The Greenville journal. [volume] (Greenville, Ohio) 1850-1918, 1910-12-01
CHAPTER XXI.
cIara's Market,

IeTVdlS she uedIu Tue IT6du VI uuSuOu
feet along the hall, and then she held
her breath lest at her slightest stir
they approached her door. Why, since
he wanted the sapphire, hadn't he
tried to get it from her when he had
had her unawares, upon her threshold
with the house asleep? 1t began to
seem to her as If he were waiting, as
If he were forced to wait, for some ap-
pointed moment She knew If 1t were
his moment it would be hers, too, as
long as she had the sapphire upon
her. She recalled fearfully the mo-
ment when she had crouched against
the window with her hand protecting
the jewel, and Harry's hand grasping
her wrist. He would know we'll enough
where to find 1t now. oh, the restless
unconcealable thing! Where could
she hide It?
She took the pear-shaped pouch
that swung always before her on her
long gold chain. She had repudiated
that hiding-place before, but now the
more obvious the better-now that
both men supposed she carried the
jewel far hidden out of sight. With.
out removing from the bed where she
was crouched, cramped and cold, she
made the exchange, leaving the chain
still around her neck, dropping the
jewel into the pouch, where it would
swing free, so carelessly dangling as
to be beyond suspicion, but never be.
yond the reach Of her hand.
1t was a pale, splendid dawning full
Of clouds when she fell asleep.
Broad sunlight filled her room when
she was awakened by a knocking at
her door. She sprang from the bed
and went to it. She was not to be
come in upon by any unwelcome WIS.,
itor. But it was Mrs Herrick; and
Flora, with murmur of relief, since
this was the one person she did want
to see, drew her inside.
why, my child, you haven't slept,
at least not properly" Mrs. Herrick
herself looked anxious and weary.
1--WE come to tell you that Mrs. Brit
ton Is here. She came an hour ago"
Where is she?"
I'm the breakfast-room with Mr..
Cressy."
"Oh," Flora cried, you know
didn't expect them. 1 didn't want
them. 1t wasn't for them 1 asked you
to come"
But can't you tell me what it is
you're afraid OFF," the other urged.
Between US can't we prevent tt2 Is
there nothing can do to help your"
"Ah, if you knew how much you
have already helped me by just being
here"
Her companion laughed a little.
Cant I do something more active
than that?"
Flora pondered. "Where is Mr..
Kerr?"
In the garden, in the willow walk"
do you think you can manage that
the others don't get at him?"
Il can; if he doesn't want to get at
them," Mrs Herrick replied. Against
man like that, my DEAR" she aimed
it gravely at Flora, zone can do moth.
| ing"
But Flora had no answer for the
warning. II must see Clara immedi.
ately." she said.
But not without breakfast" Mrs.
Herrick protested. 81 will send you
up something. Remember that she
never abuses herself, so she's always
fresh-and so she's always equal to
| the occasion"
Mrs. Herrick went. Flora looked
into the mirror. Almost for the first
time in ten days she thought of heI
appearance. If it was, as Mrs. Her
rick said, factor of success, some
thing must be done for it, for it was
| dreadful. The best she could do re-
| vived a pale replica of the vivid crea
ture who had been wont to regard heI
from her glass. Yet her black gown
thin and trailing far behind her, and
her hair wound high, by very force
of their contrasted color, gave her .
real brilliance as they gave her a
seeming height But she descended
to the breakfast-room with trepida.
ton, and stood full minute before
the door gathering courage to go in.
When she did open it, it was SC
suddenly that both occupants faced
her with start. They were stand
ing close together, and between them
on the glare of the white table-cloth
lay little heap of gold. AS they
peered at her she saw that both were
highly excited, but in Clara it showed
like cold sparkle; in Harry Il
gloomed like a menace. His hand
lowered, cIenched, above the mones
in panic of irresolution; thfrs as 4
with an involuntary relax of nerves
opened and let fall one last piece o.
gold. Like flash the whole disap
peared in a sweep of Clara's hand. u
passed before Flora's eyes like /,
prestld;gitator's trick, 80 rapid as Il
seem unreal, and left her staring. Har
ry gave Clara look, half suspicious
half entreating; and then, to Flora'l
establishment, turned away without 1
word to either Of them.
| Clara stood still, even after thu
door had closed upon Harry, and od1
ly, and rather horribly, she wore tn,
same aspect she had worn the day
when she had looked Intentiy and alb
sorbediy upor the riHed contents q
Rfora's room
/ (To BE Cor--pNUEpA
| Hewisr-s-y wife can score base
ball game.
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