Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-05-14


NW4NG3 aid of the lamp in the far corridor
N@&Mu when she should reach the turn of
u 1 !: J: ): J: J: e; !
1NNs6AH the passage. But no light, however
I02SaA faint greeted her straning eyes,
HYl10I&TY She positive she had come far
WNGGlHI enough it if it still burned
W96IW Could passing servant, chance
W&HW draft through the crazy vaultlng
wv have blown it out She halted panic
"a ~ O. stricken. How far out of her way
~ ~ had she stumbled? What pitfal of
~ the ruinors structure might not yawn
(gAS at her feet?
Then, sharp in the stiffness, came
the scrape of match and far behind blue sulphurous
point started against the darkness and then bursting
into orange flame, revealed Rodoslav S face. He
looked uncannly white thus presented, pale as dead
man. and with something of the rigidity OF death IN his
features He Mortified her. Shrinking back against
the damp stones terrified lest he upon her. yet not
daring lee she watched his slow advance. Striking
match after match, he and then scant three
yards distant disappeared in the mouth of the passage
she had missed.
Her relief was brief He between her and her
refuge. Finding her door unlocked her empty, he
would stand in wait her threshold If she delayed her
coming too long, he would return and search her out
Find her he must in the end. Even if she brought her,
self to risk the unknown region behind her, it would
offer but a temporary haven. He would know every
Granny of the old pile. 1t better to 60 forward and
face him. She would be the others If need arose
she could call for help. He would realize this. He
would regain control of himself Scrcwing her courage
its pitch, she felt along the wall to the orng
of the way and set her face toward she knew not what
But this latter stage of the return longer IN total
darkness AS before, dim illumination filtered from
the corridor. But it different light this time, cut
ting the gloom at different angle 1t fell fear told her
before her made certain from her open door, He
had pushed efronery to its last extreme. He dared
await her in her room!
Anger leaped to fortifv her courage Her head held
high in outraged PRIDE her eyes, the eyes he had de-
lighted to watch, hard with contempt, her will, plant
longer reused to fight and subjugate the will that
had too long made paytfng of her own, she crossed
the threshold But again this strangest of men
to surprise her. The ant Onst she had steeled her
self to meet had vanished Beside her bed, his face
buried in its counterpane. his shoulders convused the
prey of crushing grief knelt another Rodoslav.
To Ann who had seen him in hundred moods, this
last phase the most unnervng of all Her towering
anger collapsed in an instant and with face white
his, her heart pounding hystera her master, she
threw herself headlong down the corridor and beat
wildly upon her aunt's door.
A FTER what seemed eternity, Mrs Blair adj
1 mitted her Is it burglars?' she quericd still
drugged with sleep. Is the house afire?"
Ann flung herself upon her breast and wept with the
abandon of child and like child, begged incohercnv
to be taken home The older woman mothered her in
drowsy perplexity
But what is it, Deary? Why are you still dressed?
What has frightened you?''
1T all frightens mel sobbed Ann, clutching her
tighter.
mo wonder!" Aunt Helens disappearing glance
ranged the somber walls. 1.-THE place is fit only for
owls and such wild creatures those dancers When
you're married. don't let your husband coax you
back here.
fresh tempest of emotion shook Ann. "I'll never
marry!" she declared.
Whats that?" She had awakened her listener at
last.
"IT never marry! II want to be NUM-"
Mrs Blair perceived that she had to do with hyseria
and dealt with it firmly. " Be anything YOU choose
she said but don't give the Truscotts the idea that
the place is haunted. If you must wall do it in a
pillow She drew the girl to the bedside and sat down
with an arm about her shoulders. Lets hope they
have slept through this hubbub, she added There
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