The Washburn leader. [volume] (Washburn, McLean County, N.D.) 1890-1986, 1913-12-26
But the enchanting little witch was

big place. extending all over both
halves of the double house. The raft.
ers we're black and cobwebby and
strung and hung with all manner Of
garments: there were dusty engrav'
ings. cracked mirrors. rusty Franklin
stoves. spinning wheels. barrel chairs
In faded chintz, calfskin trunks will
brass nails. Hessian boots covered with
mold. his fathers old saddle. a pillow,
a spinet. piles of La Belle Assemble
and ANIMALS. rickety tablesSthree leg
ged chairs, Leghorn bonnets. sleigh
bells. the key to the big dividing doors
that he had so lately hung on their
peg. 81 scrap Of pink and yellow ribbon
under his feet, the reflection IT his
own figure in a cracked che,S glass
holding the candlestick in his hand,
but there was no Betty.
Mr.. Van Zandt came down to the
first floor.
No one was yet to be eel
In fact. Shaddle and Miss Supple
were wedged in their pantry. palpitat'
ing with a great and suppressed excite
ment. neither II daring to emerge OF
to offer explanation.
Van Zandt thought: 'She has gone
out. up to Bloomingdale to the De
Peysters to give nle a little fright. but
| will not follow her. No. no. A. man
must not give in too EAR. She will
come home by 10"
He dressed for dinner. sat down and
ate. lie smoked u cigar or two. pacing
the front hall after the servants had
gone below. He watched the tall old
clock in it's niche between the drawing
room and library doors. until the hands
pointed to 10.
Then he crossed again into the other
half OF his house; into the law library
and, scanning the table. he at last saw
Betty's envelope. he opened and read
He stood still. the frail. bitter little
paper weapon glasped in his sledge
hammer hand.
That was it: the giant. the man. pow
erless in the tlutter of the %butterHy's
wings; blinded by the little, little thing
a littler thing even than the violin
that had wrecked his wife's young
life.
He sat down. still holding the tiny
| sheet; and he sat there. nearly mo
t%ionless. until morning.
Shaddle and Supple sat up oil night
too. waiting for a possible summons
watching for, they could not even sur
mise. what.
The chilly. pallid sun OF the Indian
! summer slanted in alike upon master
and man. and maid; but nc word was
spoken between them.
Shaddle went up and laid out his
masters fresh clothes. filled his tub
put the morning paper on the candle
stand beside his untouched bed. thel
slipped down again to the kitchen.
The breakfast was announced. but al
though the master sat at meat. he at
not a morsel: and only drank half tn
cup Of coffee that Supple in silence
poured for him.
Afterwards he went out. and he die
not come back for three days. Shad
die and Bridget were frightened K
death almost: visions of suicide. mur
der and kindred horrors distorting al
their waking and sleeping hours as
we'll.
By and by Mr.. Van Zandt did com,
home.
No one knew until long years aftel
where and how he had spent those sew
enty-two hours. When he returned !
was on foot. unshaven. unkempt ant
haggard. aged by years. but with NJ
syllable Of either inquiry or explana
ton. He made his toilet. took som,
breakfast and drove down to his of8c,
in the white satin lined coupe he hat
made into so soft and bridelike a mes
for Betty Revere.
Once at the Office. he wrote in a firm
and rapid hand to his father-in-Iaw a
Limoges. merely this:
Colonel John Paul Revere. American
Consul General. Limoges. France:
MY Dear Sir-You will do me the hon
or to receive each month for the future
one-half Of my inherited income. one
half Of my income from whatever Law
practice ! may have. 1t will reach 20,
by cheek through Rothschild & Co.
bankers. of Paris. and ] shall highl!
esteem the condescensiOn Of your con
veying the same monthly to my wife
n-~ -