The San Juan islander. [volume] (Friday Harbor, Wash.) 1898-1914, 1911-05-19


unknown terrors that lurked In t4s
hlackness above her. It was - u.
rendered supersensitive by strain and
e~c,tement, the quivering filaments Of
her subconsciousness. like spiritual
,ontacles feeling ahead of her. had
encountered and recOiled from shape
If evil. a specter Of horror obscene ana
malign, crouching, ready to sprinS'
| there. in the shadow Of night.
And her breath was smothered N
| her throat and her heart smote 50
| madly against the frail walls OF lie
cage that they seemed like to burst
while she stood transfixed, frozen IN
,naction, limbs stiffening, roots OF ner
hair stirring, fingers gripping the ban.
lister rail until they panied her; and
with eyes that stared wide into the
black heart of nothingness, until the
night seemed pricked with evanescen'
neriods of dim fire, peopled with mon
strous and terrible shadows closing
| about her.
Yeti was absurd! She must not
yield to such puerile superstitions.
There was nothing there.
There was something there
something that like an incarnation OF
hatred was stalking her.
| If only she dared scream! II only
she dared turn and fly, back to the
comfort of light and human com
pany!
There arose a trampling of feet In
the hallway; and she heard Maitland
voice like far echo, as he babe the
police good night. And distant and
unreachable as he seemed, the sound
of his words brought her strength and
some reinsurance, and she grew
slightly more composed. Yet, the In
slant that he had turned away to talk
to the cabman, her fright of that I'M
speakable and incorporeal menace
flooded her consciousness like great
wave, sweeping her-metaphorically-
off her feet And indeed, for the time
she felt as If drowning, overwhelmed
in vast waters, sinking, sinking into
the black abyss of syncope.
Then, as drowning person-we'r re
told-clutches at straws, she grasped
again at the vibrations of his voice
What was he saying?
"You will wait outside. please. until
come out or send somebody, whom
you will take wherever directed. -
Speaking to the cabman, think
ing of her, providing for her escape!
Considerate and foresighted as al
ways! How she could have thanked
him! The warmth of gratitude that
enveloped her almost unnerved her;
she was put to it to restrain her i'm.
pulse to rush down the stairs and :.
But no; she must not risk the
chance Of rebuff. How could she fore
tell what was In his mind and heart
how probe the depths Of his feeling
toward her? Perhaps he would re
ceive her protestat.ons in skeptic spir
it. Heaven knew he had cause to!
Dared she ;. To be repulsed!
But no. He had provided this means
for fight; she would advantage her
self of 1t and and thank him
by letter. Best so; for he must ever
think the worst of her; she could
never undeceive him-pride restrain
ing and upholding her.
Better SO; she would go, go quickly
before he discovered her absence from
the fat.
And incontinently she swung about
and flew down the stairs, silently
treading as lightly on the heavily
padded steps as though she had been
thistledown whirled adrift by the
wind, altogether. needless Of the
creeping terror she had sensed on; the
upper flight, careless of all save hel
immediate need to reach that cab be
fore Maitland should discover that she
had escaped.
The door was just closing behind
the cabby as she reached the bottom
step; and she paused, considering that
| it were best to wait moment, Al
least, lest he should be surprised al
the quickness with which his employ
or found work for him; paused and on
some mysterious impulse hall turned
glancing back up the stairs.
Not thought too soon; another in
stant's hesitation and she had been
caught, Some one-a man-was de
scending;; and rapidly. Maitland!
Even in her brief glance she saw the
white shield OF shirt bosom CLEAN
dull against the shadows. Maitland
was in evening dress. Could 1t be
possible =?
No time now for conjecture, time
now only for action. She sprang 70,
the door, had it open in a trice, and
before the cabby was really en-
throned upon his lofty box, the girl
was on the step, fair troubled face
upturned to him in wild entreaty.
Hurry" she cried, distracted
Drive OF, at once! Please-oh
pleased"
SEEKING reins and whip, he jerked
the startled animal between the shafts
out Of its abstraction and
Il say, cabby! One moment!"
The cabman turned; the figure on
| the StOOD of the house was t,ndn,,hfaA