Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1914-06-21

one of the girls was not well. In her own
room she had burned candles, and tried to
read in order to distract her mind; but she
had been unable to hold the connection be-
tween one line of print and another.
When pale daylight turned the flame of
her candle to a dull, meaningless yellow,
she breathed long sigh Of relief. Morn
ing-and the end of suspense!
Once or twice in every hour she had
stolen on tiptoe into her sisters room, to
see how Annira slept, and to make sure
parently opened one locked door had not
entered by another. Always Annira lay
quietly, as she had lain the night before,
which already seemed long, long ago, her
thick plat of copper hair thrown back over
the pillow.
aMore things have happened to US in the
last twenty-four hours" Daura thought,
@than in all the years of our lives before!
Shall we ever go back to peace again2' She
could hardly remember how it had felt to
be happy.
At seven, as Daura was dressing, Annira
"A walked and called her Il had horrid
dreams" she said, 3worse than dreaming of
the lost piper. There was a sensation of
something evil near me, something wanting
to pounce. 1t was as if | was lost in the
Jungle, and knew that | was being stalked
by tiger My head aches, and I'd like to
lie in bed, if it wasn't for George. But l
must go and see him. Perhaps he'll be con-
scious today-and recognize me-
perhaps echoed Daura. But inwardly
she added, mo, he mustn't come back to
consciousness yet, unless-unless something
has happened to the man in the Black Bre-
ton room"
@You had better wear as many of your
Jewels this morning as you can contrive to
hide under your blouse she went on to
Mira, @and then, sometime during the day,
I'll dispose of them all for youth that safe
place I've thought of. But can't do any
thing until later
She helped her sister to dress. Hamar
had begun his piping long before the two
girls were ready. Daura longed for, yet
dreaded, the moment when she would know,
once for all, what the night had brought for
Robert Troy. The mystery of the green
leather box and how to solve it was but
minor consideration. Indeed, for the mo-
ment she had almost forgotten, or pushed
it away into the background of her brain,
to be dealt with by and by. This was her
state of mind when she entered the great
hall, where early risers often assembled be-
fore breakfast, to glance over letters or pa
pers Daura hoped that Troy might be
there; IOr ne d1Q not seem Ike Iild1l WHO
would lie late in bed.
If nothing has happened, he will wake
early" she thought. perhaps he will have
been out for a walk, steeling his heart
against us ALL" And she hardened her own
heart against him-yet sharp pang Of
anxiety shot through it as she saw that
Troy was not in the hall.
Breakfast at Dunulm was supposed to
begin at nine; but Lord Gorme took his
first meal in his room, and any guest who
chose was privileged not to appear. Perhaps
--Daura tried to comfort herself-the Saw
age still felt shy of civilized strangers, and
preferred to eat alone. She would wait
little while, and then quietly find out from
old Douglas if Troy had given orders about
his breakfast.
AS she pretended to read an Aberdeen
newspaper, Vane Erskine came into
the hall, humming the air of that old ballad
she had played for Alastair the night before.
Good morning." she interrupted her
singing to say cheerfully, as she saw Daura.
allow is Mr. Conway
3He is much the same, Daura answered,
as she intended to answer the same question
whenever it might be asked. Mira is with
him now l went to the door, and Angus
told us that there had been no change since
he car,a or, 1,tv R,1t that iS on1y what We