Lincoln County leader. [volume] (Toledo, Lincoln County, Or.) 1893-1987, 1911-08-11

W
brush against no article of movable
furniture in the halls at pains to make
no noise on the stairs. At the door of
her fathers room on the second floor
she stopped and listened for full mo.
ment; but he was sleeping as quietly,
as soundly, as the servant had de-
clared. Then on, more hurriedly, I'D
another flight, to her own room, where
she turned on the electric bulb in
panic haste. For it had just occurred
to her that the telephone bell might
ring before she could change her cloth
ing land get downstairs and shut her.
self into the library, whose closed door
would prevent the bell from being
audible through the house.
In less than ten minutes she was
stealing silently down to the drawing
room floor again, quiet as a spirit of
the night. The library door shut with.
out sound; for the first time she
breathed freely. Then, pressing the
button on the wall, she switched on
the light in the drop-lamp on the cen
ter table. The telephone stood be.
side it.
She drew up chair and sat down
near the instrument ready to lift the
receiver off its hook the instant the
bell began to sound; and waited, the
soft light burning in the loosened
tresses Of her hair, enhancing the soft
color that pulsed in her cheeks, fading
before the joy that lived in her eyes
when she hoped
For she dared hope-at times; and
at times could not but fear So greatly
had she dared, who greatly loved, so
heavy upon her untarnished heart was
the burden of the sin that she had put
upon it, because she loved. Perhaps
he would not call; perhaps the world
was to turn cold and be forever gray
to her eyes. He was even then decid-
ing; at that very moment her happi
ness hung in the scales of his mercy.
If he could forgive.
There was a click. And her face
famed scarlet, as hastily she lifted the
receiver to her ear. The armature
buzzed sharply. Then centrals voice
cut the stiffness.
Hello! Nine-o-five-one?"
"Yes."
wait minute"
She waited, breathless, in a quiver.
The silence sang upon the wire, the
silence of the night through which he
was cropping toward her.
Hello. Is this nine-o-"
Eyes, yes!"
"Is this the residence of Alexander
| c. Graeme?"
"Yes." The syllable almost choked
her.
rs this Miss Graeme at the phone ?"
1T is"
Miss Sylvia Graeme?"
yes"
This is Daniel Maitland-Sylvia!"
''As if l did not know your VOICE.
she cried, involuntarily.
There followed little pause; and in
her throat the pulses tightened and
drummed.
Il have opened the bag, Sylvia"
'Please go on
| ana I've sounded the depths OF
your hideous infamy!"
"Oh." He was laughing.
1--we done more. I've made burnt
offering within the last five minutes.
Can you guess what it is?"
'I-I-don't want to guess! want
to be told
"a burnt offering on the altar of
your happiness, dear. The papers in
the case of the Dougherty Investment
Company no longer exist
DAM"
'Sylvia-Does it please you?"
Don't you know? How can it do
anything but please me? If you knew
how | have suffered because my IA
ther suffered, fearing the-No, but
you must listen! Dan, it was wearing
him down to his grave, and l
thought"
You thought that If you could get
the papers and give them to him"
Eyes. l could see no HARM because
he was as innocent as you-"
"Of course. But why didn't you ask
me?"
~ 1 ~ &s ri