Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1914-10-15
BY IzOL.a FQRREsTEE.
Copyright, 1914 by the Mcclure News
eaper Syndicate.

needed rest more than anything after
the trip down from the mountains.
Nan peered down the shadowy hall.
Empty houses are awful places, |
think. They always seem sort OF
dead. Do you remember Tepnysons
Deserted House?
Life and thought have gone away
side by side
mo. | don't. Fraid Cat Eleanor
picked up her suitcase and cloak. Il
don't believe in ghosts or gobble'uns,
or any fearsome things at all. Come
along"
1t was cheerier in the coy bed
,foom suite upstairs. The rooms con-
nected with each other, and Nan
rambIed about, her brown hair in two
long braids, and kimono wrapped
about her. looking at the girlisn
knickknacks and photographs scatter
ed about. 1t was Eleanor's own spec
ial corner of the house. One could
trace each of her college years by the
books pennants, and kodak pictures.
All at once she stopped short. Tuck
ed into a corner was one photograph
that seemed different from all the
rest, 1t was such a splendidly manly
Young face that smiled out at one
from it. He seemed to take the wnole
world into his confidence, Nan turn
ed it over and read on the back in a
scrawling boyish writing;
"Devotedly Bill"
Over at the little white dressing
table, Eleanor sat brushing her halr.
Somehow no one would ever have
connected her with college boys who
signed themselves. "Devotedly, Bill.
she was so self contained, so rather
imperious in her ways. At old
Brangwaine Hall. where Nan had
been her classmate for four years,
the other girls had nicknamed her
Queen Eleanor" But Bill did not
belong to the Brangwaine days. Nan
knew there had been special course
up at Cornell When Eleanor had left
the hall. Bill surely .belonged to thas
period. And suddenly Nan chuckled
to think that dear old dignified Nell,
as they had called her, should have
had a romance all by herself with
this wide-eyed, joyous youngster.
what are you chuckling over?'
asked Eleanor.
"Devotedly, Bill"
The face reflected in the oval mir
ror colored swiftly. Eleanor turned
around, her fair hair falling loosely
over her shoulders, her eyes filling
with tears.
"Oh, Nell, I didn't mean to stir up
anything
> aOh, it's all right. You didn't strike
anv heavy minor chord" She looked
down at the photograph tenderly.
"Ie was just boy met up at Cor
nell last winter, the very first boy
that ever dared to love me. You
know, Nan, how it seemed as II l al
ways rather frightened away men. i
never could fiirt and be nice like the
rest of you girls. And up there one
day / was in the library about sun
down, looking up some references.
He came up behind me, and never
even asked permission just tipped
back my head, and kissed me good
and plenty"
"Bless his old brave heart" inter-
rupted Nan fervently, leaning for
ward, her chin on her hands. "Then
what?'
"Then (Eleanor's eyes were
dreamy one day / went skating
down on the lake, and the ice broke
through. He got me out, saved my
life, everyone said Mother came up
to see me then, and I wanted her to
know Billie. That's about all. You
know mother. She simply whisked
me down here in the spring, and
], closed the house in June the day
/ after he called here. She's trotted
me around all summer, trying to
idea where he is now"
Doesn't he even write to your"
1--WE promised we wouldn't, not for
a year. What's that?"
Both girls rose to their feet with
startled eyes.
Somebody fell over the tabouret
in the hail. Nan whispered, her dark
eyes wide with dread. You turned
off the lights"
Eleanor thought quickly. The
house had been closed since June.
caretaker came every day to look
after it, and at night the Waterman
was supposed to guard 1t. She
crossed the room and locked both
doors leading into the hall, then went
to the windows.
"Did you hear that?" Nan whis-
pered, her face pressed against the
door listening. Somebody whistled,
and 1t was answered"
"I'll have to break these shutters
to call for help" Eleanor looked
about for battering ram. Outside
in the bare hall there came the I'M
rnistakable sound of footsteps, a
moments pause and pounding on
the door.
Nan shranl back, her face covered
with her hands, but Eleanor slipped
one arm around her, soothing her
even while her own heart throbbed
heavily. 1t was terrible to hear that
sound echoing through the great
empty house, to stand in helpless
suspense, not knowing what danger
waited on the other side of the door.
Come on, nowp called deep
voice. "Open up. You know you
can't get out of there"
"And you cannot get in" returned
Eleanor clearly. 'Tf you attempt to
break in the doors I will fire."
Sure, it's woman's voice." they
heard some one say Shall l break
in the door, Mr.. Blair?"
mo, no, wait" The knob turned.
A shoulder pressed against the door
panel. Nell, open the door, please.
| know your voice. It's Bill"
who's with you?"
Just the Waterman. saw the
lights and thought burglars were in
here. Open the door, please"
Eleanor turned the key. Tall and
very lovely she looked in her long
blue crepe kimono, her face pale and
determined, her hair in two long
braids over her shoulders like some
old-time Saxon princess.
Out in the hallway stood Bill, the
original of the picture, and the old
Waterman.
Nell he cried, Il had no idea 1t
Yves you In here. I've had a room
across the street all summer just to