Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1913-05-08

SAS AAO
asked me about Cecilia's silver note
book, she seemed troubled, and when
WI had reached the second floor she
paused and lost herself in unwonted
preoccupation.
"Let us sit here q moment" she said.
indicating a long davenport in the
broad hall. For the first time her man
ner betrayed WEAKNESS. She laid her
hand quietly on my arm and looked at
me fixedly. "Arnold," she said-"you
will let me call you Arnold. won't
you?" she added plaintivcly, and never
in my life had l been so touched by
anything so sweet and gentle and kind
-"Arnold, if an old woman like me
should do a very foolish thing in fol-
lowing her own whims and then find
that she had probably committed her.
self to a course likely to cause unhap-
piness, what would you advise her to
do about it,"
Miss Hollister,' I answered, eff you
trusted Providence this morning to
send you a corps of servants when
yours had been most unfortunately
scattered by ghosts or rumors of ghosts,
why will YOU not continue to have con-
fdence that your affairs will always
be directed by agencies equally alert
and beneticent?
81 don't know the game, but l have
found out a lot Of things without being
told. so tell me nothing. Remember
that l have something quite remarka-
BILE. startling even, to show you tomor-
row. l have even overcome, you know,
the obstacle you placed in the way Of
my discoveries by sending in ahead Of
me this morning for the plans Of the
house."
watched her narrowly, but she
was in no wise discounted.
well, burned them the moment
Hilda brought them back" she laugh
ed. II had faith in you, and I wanted
you to manage it all for yourself. 1
rather guessed that you would go to
Pepperton. That was when I still be-
lieved."
"But you must go on believing.
Makebelieving is the main cornerstone
and the keystone of the arch Of the
happy life"
"You are sure you are not hooking
a foolish old woman"
You are the wisest woman l ever
knew" I asserted, and my heart was
in the words.
II believe you have persuaded me,
but Cecilia"-
leave it to me; trust me; lean upon
me. 1 assure you that all will be
well.'
She bent her head and yielded her.
she sprang to her feet in that indie
scribably light. graceful way that
erased at least fifty Of her years from
the reckoning and was herself again.
ARNOLD Ames," she said, laughing a
little but gazing up at me with unmis-
taxable confidence and liking in her
eyes, 1--WE will go through with this to
the end. And whether that slipper
really fell at your feet in Beacon
street or in the even less likely pre-
cincts Of Rittenhouse square Of under
the windows of the Spanish embassy
In Washington. | believe that you are
my good knight and that you will see
me safely through this singular adven-
ture."
And I, Arnold Ames. but lately a
student Of chimneys. bent and kissed
Miss Octavia's hand.
She led the way to the library.
where l thought it we'll to appear for
a moment, and l was heartily glad
that l did so. 1t was Joy enough for
any nan that he should have earned
such glances of hatred and suspicion
as the suitors BEN upon me. There
they were, some standing, some seat
ed, about Cecilia. l bowed low from
the door. feeling that to offer my hand
to these gentlemen in their present
temper would be too severe a strain
upon their AS Miss Octavia
/ appeared several of them advanced
courteously and engaged her in con-
yersation. She found a seat and call
ed the others to her on the plea hat
she wished to ask them their opinion
touching some matter. | believe it
was a late r,mor that Andree. who
had gone b%ailnUning to discover the
Hyperboreans. had been heard Of
somewhere.
Cecilia appeared distract. and | won
dered what new turn her affairs had
taken. She rose as l crossed the room,
and from her manne ! judged that
she welcomed this chance Of address
ing me.
"You have scorned the library to-
night. Has there been trouble? Is
Aunt Octavia alarmed about any
thing?"
Cecilia was a beautiful. charming
woman Of the world, but ! felt her
spell less tonight. 1t may be that the
presence Of Hezekiah's slipper in my
inside coat pocket. pressing rather in
sistently against my ribs, acted as a
counterirritant.
You are in difficulty. Miss Cecilia"
1 said. "Please tell me in what way
I may serve you"
II don't know why l should appeal
tn vOn"-