The Washington times., 1912-05-28

catch the words; and after time tho
vulsive clasp relaxed and she allowed
the woman to loose her arms and set
her on her feet. AS she stood erect AMI
Annabel clutchcd her mothers arm and
could scarce suppress cry Of admiri-
tion.
For, standing In the dappied sunshine
CT the wood. the shadows falling on her
sunny hair. the soft light shining on her
deep blue eyes ana rose-leaf skin and
delicateiy featured little face. she was
the fsirtss thing upon which the. the g,rrs day
From head to soot she was clothed In
| 'ilmv white, and with her tiny. slender
fHgure. her airy pose, her Snow,whSe sNa, .Se
might have been a fairy. queen. were It
| not for the sad eyes reddened by tears
and the soft babyish mouth. still culver
Ing WITH h.g grlef, dn,v and esstinx psin GLIMPSE for
at that moment the woman rose, bent
over the child and kissed her. She held
her an instant passionately to her
breast and then hurled away.
When they had passed out OF sight
and hearing Mrs Chisleigh and Annabel
| turned and looked at each other. a.,
inquired Anna xnnabe sH YHa her ' Voice auSerins
with excitement. What do you make
%.lt Of i, -! mother7 What does all this
Mrs Ch.sleigh shook her head.
| Il don't know. II Is very strange. 1,
seems that our neighbor's guests are not
having an altogether enjoyable time or
their visit"
| "Yes, but the child, mother.-the little
girl! Did you notice her? Did you sec
how beautiful she was? How delicate
how fine, how ex0uisitely dressedT,
little one, l wonder what is making hei
Annabel. I am afraid that there !,
something going on here that none o.
In this opinion she was confirmed tn
next morning by still more extraor
dinary circumstance. While the famil!
at Hillcrest were sitting over their lat
breakfast Annabel suddenly sprang VI
from the table and ran to the window.
| What do you see, Annabel?" inquired
her grandmother. noticing her intent ex
"Why-it is Mrs. Jennings-look
mother, how she is running-she is com
ing here-I wonder what can have hap
pened?"
Mrs. Chisleigh and old Mrs. Psig,
hurried to the window. Across the ope'
field that lay between Hillcrest and tn
House Of the Purple Windows a womal
was running wildly, stumblngly, wit
disordered dress and streaming hair
face was scratched and bleeding. he
waist torn almost of her shoulders, he
! skirt splashed with a large crimso
, stain.
Throwing up the long French window
, Mrs. Chisleight stepped quickly out o.
the porch. followed by Annabel ant
Mrs. Paign. AS the woman reache
the steps she stumbled and sank. pant
ing and gasping, upon them. one han
pressed against her breast, the othe
covering her eyes.
/, Mrs. Chrisleigh hurried to her side.
i Mrs. Jennings"' she cried, ctachin
4 her by the shoulder. what is tn
9 matter? What has happened to your"
3 The woman gasped and sobbed, bu
n
Bring a glass Of wine, Annabel
said Mrs. Chrisleigh quietly. and a pa
n of water.
y When Annabel had sponged her fac
!. and poured a little wine between he
}. parched lips, the woman opened ht
eyes and stared about her.
Now" said Mrs. Chisleigh. support
< ing her gently against her shoulder
r can you tell us what has happened?"
The woman pushed back the tangle
mass of hair from her eyes and clutche
at her convulsively.
Save me"'-she panted-''hide me
help mel can't go back there-ever-
r ever! I'm scared to death-I--" Sh
broke into inarticulate moaning an
' shivering and hid her face in her hands
Mrs. Chisleigh laid her warm, firl
hand on her shoulder.
"Lsten to me. Mrs. Jennings" sh
: said quietly, you must calm yourself
you must get control of yourself. Whs
is the matter? Why can't you go bac
to your home?"
The woman raised her head and locke
at her with wild, bloodshot eyes.
"Because-I-Im afraid to-" she whi,
pered "She-they-
n A loud, hoarse shout fell on her ear
:. | and the woman started violently, the
a stopped with her mouth open. her eye
: staring. and the words unspoken on HI
HIPS.
They all Jumped, and with one aecol
e turned in She direction from which Il
. shout had come. Driving straight acro
the field at a breakneck pace came Il
:. woman's husband. standing up in h
- light buggy and lashing his thorough
- bred trotter into a mad gallop. AS
: drew near he waved his whip ar
shouted fercely:
stop! Hold your tongue. you gal
bling fool you!"
AS the buggy, swaying and careenir
from side to side, dashed up to Il
e porch, he leaped out over the whet
and, before II had come to a sto
n seized his wife in his arms, threw h
J. into the seat as n she had been a sac
of meal, and dashed away without
look or word for any OF them.
IL The womans hysterical cries we
borne backward on the wind as /
III drove like a madman toward the Hou'
II Of the Purple Windows
CHAPTER II.
y A Gold Bracelet