The Logan Republican. [volume] (Logan, Utah) 1902-1924, 1913-01-30

She Started OF Briskly Into the Wood
land Road.
flooded her eyes with a softness that
rolled up from her entire being. Their
line! Their insurmountable barrier!
An absurd yet ineffable longing to fall
down and kiss that line came over her
with compelling force.
Her head grew light with the thought
Of those moments when their horses
stood with muzZles together as II kiss
ing by proxy-the flush grew deeper,
though her blood went cold and she
trembled.
A pit:ul confusion seized her, an
inexplicable timidity crept into her
heart. replacing the bold assurance
that had been recklessly carrying her
on to him. 1t was as though some
one had whispered the truth into her
ear and she was beginning to believe.
From that moment her courage be.
gan to fail. The glow from her Ian
tern was menace instead of a help,
A sweet timorousness enveloped her
and something tingled-she knew not
what
SCATTERING raindrops whizzed In her
face. ominous forcrunncrs from the
inky sky. The wind was whistling
with shrill glee In the treetops and
the treetops tried 10 flee before it, A
mile and half lay between her and
the big cottage on the hillside-the
most arduous part of the journey by
far. She walked and ran as though
pursued, sculding over the road with
n swifmess that would have amazed
another, but which seemed the essence
of slowness to her. Thoughts of rob
bers, tramps and wild beasts assailed
her with intermittent derrors, but ali
served 10 diminish the feeling of shy
ness that had been interfering with
her determination.
Past Renwoods cottage she spe,l,
shuddering rs she recognized the stone
steps and path that ran up the hillside
to the haunted house. Ghosts. witches
and hobgoblins fell INFO the procession
OF pursuers. cheered IN by the shrek
Ing wind that grew more nosome rs
her feet carried her higher up the
mountain. Now she was on new
ground. She had never before expIor-
ed so far as this. The hill was steep
and the road had black abysses out
beyond its eedgs.
She was breathless. half dead from
fatigue and terror, when at last her
feet stumbled up the broad steps lead
ing to his porch. Trembling, she sank
into the rustic bench that stood against
the wall. The lantern clattened to her
feet, and the bag with her jewels, her
letter of credit and her curling irons
slid to the floor behind the bench. Here
was his home! What cared she for the
storm?
Even as she lay there gasping for
breath, her eyes on the shadowy moon
that was breaking its way through the
clouds, three men raced from the sta
bles at Bazeihurst villa, bent on find
Ing the mad young person who had fed
the place. Scarcely knowing what di-
rection he took. Lord Bazelhurst led
the way, followed by the duke and the
count, all Of them supplied with car
rage lamps, which at any other time
would have been slckening In their
obtrusiveness. Except for Lady Eve
Ign the rest of the house slept the sleep
of ease.
Gradually Penelope recovered from
the effects Of the mad race up the hill.
The sputtering flame in the lantern
called her into action. Clutching II
from the floor Of the porch, she softly
began tour Of inspection. first lD.i
Ing at her watch to find that it was
the unholy hour of 2. Had some one
yelled Boo she would have swoon-
ed, so tense was every nerve. Now
that she was here, what was she to do f?
Her heart came to her mouth, her
hand shook, but not with fear; nerv-
Gus smile tried to wreak disaster to
the concern In her eyes.
The house was dark and still. No |
one was stirring The porch was lit |
tered with rugs and cushions, while |
on a small table near the end stood a |
decanter, siphon and two glasses |
TwoP He had said he was alone ex.
rept for the housekeeper and the serv-
ants. A visitor, then. This was not |
what she had expected. Her heart |
sank. 1t would be hard to face the
master OF the house, but-a stranger
Cigarette stubs met her bewildered,
troubled gaze-many OF them. Deduc-
lion was easy out there in the lonely
night. 1t was easy to see that Shaw
and his companion sat PIP 50 late that