The Greenville journal. [volume] (Greenville, Ohio) 1850-1918, 1910-12-01

seemed so phantasmal then, every
thing she had put down as figment
of her own Imagination, had meant
just this plain fact. All three of
them had wanted the picture. For
his own reason, Kerr had turned aside
from the chase, but Harry had stood
with it to the last, and now, when
finally the prize had been assured to
him, Clara had it!
At this moment she had it in her
hand. At this moment she knew what
was the aspect of the figure in the pic
ture, whether it showed a face, and,
if face, whose. Flora's hands open
ed and closed. "Oh," she whispered
to the great silence of the great house
awaiting him; where is he? Why
isn't he here?"
All those terrible things which
might be happening beyond her
reach processioned before her. Had
Clara already snapped the trap Of the
law upon Kerr? And if she hadn't
yet, what could be done to hold her
Ou plOId IuluGu again W IhS IClS-
phone. Slowly she took down the re-
ceiver and gave into the bright mouth
piece of the instrument the number of
her own house.
Presently the voice of Shima spoke
to her. Mrs. Britton had gone out to
| dinner.
Tell her, Shima," Flora command
| ed, tell her to come down on the
earliest train" She hesitated, then
! finished in firm voice. Tell her not
to do anything until she has seen
me-"
Shima would tell her-but Mrs.
Britton had been out all day. He did
not know when she would be back.
The words sounded ominous in
Floras ears. She turned away. Was
everything to be finished just as she
had light enough to move, but before
she had a chance?
The sound of spinning wheels on
the drive started her to fresh hope,
and sent her hurrying down the stair.
1t was the phaeton returning from the
last train. Through the open door she
saw the figure of Mrs. Herrick expec-
tant on the veranda. Then the car
riage came into the porte-cochere and
passed. With a rush she reached the
veranda, and stood there looking after
it. She wouldn't believe her eyes
she couldn't-that it had returned
again empty.
! Mrs. Herrick's voice was asking her,
What shall we do? Shall we serve
dinner now. or wait little longer?"
ooh, it's no use," Flora murmured,
"he won't come tonight. He'll never
come" She dropped against the tail
porch pillar.
my poor child" Mrs. Herrick took
her passive hand. If she read in the
| profound encouragement of Flora's
face that something more had trans
pired than a mere non-appearance, she
did not show 1t, but waited, alert and
quiet, while they gazed together out
over the darkening garden.
1t was the time of twilight when the
sky is so much brighter than the
earth. Across the lawns between the
bushes from hedge to hedge the veil
of the obscuring light was coming in;
and through it the avenue of willows
marched darkly. Their leaves moved
little. Flora watched the ripple Of
their tops, clear on the bright sky
and deeper down among mysterious
branches there was sense of move
ment where the eyes could not see
There was curious flick, flick, flick
era progression, passing from the
far dark end Of the willow avenue to
ward where it met the vista Of the
drive. Flora's eyes, absently, involun
tarily, followed the movement. She
felt Mrs. Herrick's hand suddenly
close on hers.
''Is some one coming?"
They clung to each other, peerinl
timorously down the drive. "A little
gust of wind took the garden, and be
fore the trees had ceased to trembl'
and whiten man had emerged from
their shadow and was advancing upor
them UP the middle of the drive.
Flora's heart leaped at sight OF him
All her impulse was to fly to meet him
but she felt Mrs. Eerrick's hand tight