Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1912-02-08
The House of the
Whispering
Pines

strange. though what she said was
very simple-I was to please myself:
she was going to retire too. And then
she tried to say good night. but she
only half said it. like one who is
choked with tears or some other dread
full emotion. l cannot tell you how
this made me feel. but you don't care
for that. You want to know what l
did-what Adelaide did. | will tell
you, but l cannot hurry"
"Take your time. Miss Cumberland;
we have no wish to hurry you"
Il can go on now. The next thing
l did vas to knock at Arthur's door. l
heard him getting ready to go out, and
} wanted to speak to him before he
went. When he heard me he opened
the door and let me in. He began at
once on his grievances. but l could not
listen to them. l wanted him tt har-
ness the gray mare for me and leave
it standing in the stable. explained
the request by saying that it was
necessary for me to see a certain friend
Of mine Immediately and that no one
would notice me in the cutter under
the bearskins. He didn't approve. but
l persuaded lin. | ever persuaded
him to wait till Zadok was gone. so
that Adelaide would know nothing
about it. He looked glum, but he
promised.
"He vas going away when 1 heard
Adelaide's steps in the adjoining room.
This frightened me. The partition is
very thin between these two rooms,
and I was afraid she had heard me
ask Arthur for the gray mare and cut
ter. could hear her rafting the bot
ties in the medicine cabinet hanging
on this very wall. l hurried back
to my w room. where | collected
such little articles as | needed for the
expedition before me.
II had hardly done this when l heard
the servants on the walk outside, then
Arthur going down. The impulse to
see and speak to him again was ire
sistible. | flew after him and caught
him in the lower hall. Arthur I
cried, look at me-look at me we'll
and then-kiss me-" And he did kiss
me. I'm glad when l think of it. though
he did say mex minute: What is the
matter with you? What are you going
to do-to meet that %villain?'
Il looked straight into his face. l
waited till l saw | had his whole at
tention. Then l said as slowly and
emphatically as l could: If you mean
Elwood-no! | shall never meet him
again. except in Adelaide's presence.
He will not want to meet me. You
may be at ease about that. Tomor-
row all will be we'll and Adelaide very
happy
HE shrugged his shoulders and
reached for his coat and hat. AS he
was putting them on | said, Don't
forget to harness up Jenny Jenny is
the gray mare. And leave off the
BELLS l urged. 4 don't want Adelaide
to hear NJ so out
HE swung about at this. You and
| Adelaide are not very good friends. it
seems AS good as you and she are
/ answered. Then | flung my arms
about him. 'Don't go down street to-
night l prayed. Stay home for this
one night. Stay in the house with Ade-
laide. Stay till l come home He
stared, and l saw his color change.
Then he flung me off. but not rudely.
why don't you stay? he asked. Then
he laughed and added. 'Ill go harness
the mare
1.-The keys in the Kitchen l said.
III go get it for you. | heard Zadok
bring it in He did not answer, and I
went for the key. 1 found two on the
nail. and l brought them both. but l
only handed him one, the key to the
stable door. Which way are you 60
ing? 1 asked as he looked at the key.
then back toward the kitchen. The
short way, Of course Then here's the
key to the Fulton grounds
LAS he took the key l prayed again:
Don't do what's in your mind. Arthur.
Don't drink tonight He only laughed.
and I said my last word: If you do
it will be for the last time. You'll new
err drink again after tomorrow
HE made no answer to this. and I
went slowly upstairs. Everything was
q~uiet-quiet as death-in the whole
house. If Adelaide had heard us she
made no sign. Going to my W
room, 1 waited until l heard Arthur
come out Of the stable and go away
by the door in the rea wall. Then I
stole out again. I carried a small bag
with me. but no coat or hat.
"Pausing and listening again and
again, I crept downstairs and halted
at the table under the rack. The keys
were still there. Putting them in my
bag, I searched the rack for one Of
my brothers warm coats. But l took
none 1 saw. l remembered an old one
which Adelaide bad put away in the
closet under the stairs. Getting this.
I put It on. and, finding a hat there.
too. I took that also. and when l had
pulled it over my forehead and drawn
up the collar of the coat I was quite
unacceptable. I was going out when
I remembered there would be no light
in the clubhouse. I had put a box Of
matches in my bag while l was up
stairs. but 1 needed q candle. Slip
ping back. I took a candlestick and