Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-09-19

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The Agitation Of Mr.. Mcclure. \
Half way up the gravel walk to Red
Gables We ceased to run. Dolly's voice.
singing an Irish lullaby to the tinkling
| accompaniment Of her mandolin. fell
gratefully upon our startled senses. A
sudden hopefulness that we had merely
read into her words that cry for help
eased the tension of my feelings.
It was but q momentary relief, how
ever, for with the next line Of the song
recognized that her voice was tremu-
lous and unnatural, and that the effect
Of cheerfulness was either q mask or an
endeavor to sustain her courage.
Upon our approach she moved nervous
ly and peerea into the darkness; then
rose from her chair and met us at the
steps. In the light Of the hanging porch
lamp her features looked drawn and her
eyes were dilated
Milbrath's studied composure broke at
ly, OF who might be within the house to
see. he took the girl in his arms.
What is 1t, darling?" he asked. softly.
Dolly buried her face in the broad
shoulder which pillowed her head and
50 would s" have turned s snd'f e daVe zone
Presently Dolly raised her head. strug-
Cling bravely with her emotion. A wee
smile slimmered through the detection Of
her features. and she drew Milbrath to a
tete-a-tete near where I sat.
Listen she whispered, pointing fin
ger upward.
Distinctly we heard a sound of which 1
had been conscious since the moment I
reached the house-the unceasing click OF
the heels Of Q mans shoes on hard
| floor. and their subdued fall upon rugs
In the room above US.
1T IL grandfather. and it has been like
that, never pausing for more than min
ute at q time. since his return. two hours
ago"
Return? From where?'
Il wish I knew. I have been in Provi-
dence and only reached home at o'clock.
Just before that time. Della says. grano-
after behaving for an hour In most ex-
traordinary and unaccountable manner.
was waiting for him. here on the We
randa, fearful but curious. for he has
not driven alone after dark before in
years. when he returned. :.
He barely noticed me as he passed
into the house; and, oh! his expression!
Dolly covered her eyes for a moment, as
II the memory were overpowering: Only
once before have I seen him with that
shocked and haggard look-when word
came that Mr. Somhers had been killed.
And then was the only time that I have
known him to pace the floor as you hear
him now"
Have you spoken with him?" Milbrath
asked.
II have tried. Twice have been to
his room. Each time the door was closed
and locked. and while he opened 1t upon
though he had answered from behind it.
I can't let you in, little one he said tie
drst time. and his words sounded as II he
had said them many. many times before.
quietly and alone. You cannot help me
this time After that I sat on the porch
and listened to his footsteps. never rest
ing. until I thought I should go mad
Then went UP to him again That time
think that he scarcely knew what he
was saying to me. It was 80 incoherent
that do not know now myself. It was
about friend who had startled him. I
think he said that his drive had to do
with the friend. but whether 1t was that
he met the friend while he was driving,
or went to meet the friend. do not
know
perhaps the friend came here?"' Mil
brath suggested.
II have asked" she said. Neither
house all day"
Can it be that the Arms tragedy has
unnerved him?' ] asked, casually, with
out. however. having much belief that
such could be the case.
Again Dolly shook her head. this time
emphatically.
Il, too, asked that question: she an
swered. land Della. who saw him return
from the Arms cottage. where he went
as soon as he heard Of Jim's death. said
that though he looked shocked and SYM
pathetic, he acted naturally and sat on
the lawn and read for an hour before
any one noticed any agitation in his
manner"
"And you have been trying to restore
him with your music, dear" MiIbrath
said. softly. and he pressed Dolly's tiny
girl!'
He loves these old folksongs and
knew that II anything would make him
pause and listen and think of me alone
down here, they would. But it has been
half an hour since began"
Never mind. darling. The trouble can
not be so serious as it looks now. Per-
haps. after all. you broke the spell. for
listen! He has paused"
The footsteps had ceased. but before we
could do more than exchange glances of
pleasure they were renewed.
Shall Bliss and I make q try at the
granddad?" Milbrath asked. Then he
turned to me. What do you say, Bliss.
good deal for me-" A spasm Of pain
crossed his features. but passed directly.
And believe he would now he added.
1T may be some trouble that he would
he is exaggerating its seriousness"
There ts one peculiar point that have
not told you," Dolly said, as we moved
toward the staircase hall. "You know
that grandfather never permits any one
but himself to meet me at the station.
He has always declared that service to
be his prerogative, and has even gone for
me directly after one OF his attacks. Well,
this evening Edward met me-"
Milbrath whistled softly.
"Yes?" he queried. expectantly.
''The way II came about is the strangest
part OF this queer affair. After returning
from the Arms cottage grandfather sat
on the lawn, as have said. and read for
an hour. Just before o'clock he called
Della and instructed her to tell Edward
to have the phaeton ready for him in half
an hour. That meant Of course, that he
purposed to meet me. as usual. When
the phaeton had waited before the door
for ten minutes, Della went up to the
study to account for grandfather's un-
heard-of lateness. The door was CLOSED,
and she declares that grandfather was
talking to himself in low. excited tones
and pacing the floor as he is doing. now
She was afraid to knock and crept down.
stairs again. Just as she reached the
kitchen grandfather whistled down
through the tube and ordered Edward to
harness the roam to the covered buggy
and hitch her at the side entrance and
then to drive In the phaeton as fast as
ho Gould far MAJ