The Kendrick gazette. [volume] (Kendrick, Idaho) 1892-1968, 1909-01-22
CHAPTNR Iy.-fCont,nued.,

spiration. The dinner call aroused him
The music ceased, and he was again thu
faltering human lover. The path had
been illumined only long enough to show
him that there was q shorter way.
It seemed during dinner that Lara
had something to say which the presence
Of the others forbade. Mrs. Stansbury
went upstairs. Breen and tho planter
engaged in a smoky discussion Of the lit
srary peregrinatiOns of one Herman Mel
vile. The other two set out for the
gardens.
II have wanted to tell you since morn
ing how sorry am" she said quietly.
II want you 10 know that, in spite of
mothers decision, thank you for your
kindness, and believe In your deeper
knowledge Of our danger"
"It's good of you to say that" he an
gwered. II never tried to persuade any
body to do anything before. I may take
Pelee too seriously, but can't help H.,
with you folks here"
She laughed. "And I thought that
aothing short Of an actual eruption could
disturb your equanimity."
ibid you ever read The Story Of the
Gadsbys'" he asked.
yes"
"Thers Is a big fragment Of truth
back Of that. Do you think I would have
played upon your Imagination and nerves.
and made Q mess Of things, II hadn't
been afraidr
"Afraid of the mountain? That's not
like you. Are we about to see you down
below in the city, warning the people,
Ike Cassandra in the streets Of Troy?"
II have dearer service-before going
down into the city," he answered. II
was a. II Breen and the days coatempla-
ton had made this moment inevitable,
That done, could take up the work
there with sleeves rolled up and burst
ing with anthems"
"What service% she asked bravely,
though the trend Of his words was as
black ON white. She was startled. un-
ready.
ITO put You cut Of the range of Pelee's
guns!" he said, with sudden vehemence.
She had scarcely OWNED that there
lived lover In this man. She felt futile
beside him, and yet fused by his pepetrat-
ing vitality. To her, 1t was the signal
moment In which the woman discovers a
giant beseger at her gates.
They will hear you" she found her
self saying, in a satisfied tone.
Let them hear me. want you to be
eSfe. Pelee> 10 NO study to me now, but
. grim warnings-because you are here
can't keep my eyesN from the volcano,
nor my thoughts from you. Don't you
know don't You know that You crept
into the very heart of me--a Bit u .
GIRL, telling nae how to i've my lifel Yes
terday. whom ] found the mountain
awake, all that I had ever doas and
thought and felt turned to nothing Gem.
pared to your life. No matter what you
think or say to mel am afraid for
you I"
{ The head bending toward her face
seemed huge In the dark, and his lowered
Voice charged with power.
But we will 60 to sea when the Pan
ther comes" she said huskily.
"LAra" The voice was from Mrs.
6tansbury. in the upper window Of the
house-that calm. fateful voice.
II must gov
Listen. cannot bear to wait until
the Panther comes! I" he went on impetu-
ously. II want to put you safely ashore
In Dominica this night-sr Fort de
France, or even on shipboard-and will
como back here. Do this for me, Lady |"
Lara !" was called again.
Eyes, mother. No, could
not 80 alone! There would never be
home here again. must go to mother
oh, I cannot speak nowl"
He stood alone In the dark. A lizard
that had hearkened attentivcly, began to
croak his comment to the mango trees.
CHAPTER v.
Sleeplessness ranged through Consta-
ble's brain again, and he gave the night
to the old work Of watching the noun
tain, and keeping the woman at hand.
From time to time, before midnight, he
heard the voice of Mrs. Stansbury. The
girl was with her, but seemed to make no
answer. The house was all his own.
the lower hall to the music
room; out to the veranda, the garden
paths and drives; from the window that
faced the north, In his own room, to the
summit Of the Morne d'Orange and the
shadowy lawns; through ash-fog and
moonlight--he trod the night
away. The hours fell asleep In passing
the moon drowsed for ages in the cloud
gardens; the stars dimmed, disappeared,
and trembled forth again, as they had
been. 1t seemed left entirely to him that
time passed; he had to grapple with the
minutes one by one, and fight each back
into the past.
At the side Of the great house to the
north there was trellis heavily burdened
with lianas. Within, he found the orifice |
Of an old cistern, partially covered by
unfxed planking. He lifted the boards. |
and the moonlight shining through the
foliage reflected in the water far below.
A heavy wooden bar crossed the rim and
was SGT stoutly in the masonry. Consta-
bio Lit match. His mind kesnly Crashed
each detail. A rusty chain depended from
the thick crosspiece. Slabs of stone from
the side walls were scattered over the
bottom Of the cistern. He dropped sew
eral ignited matches into the chamber.
and determined to examine the place
more thoroughly by daylight. From the
native cabins came the sound of a dog
barking. A shutter clicked in one of the |
upper windows Of the plantation house.
There's be no doubt about 1t now"
- thought grimly. They'll proceed at
lnce to shut me up for being mentally ir- |