The citizen. (Honesdale, Pa.) 1908-1914, 1913-03-25

scious of the intoxicating summer
scents, acutely responsive to the pa
thos in the thrush's tender song. The
driver bumped drowsily on the front
seat and slapped at the flies on the
broad backed horse. 1t was a ride to
be remembered for It's suspense.
At the stone pillared entrance to
Fairfelds Genet dismissed the carriage
and entered the winding avenue that
led to the house, half mile distant, on
the very edge of the bluffs overhangipg
the sound.
The house must be open, for there
were recent tracks of broad tires in the
drive. The gate lodge was tenanted,
for curious heads lurked behind the
curtains. She wondered If Mrs. Lee
and her lame husband still lived at the
lodge. She longed to stop and talk to
them and thus bring herself imme-
diately into the swing Of the old life.
Her slender, girlish figure was clad in
pale blue linen coat and gown, with a
veil the same tint shrouding her white
hat. She stepped across the turf with
eager feet, her charming face now
rose red with anticipation, now lily
pale with sudden dread.
The low, rambling house lay quiet in
the hot sunshine. The broad verandas,
awninged and vineclad, seemed to be
deserted. Her glance wandered to the
launch. The party had boarded her
and were lounging in wicker chairs
about the deck. Norman was at the
wheel. She saw his backward glance
at the house. The whistle footed i'm
pudently, and they were away, cutting
the water into a thousand twinkling
J lights and shower of falling spray.
| When they had rounded the point she
| hurried across the drive and entered
the veranda. There was q litter of
smoking things on convenient tabo-
rets, heaps of sporting papers and gay
ly covered magazines. A siphon, a de-
canter and a tray of empty glasses
were on q round table and bespoke re-
cent refreshment. 1t was very like old
times when she had gone away for
few weeks and left Norman to hold
bachelor revels with old cronies. She
smiled at the disorder. 1t was all so
natural that the past three years were
blotted out as if they had never been.
She was merely returning home from
a days shopping in the hot town.
Thus she deluded herself.
The wide, cool hall was quite desert
ed. The polished floor gave back blur
red reflections Of the heavy furniture.
The huge fireplace was crowded with
fresh branches of fragrant bayberry.
The library door was closed, but other
open doorways offered cool vistas of
drawing rooms, billiard and dining
rooms. The stairs wound in a broad
spiral to the second floor.
Genet paused, her eyes lingering on
each we'll known object. There was no
change in the arrangement Of furni-
ture. Even the hatrack bore its Gus
tomary heterogeneous array of coats
and caps, riding crops, golf sticks and
tennis rackets. With quick nervous
gesture she threw back her veil and
turned to the library. Before she
sought her own apartments she would
peep in here. And now the creeping
fear at her heart found shape and sug-
gestion.
If her portrait, the one Giddy had
painted, still hung over the fireplace in
the library, then all would be well;
Norman would be forgiving, would re-
lent. His mothers picture had graced
that space until Norman married, and
then it had given place to Genet's. And
now that she had forfeited her right
would 1t be there? If not she would
steal away from the house and never
return. The answer to her questioning
heart lay behind the closed door.
Suddenly she turned the knob and
slipped inside, closing the door softly
behind her. Then she leaned painting
with emotion against its mahogany
surface.
The long room lay in shadow save
for one sunny window at the farther
end. Here high backed winged chail
was placed.
She fell to trembling as she heard the
flicker Of a turning page behind the
winged chair. In the silence it seem
ed as If her heart throbs would betray
her presence. In her joyful imaginings
of her return to her husband there were
no such fearful terror and apprehen
sion as came upon her now. Her glov'
ed hands wrung together in a supreme
effort for control. Suddenly a little
sigh of relief escaped her. Perhaps
no one was in the room after all!
Then, as if her sigh had been heard
voice came from the chair, voice OF
quiet inquiry, Norman's voice.
'Who is thereT'
Genet's lips were dumb.
"Who is thereT he repeated. Ant
after another silence the winged chall
creaked with his uprising. Genet's
glance flashed to the fireplace for cour
age and reinsurance, and then a great
joy came into her dark eyes.
Her portrait was there In its place
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