here.
You were In the hall You would have
been found. The house Is reused"
He turned abruptly TO the door, but
che caught his arm. what are you
going 10 do? You win be seenF'
80 much the better. 1t VIII be az
my proper measure-as a prowler,
housebreaker, a disturber OF honest
sleepr
NO nor she protested in a panic
'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?"
He caught his breath hard think
OF your he repeated huskily. us
there even an hour when / do not
think OF you? Is there a day when
would not die to serve you? Yet in
my very Sleep
He paused, gazing at her where she
stood in the half light, a misty, uncer-
tain figure. She was curiously happy.
The delicious and pangless sense OF
guilt however-the guilt OF the hidden,
not the blameworthy thlng-that was
ting!lng through her was for him a
shrinking and acute self reprOach.
She was silent Forgive me-" he
said. IF you can. IL can never for.
give myself. How can best go?'
For answer she moved TO the win
dow. slender and wraithlike. He fol-
lowed silently. AS she parted the cur
tain second OF bright lightning re-
veaied the landscape. the dark hedges
and clustered trees. II blackened. and
she drew him back. with a hushed
word. pointing where a lantern was
flashing through the shrubbery.
ut Is Waterman" she said. HE
vii! be gone presently"
God help mel" be whispered, the