The midland journal., 1915-03-05
CHAPTER vIIl-contlnued.

Already had she stepped several
times to her daughters room and
hooked in, only to meet Reuther's un-
quiet eye turned toward hers in silent
inquiry. Was her own uneasiness in
fectious? Was the child determined
to share her vigil? She would wait a
Mttle longer this time and see
Their rooms were over the parlor,
and thus as far removed as possible
from the judges den. In her own,
which was front, she felt at perfect
ease, and it was without any fear Of
disturbing either him or Reuther that
she finally raised her window and al
bowed the cool wind to soothe her
heated cheeks. The moon emerged
from scurrying clouds as she quietly
watched the scene.
Perched, as she was, in window
overlooking the lane, she had but to
lift her eyes from the double fence
THAT symbol of sad seciusion) to light
On the trees rising above that unspeak-
able ravine, black with memories she
Gelt strangely like forgetting tonight.
Beyond how it stood out on
6he bluff! it had never seemed to stand
cut more threateningly! the
bffurcated mass Of dismal ruin from
which men had turned their eyes
these many years now! But the moon
Io-ed it: caressed it: dallied with it,
lighting up it's toppling chimney and
empty, staring gable.
Spencer's Folly! Well. 1t had been
that. and Spencer's den of dissipation.
too! There were great tales-but 1t
was not of these she was thinking, but
of the night of storm-(of the greatest
storm of which any record remained
Ia Shelby when the wind tore down
branches and toppled down chimneys:
when cattle were smitten in the field
end emen on the highway: and the
eaufr towering overhead, Jared into
Game, and the house which was its
glory was smitten apart by the de-
scending bolt as by Titan sword. and
biazed like a beacon to the sky.
This was long before she herself
ArO COAAo " CACAoJ UuS SAO Adu U0cA
told the story so often that it wvs
quite vivid to her. The family lad
been gone for months, and so no pity
mingled with the excitement. Not till
ehe following day did the awful nature
AZ the event break In its full horror
uyon the town. Among the ruins, In
q closet which the flames had spared.
hey found hunched up in one corner
the body of man, in whose scared
throat wound appeared which had
not been made by lightning or fire.
Spencer! Spencer himself. returned,
they knew not how, to die of this self.
Indicted wound. in the dark corner Of
bis grand but neglected dwelling.
But as she continued to survey 1t the
clouds came trooping Hp once more,
and the vision was wiped out, and
with It all memories save those OF q
Aearsr trouble-a more pressing ne
cesaity.
withdrawing 9rom the window. she
crept again to Reuther's room and
peered carefully in. Innocence was
asleep at last. Lighting candle and
\ gisieading itywith her hand. she gazed
bong and earnestly at Reuthsr's sweet
tace. Yes. she was right. Sorrow
was slowly sapping the fountain Of
hsr dariing's youth. II Reuther was
TO be saved hope must come soon.
With a sob and prayer the mother
left the room. and locking herself into
her own. sat down at last to face the
new peEplexity. the monstrous enigma
which had come into her life.
II had followed in natural sequence
from a proposal made by the judge
that some attention should be given
h&s iong-neglected rooms. He had said
on rising from the breakfast table
fine words are more or less impor-
taAt):
Il am really sorry TO trouble you.
Hrs. Scoville; but If you have time
ths morning. win you clean mp my
study before leave? The carriage
is ordered for half-past nine"
The task was one she had long de-
sired TO perform. Giving Reuther the
rest OF the work TO do. she presently
appAared before him With pail and
broom and pile Of fresh linen Moth.
ing more commonplace could be lmag-
lne4 bat 10 her. II not % him. there