The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1914-07-02

hoarse whisper from the girls lips.
81 simply voice my point of view"
explained Sara calmly. LAS said
before, we look at things differently"
II can't believe you mean what you
said," cried Hetty. "Why-why, if l
loved him with all my heart, soul and
body could not even think Of oh,
l shudder to think of it,"
Il love you," continued Sara, fixing
her mysterious eyes on those of the
girl, "and yet you took from me some
thing more than brother. love
you, knowing everything, and am
paying in full the debt he owes to
you. Leslie knowing nothing, IL no
less your debtor. All this is paradox
ical, l know, my dear, but we must
remember that while other people
may be indebted to us, we also owe
something to ourselves. We ought to
take pay from ourselves. Please do
not conclude that / am urging or
even advising you to look with favor
upon Leslie Wrandall's honorable, SIN
cere proposal Of marriage. | am mere
ly trying to convince you that you
are entitled to all that any man can
give you in this world of ours-we
women all are, for that matter"
81 was sure that you couldn't ask me
to marry him. l couldn't believe"
Forget what l have said, dearest,
if it grieves you," cried Sara warmly.
She arose and drew the girl close to
her. kiss me, Hetty." Their lips
met. The girls eyes we're closed, but
Saras were wide open and cleaning.
''It is because | love you," she said
softly. but she did not complete the
sentence that burned in her brain.
To herself she repeated: ut is be-
cause l love you that l would scourge
you with Wrandalls"
You are very good to me, Sara"
sobbed Hetty.
You will be nice to Leslie?"
Yes, yesi If he will only let me
be his friend"
HE asks no more than that. Now,
you must go to bed"
Suddenly, without warning, she held
the girl tightly in her arms. Her
breathing was quick, as of one
moved by some sharp sensation of ter
ror. When Hetty, in no little won
der, opened her eyes Sara's face was
turned away, and she was looking
over her shoulder as If cause for alarm
had come from behind.
What is it?" cried Hetty anxiously.
She saw the look of dread in her
companions eyes, even as 1t began
to fade.
81 don't know" muttered Sara.
Something, l can't tell what, came
over me. I thought some one was
stealing up behind me. How silly of
me-"
"Ah," said Hetty, with an odd smile,
81 can understand how you felt"
"Hetty, will you take me in with
you tonight?", whispered Sara nerv-
ously. Let me sleep with you. |
can't explain it, but / am afraid to
be alone tonight" The girls answer
was a glad smile of acquiescence.
Come with me, then, to my bedroom
while l change. l have the queerest
feeling that some one is in my room.
] don't want to be alone. Are you
afraid?"
Hetty held back, her face blanching.
mo, am not afraid" she cried at
once, and started toward the door.
There is some on in this room,
said Sara few moments later, when
they were in the big bedroom down
the hall.
IL wonder" murmured Hetty.
And yet neither of them looked
about in search for the intruder!
Far into the night Sara sat in the
window of Hetty's dressing room. her
chin sunk low in her hands, staring
moodily into the now Opaque night
her eyes somber and unblinking, hel
body as motionless as death itself
The cooling wind caressed her and
whispered warnings into her unheed
ing ears, but she sat there unprotect
ed against it's chill, her nightdress
damp with the mist that crept up witt
sinister stealth from the sea.