The Washington times., 1912-06-07
House Of the Purple Windows
MARY KATHARINE MAULE
Copyright. The Frank A. Munsey Coz

way, filled with conflicting thoughts, her
mother came to meet her.
II am glad you have come, Annabel,"
| she said, without noticing the girls
| troubled expression. II have just had
cablegram from Lord Baramore. He
| Is on his way to America. suppose he
could not endure the loneliness of his
life there, and hopes to find some relief
and diversion. How little he dreams of
all that has fallen upon us!
With difficulty Annabel brought her
| thoughts to bear on what her mother
| was saying. As she looked into the
pale, worn face, she determined not to
tell her the most recent developments
In the mysterA
She felt that her mother had enough
to bear without putting upon. her any
new perplexity. She recovered herself,
therefore, and spoke as cheerfully as
she could.
II am very glad he is coming. Per-
haps 1t may do grandma good to see
him. Poor Lord Baramore!-I do hope
we can do something toward tightening
his burden of sorrow and making him
happier. When is he coming. motherH'
He said he had booked passage on
the Atlas, which is due in New York on
"The 18th will be week from tomor-
row." exclaimed the girl. II wish that
we. might have given him more joyous
welcome.
Il wish that we might, my DEAR" said
Mrs. Chisleigh, signing.
Annabel looked lovingly into her
mothers face and embraced her.
poor mother" she said, pressing her
cheek to her mothers you are worn
out with grief and watching. Go and
lie down., dear; ! will. take care of
grandmother for the rest Of the day."
That evening. as the girl sat watch
ing by her grandmother's bedside, the
maid came and whispered to her that
Mr.. Barber was downstairs and wished
! to speak to her. Ahnabel rose quickly,
soft, pink color in her cheeks.
The color deepened as she ran down
stairs and found Barber pacing excited
ly up and down the hall.
Miss Chisleigh." he burst out without
the formality of a greeting, II hope you
will pardon me for coming so late, but 1
have something to tell ycu-something
that I wanted to ask you Immediately.
This man Jennings-what sort OF a look
slight, with a red face. sort Of china
blue eyes a little blondsh mustache.
and smooth. light hair?"
trerosi. neS;' tSlt replied Annabel' beginning to
tion of him. Why? Why do you ask?'
Because 1 have just seen him."
I'm the woods. I didn't say anything
to you about 1t, because l didn't want
, you to worry; but. after what we saw
there this morning, I made up my mind
, TO stand watch. l hid behind some
brush down there in the sunken garden
II had to wait long time before any,
| thing happened. but at last I heard a
swapping and cracking OF twigs back in
the woods, and knew some one was
coming. I lay low and kept quiet. and
when he was within a few feet of where
! lay rose up and got a good look at
him.
ut startled me SO. when I saw who
IT was, that before ] knew what I was
! doing ] jumped from behind my hid
, ing place. Paul Jennings saw me. He
stopped short, and for minute we stood
race to face. Then he turned around
| and went crashing away through the
woods"
| Il came on here"
tr,Y r9oE Ist list %;,,, him: hi, You saw him and
/ didn't you p, after him?'
| Yes. but the man I saw was not
iau' Jennings. I begin to suspect that
| there Is no such person as Paul Jen-
! iings. The man 7 saw in the woods to-
night as who was on his way to the
House Of the Purple windows, is James
Hoskins. I know him well. He was
a groom in the, family of my-of a
Tor a rromcnt Annabel stood by him
as II petrified.
Th"n she, said in tremulors voice:
"Where?"
'Ir England"
How long ago?"
Some twelve or fifteen wears ago."
Annahel remained silent for a no.
G1ent
wait This is too much for me to
grasp. Let me call mother"
When Mrs. Chis'etgh had been in
formed Of the latest develormont she
die not seem greatly surprised.
II knew. OF course. that he vas IN
WINGED that he had been in service
surmised from number of little
| things that he had been n groom, OF
| coachruan. knew. too, that they got
| money, from England. 1 asccrtained
that at the bank soma time ago. I am
| surprised to learn that his name is not
Jennings. The couple have something
I 20 conceal. and that accoTts for the
! change OF name. How long ago did this
man quit the sorvice Of you"-relative?''
! AS Parber met the gaze of her clear
/ dark eyes he flushed deeply.
A Continuation of This Story VIII
Be Found In TOmorrOw's
Issue of The Times.