Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1913-03-15

scents. acutely responsive TO the Pr
thos In the thrushs tender song. The
driver bumped drowsiiy on the front
seat and slapped M the ilies on ti''
broad backed horse II was n ride e.
be remembered for It's suspense
AZ the stone pilarpd entrance IT,
rairiields Genet dismissed the carriaa
aud entered the winding avenue ill.,.
led to the house. n half mile distant. a..
the very edge of the bluffs overhangit-
the sound
The house must be open. for ther'
were recent tracks Of broad tires IN tie
drive The gate lodge was tenantrd
for curious heads lurked behind o."
curtains. She wondered ii Mrs i,
and her lame husband still lived at III,
lodge She longed 10 stop and talk a.
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 u
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 ~,
pale with sudden dread.
The low. rambling honse lay quiet IN
the hot sunshine. The broad vcrandas
awninged and vineclad. seemed 10 hr
deserted. Her glance wandered to Tia
launch The party had boarded her
and were lounging In wicker chairs
about the deck. Norman was nj the
wheel She SAW his backward glance
at the house The whistle footed i'm
pudently ana they were away. cutting
the water into n thousand twinsin-
lights and Il shower of falling spray
When they had rounded the point sh,
the verauda There was litter %;
smoking things on convenient taho
rets. heaps of sporting papers and gay
ly covered magazines. i siphon. n de
canter ana u tray of empty glasses
were on round table and bespoke re-
cent refreshment II was very Ike o!d
times when she had gone away for 81
few weeks and left Norman To hold
bachelor revels with old cronies Sh.
smiled NJ the disorder II was all s.
natural that the past three years were
blottcd ont rs II they had never been
She was merely returning home FROM
days shopping in the hot town.
Thus she dcluded 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 vistnS oi
drawing rooms. billiard and din!n
rooms The stairs wound III broac
spiral to the second floor.
Genet paused. her eyes lingering on
each well known object. There was nC
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 aud
turned 10 the library Before she
sought her own apartments she would
peep IN here And now the creepin-
fear AZ her heart foand shape and sns
gesiion
If her portrait. the one Giddy had
painted. still hung over the fireplace In
the library. then all would he we'll:
Norman would be forgiving. would ~
lent. Ills mothers picture had griced
that space until Norman married. and
then il had given place TO Genets And
now that she had forfeited her right
would II lie there? II not she woul'!
steal away from the house and nevc
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 NJ the farther
end Here high backed winged chait
was placed
She fell To trembling as she heard the
flicker of II turning page behind tl''
winged chair. In the silence II seem
ed rs If her heart throbs would h"irs'
her presence. In her joyful imaginin-s
of her return To her husband there wcr,
no such fearful terror and apprehen
sion ,lS came upon her now. Her .,loy
ed hands wrung together in supreme
effort for control suddenly litl'r
sigh Of relief escaped her. Perhaps
no one was IN the room after all
Then. as II her sigh had been heard.
a voice came from the chair u voice ui
quiet inquiry. Norlnan's voice.
who Is there
Genct's lips we're dumb.
"Who is there he repeated And
after another silence the winged chat
creaked with his uprising. Genet ;
glance flashed to the fireplace for conr
age and reinsurance. and then great
Joy came into her dark eyes.
Her portrait was there In its place
and beneath II vase ~ fresh ylolei>
Norman came down the room. o.