The Oroville weekly gazette. [volume] (Oroville, Wash.) 1905-19??, 1909-01-01

was that ward of whose coming he had
learned. Moreau was good trlend 10
have warned him. Was she part or
plan of reprisal-her presence there
tentative threat to him? Could his ia
Their mean to adopt her? Might that
great house. those grounds. the bulk OF
his wealth. go to her. and he. the son.
be left in the cold? He shivered Per
haps he had stayed away too long!
As he turned again. he heard sound
IN the hall He listened. A light step
was approaching swish of gown.
With a sudden impulse he stepped into
the embrasure Of the window. as the
figure of girl paused at the door he
felt his face flush She had thrown a
crimson kimono over her white night
gown. and the apparition seemed to
part the dusk of the doorway like the
red breast Of a robin. She held in her
hands a bunch of the pale Marechal
Mel roses. and his eye caught the long
rebelious sweep of her bronze hair
and the rosy tint of bare feet through
the worsted meshes of her night slip
pers.
To his wonder the sight of the light,
ed room seemed to cause her no sur
prise. For an instant she stood still as
though listening. then entered and
placed the roses in a vase ON reading
stand by the bedside.
Hugh gasped To reach the stand
the girl had passed the spot where he
stood, but she had taken no note Of
him. Her gaze had gone by him as II
he had been empty air Then he real
lied the truth: Jessica Home was
blind! Moreau's letter had given him
no inkling of that. So this was the
girl with whom his father now threat
ened him. Was she counting on his
not coming back. waiting for the wind
fall? She was blind-but she was
beautiful. Suppose he were to turn
the tables on the old man. not only
climb back into his good graces through
her. but even
The thin line on his brow sprang
suddenly scarlet What supple,
graceful arm she had! How adroit her
fingers as they arranged the rose
stems! Was he already wholly black
ened in her opinion? What did she
think of him? Why did she bring
those flowers to that empty room ?
Could it have been she who had kept
it clean and fresh and unaltered against
his return? A confident. daring look
grew in his eyes He wished she could
see him In that purple tie and velvet
smoking jacket. What an opportunity
for romantic self Justification.
Should he speak? Suppose it should
brighten her!
Chance answered him. His 'respira.
ton had conveyed to her the knowl
edge OF presence in the room. He
heard her draw quick breath. "Some
one is here! she whispered
He started forward wait, waitw
he said in a loud whisper as she
sprang back. But the voice seemed to
startle her the more. and before he
could reach her side she was gone He
heard her flying steps descend the stall
and the opening and closing Of a door
The sudden flight Jared Hughs
pleasurable sense of novelty. He thrust
his hands deep into his pockets. Now
he was in for II! She would alarm the
house. rouse the servants. He should
have a staring domestic audience for
the imminent reconciliation his sobered
sense told him was so necessary
Struggling his shoulders. he went
quickly down the stair to the library.
He had known exactly what he
should see there-the vivid girl with
the hue Of fright in her cheeks. the