Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1911-11-10

sparkling.
You may retire any time you like,
Aunt LYDIA" she said. Pm going to
read while"
Aunt Lydia always was obedient. so
Camilla was left alone. She had a
book before her, but the meaning Of
the story was quite lost to her. She
was waiting for that clicking sound
at the front door below, and time
seemed to drag.
Bother! he isn't coming at all.
Well. I'll go back to Idlehurst tomoF-
row, and laugh at Geraldine. Then
like two nice little society mandarins,
Brother and will be nodding at each
other Saturday afternoon"
The evening wore on, and the still.
ness deepened. Camilla rose and
looked out the window; here and there,
a twinkling light shone through the
darkness. While she watched, some
of the lights disappeared. She look
ed at the clock and saw that it was
near midnight When the hour struck,
Camilla went softly into the hall and
peered over the railing, She had a
strong feeling that something was
about to happen.
An instant later, with the usual pre-
liminary sounds, the lower door
swung slowly open. Camilla switch
ed on the hall lights, and dashed
down the stairs.
stand where you arei" she COM
handed loudly zone step further,
and will call the police-or shoot"
The tall figure before her retreated
at sight of the threatening weapon,
and reached fumblingly backward for
the door knob. Even in that moment
of intense excitement, Camilla was
conscious of a shock of disappofnt-
ment as her eyes fell on the mans
face, clearly visible in the bright
light. 1t was not noble face-hand.
some enough, perhaps, but dissipated
and craven. The whole figure was I'M
prepossessing. Why did the man not
speak? She wanted to hear his voice.
What are you doing here?" she
asked, curiously at ease and con-
trolled. OF course he would declare
himself in another moment, and the
farce would be over. AS for meeting
Gilbert Merrill, the event was not
worth the trip to town.
Then, to Camilla's establishment, as
she stood there, straight and challeng-
ing in her oriental draperies, the fig
ure of the intruder backed silently
over the sill, out into the shadows of
the night, and the door swung to be-
tween them
"The coward" murmured Camilla.
Then, in a state of nervous reaction,
she sank into the hall chair and rest
ed her head weakly against the
carved back. And l drove Gilbert
Merrill out of his own house. Oh,
what a joke I shall hate
to tell Geraldine. It's shaken me up
awfully. Well, 1 guess I can go to
sleep now-unless he should recover
and come back"
Click! Click! The front door latch
again. Camilla, leaning forward in a
fascinated way, with the revolver ly-
ing idly in her lap, saw the heavy
door swing slowly inward, and a man
enter The new conner stood in dumb
amazement, prepossessing. erect.
keen-eyed. He looked at the f1aring
lights and at the huddled figure in the
chair.
Camilla could not utter a word She
knew that this was Gilbert Merrill
but who was the other? A fit of vio-
lent trembling came over her, and
her cheeks paled. Her eyes were
like those of a frightened child
"Why-I believe I've scared you
terribly" said a hearty, ringing voice.
with such a comforting sound in it.
81 am Gilbert Merrill-and you must
be one of Geraldine's friends. Is she
here? Why. what's this?"
For, as Camilla drew herself feebly
to her feet, the little revolver ratified
to the floor.
There was burglar-a real burg
lar here" she said, brokenly. II
ordered him away-and then-you
came"
"Oh, don't faint-you poor child!
You're safe now"
Gilbert's supporting arm was
around her, and the heavy auburn
hraids lay against his shoulder AS
the girls eyes uplifted shyly, they
met magnetized gaze that made her
lashes fall again. Faint and trem-
bling, she WAS still hlissfully con-
scious of the reassuring pressure Of
that protective arm. 1t was really q
pretty tableau that Aunt Lydia saw
when she peered wonderingly over
the banister. Then explanations fol-
lowed.
Early Saturday morning Geraldine
received two letters One, couched in
terms that she alone might under
stand and signed Camilla" was
thrown aside after reading, with a
petulant 'Pshaw!" The other was
from Gilbert.
Il shall not be down Saturday, with
the crowd, Geraldine. Your friend.
Miss Ogden, has had an unpleasant
shock, and think life at Idlehurst Is
too stimulating for her at present, so
I have advised her to remain here
over Sunday, and | win stay 10 see
that she and her aunt are properly
protected and made comfortable We
will join you later, when your scatter
Drained merry-makers have flown
shall not return to the camp next
week, so you win have enough of my
society, after all Gilbert
Geraldine's face was aglow as she
finished her letter reading And
thought it was all fizzle. she re-
Elected. sOh-h, Gflbert!e Then she
tossed back her head. while her c1lrls
b<vxl,ed ynprrflv ana laughed until Tho