Morgan County republican. (Versailles, Mo.) 1906-1914, 1910-08-18

beacon. and as he looked II ~shuddered
and grew dark, like a FREELY that
suddenly closes It's wings With q
quick spring the councillor straight
ened himself and turned to the master
Of the Typhoon.
You have a good nose, Nat" he
said. but you ears are not 30 good.
Sh-h-h-h!" He lifted a hand warning.
ly and nodded sidewise toward the
path. Captain Plum listened. He
heard low voices and then footsteps
voices that were approaching rapidly.
and were those OF women. and foot.
steps that were almost running. The
old man caught him by the arm and
az the sounds came nearer his grip
frightened.
Don't brighten them. Nat. Get
down."
He crouched until he was only a
part OF the shadows OF the ground
and Following his example Nathaniel
slipped between two OF the knobs. A
few yards away the sound OF the
voices ceased and there was a hest.
fancy In the soft tread Of the APP
preaching steps. Slowly, and now in
awesome silence, two figures came
down the path and when they reached
a point opposite the hummocks Ma.
thaniel could see that they turned
their faces toward them and that for
a brief space there was something Of
terror In the CLEAN he caught OF
their eyes. In a moment they had
passed. Then he heard them running
They saw mott" Captain Plum ex.
claimed.
Obadiah hoped to his feet and
rubbed his hands with great glee.
What a temptation. Natl" he wits.
pered. What a temptation to fright
en- them out of their wits! No, they
didn't see us, Nat-thcy didn't see us.
The girls are always frightened WHEN
they pass these graves. Some day"
"Graves!" almost shouted the
master OF the Typhoon. GRAVES
and we sitting on EN-"
That's all right, Nat-that's all
right. They're my graves, so were
welcome to sit on them. ! often come
here and sit for hours at a time. They
like to have me, especially little Jean
the middle one. Perhaps I'll tell
you about Jean before you go away"
II Captain Plum had been watching
him he would have seen that soft
mysterious light again shining In the
old councillors eyes. But now Ma.
thaniel stood erect, his nostrils smiling
the air, catching Once more the sweet
scent of lilac. He hurried out into
the opening, with the old man close
behind him, and peercd down into the
starlit gloom into which the W girls
had disappeared. The lovely face
that had appeared to him for an In.
slant at Obadiah's cabin began to
haunt him. He was sure now that his
sudden appearance had not been the
only cause OF its terror, and he felt
that he should have called out TO her
or followed until he had overtaken
her. He could easily have excused
his boldness, even II the councillor
had been watching him from the cabin
door. He was certain that she had
passed very lear to him again and
that the fright which Obadiah had
attempted to explain was not because
of the graves. lie swung about upor
his companion, determined to ask fol
an explanation. The latter seemed t
divine his thought.
Don't let a little scent OF lilac dis
turb you so, young man." he said with
singular coldness. 1T may cause 20,
great unpleasantness." He wen
ahead and Nathaniel followed him
assured that the old mans words ant
the way in which he had spoken then
no longer left a doubt as to 1t iden
tity OF his night visitor. She was on
OF the councillors wives, 81 HI
thought, and his own interest in he
was beginning to have an irritatin,
effect. In other words Obadiah wa
becoming Jealous.
For some time there was silence
between the two. Obadiah Price nov
: walked with extreme slowness ant
along paths which seemed to brinI
him no nearer to the town below
= Nathaniel could see that he was al
= sorbed In thoughts Of his own, an
held his peace. Was 1t possible cha
he had spoiled his chances with tn
r councillor because OF a pretty face an
a bunch Of lilacs? The though
tickled Captain Plum despite she del
cacy OF his situation and he brok
into an involuntary laugh. The laug'
brought Obadiah to a halt as sui
n denly as though some n had thrus
s a bayonet against his breast.