The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1913-02-22
CHAPTER VIII.
In Which a Ghost Trespasses.

ope out for the second time
that night may be readily ap-
~ prec1ated. Its foundation was
lear. Its subordinate emotions were
shame, self pity and consciousness Of
her real feeling toward the man Of the
house. The true spirit Of womanhood
revolted with it's usual waywardness.
She was flying down the stony road,
some distance from the cottage, in the
very face Of the coming tornado, her
heart beating like triphammer, her
eyes bent on the little light up the
mountain side, before it occurred to
her that this last fight was not only
senseless but perilous. She even laugh
ed at herself for fool as she recalled
the telltale hand bag on the porch and
the damning presence Of Bazelhurst
lantern in the hallway.
The storm which had been raging
farther down the valley was at last
wh1rllng up to the hilltops, long delay
ed as IT in gleeful anticipation of
catching her alone and unprotected.
The little electric saddle lamp that she
carried gave out a feeble glow, scarce
opening the way in the darkness more
tnan ten feet ahead. Rough and irk-
some was the road, most stubborn the
wall of wind. The second threat of
the storm was more terrifying than
the first. At any instant it was likely
to break forth in all its slashing fury.
and she knew not whittier she went.
Even as she lost heart and was
ready to turn wildly back in an effort
to reach Shaw's home before the
deluge the lightning flashes revealed
to her the presence Of dwelling just
off the road not 200 feet ahead. She
stumbled forward, crying like a fright
ened child. There were no lights. The
house looked dark. bleak, unfriendly.
Farther up the hillside still cleaned
the little light that was meant to keep
Renwood's ghost from disturbing the
slumbers Of old man Grimes and his
wife. She could not reach that light,
that much she knew. Her feet were
like hundredweights, her limbs almost
devoid of power. Grimes hut appear
ed to be couple of miles away.
With a last, GREATNESS effort she turn
ed off the road and floundered through
weeds and brush until she came to
what proved to be the rear of the
darkened house. Long, low, rangy, it
reached off into the shadows, chilling
In it's loneliness. There was no time
left for her to climb the fight of steps
and pound on the back door, The rain
was swishing In the trees with a hiss
that forbade delay.
She threw herself, painting and ter
ror stricken, into the cavelike opening
under the porch, her knees giving way
after the supreme effort. The great
storm broke as she crouched far back
against the wall. her hands over her
ears, her eyes tightly closed. she was
safe from wind and rain, but not from
the sounds Of that awful conflict. The
lantern lay at her feet. sending its ray
out into the storm with the senseless
fidelity Of beacon light
"Penelope:' came a voice through
the storm, aud a second later 4 man
plunged into the recess, crashing
against the wall beside her. Something
told her who It WINS even before be
dropped beside her and threw his
strong arm about her shoulders.
He was crying something into her
ear-wtld. incoherent words that seem.
ed to have the power to quiet the
storm. And she was respondtnx-she
knew that eager words were falling
from her lips, but she never knew
what they were-responding with 4
fervor that was overwhelming her with
Joy. Lips met again and again, and
there was no thought Of the night OF
the feud, the escapade. the Renwood
ghost, or Of aught save the two warm
living human bodies that had found
each other.
The storm, swerving with the capri
c1ous mountain winds. suddenly swept
their refuge with sheets Of water. Han
dolph Shaw threw the raincoats over
his companion and both laughed hys
terically at their plight suddenly re
| membered.
we can't stay herer' he shouted. /.