Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1911-09-28

Nothing. It's all right-really. Will
you come downstairs as soon as you
can, very quietly
Certainly. Half a minute. What's
the matter
Nothing" she said. Hurry" The
key turned in the lock and she was
gone. l dressed with a haste that made
my fingers clumsy. and ran downstairs.
The hustle in the house had quoted
into an irregular murmur.
Miss Tabor was waiting for me in
the hall below. The lights were not
on, and I could see only that she was
wrapped in something long and dark,
her hair gathered into a loose knot
above her head. Perhaps only the dim
light made me imagine traces of tears.
THANK you for being so ready" she
began in a quick undertone. Now,
listen! you must
TELL me what's the trouble" 1 broke
in. rs 1t burglary, or is somebody
taken suddenly ill.,
There isn't any trouble" she re-
peated. you must believe that, and
you must do as | tell you. I'm ter
ribly sorry, but it's impossible for you
to remain here any longer. You must
go away-now, at once. and without
knowing or asking anything. or
course there's a good reason, and of
course you can be trusted not to ak
or inquire. That's all. It's perfectly
simple; there's nothing really surpris-
ing about it."
You mean I'm to leave this minuteT
in the middle of the night"
Yes: now. Don't wonder or worry.
Think as well of us as you can-don't
think about us at all! There's nothing
the matter. | ought to have known.
Accept my apologies for all of us, and
good-by.' She held out her hand.
That's all very WE'LL" ! said. "Of
course I'll go if you wish it, and ask
no questions. Only tell me when | can
see you again. and if there's anything
in the world | can do for you. I'll be
staying at the inn"
A latch-key clicked behind us. and
the man | had seen at the gate tiptoed
in. IAN right" he whispered.
IT think so; hurry" she replied, and
he passed swiftly and quietly upstairs.
She turned to me a drawn face, speak
ing in strained monotone.
you must never see me again. You
IluSln | StdN III low H. Hol u ~ w
anything. oh, can't you understand?
The only help you can give is to go
so way utterly and forget all about
II as if you had never met me. Hon
estly I'm grateful. and ! think every
thing good of you, but-oh, so away"
AS You please" / said. What about
my things?"
wait a minute She ran lightly up
a. tIo Io,,IiAr ND rot,.rnal with NV
suitcase, closed and strapped. I took
my hat from the table by the door.
"Good-by.'' she said, Promise me
not to try to come back"
What Is there in darkness and the
sense of night to make even the plain
est woman so lovely? She vas close
before me as ] turned, the mysterious
oval of her face wavering upward as
though rising through dim water; her
hair a heavier shadow against the
gloom. her lips a living blossom, and
her eyes luminous out of undiscoverable
depths. The dark wrap she wore lost
itself downward In long, fading lines;
and all the hidden form and the name
less fragrance of her were wonderfully
the same, one with midnight and mid
summer. AS l took her hand, I do not
know what agony of restraint held my
arms from around her; only ] kept re-
peating over and over to myself, Il
have no right have 10 right"-and
because of that l could not for a mo-
ment answer her in words, Suddenly
from above came a sharp shock and
the metallic splash of broken glass.
The voices broke out In a quick muir
mur, and she shrank and shook as If
~cringing away from a blow.
"Oh, go quickly" she cried. '"They
need me-"
Il opened the door. 'fGood-by," 1 said
weakly. 'and-God bless youi" And
even as l turned on the threshold to lift
my hat the latch clicked behind me.
90 BE Continued Tomorrow