The state herald., 1915-11-05
CHAPTER vlii-ContInued.

CHAPTER VlI-Contlnueo.
Already had she stepped several
times to her daughters room and
looked 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
little 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.
lowed 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 a window
overlooking the lane, she had but to
lift her eyes from the double fence
(that symbol OF sad seclusion) to light
on the trees rising above that unspeak-
able ravine. black with memories she
felt strangely like forgetting tonight.
Beyond how 1t stood out on
the blum! II had never seemed to stand
out more threateningly! the
bifurcated mass Of dismal ruin from
which men had turned their eyes
these many years now! But the moon
loved Il; caressed It; dallied with IT,
lighting up its toppling chimney and
empty. staring gable.
Spencer's Folly! Well. It had been
that. and Spencer's den Of dissipation.
too! There were great tales-but It
was not OF these she was thinking. but
OF the night OF storm-tof the greatest
storm of which any record remained
in Shelby when the wind tore down
branches and toppled down chimneys;
when cattle were smitten in the field
and men on the highway: and the
blutY towering overhead. Jared into
fame. and the house which was Its
glory was smitten apart by the de-
scending bolt as by Titan sword. and
blazed like beacon to the sky.
This was long before she herself
had come to shelby: but she had been
told the story so often that II was
quite vivid to her. The family had
been gone for months. and so no pity
mingled with the excitement. Not TIL
the following day did the awful nature
OF the event break in Its full horror
upon tho town. Among the ruins, in
Q closet which the flames had spared.
they found hunched up In one corner
the body OF man. In whose scared
throat wound appeared which had
not been made by lightning or hre
Spencer. Spencer himself. returned.
thoy knew not how. to die OF this self
inflicted wound. In the dark corner OF
his grand but neglected dwelling.
But as she continued to survey II the
clouds came trooping up once more
and the vision was wiped out, and
with II all memories save those OF
nearer troublo-a more pressing ne.
cesHity.
Withdrawing from the window. she
orept again TO Rcuthcr's room and
pcerrd carefully In. Innocence was
asleep at last. Lighting n candle and
shielding II with her hand. she cared
long and earnestly at Rcuther's sweet
face, Yes, she was right. Sorrow
was slowly rapping tho fountain Of
her dariing's youth. II Reuthcr was
10 be saved hope must come soon.
with u sob and prayer the mother
left the room, and locking herself into
her own. sat down at las, to face the
ncs pcrplesity. the monstrour enigma
which had come into her life.
II had followed In natural sequence
from proposal made by the Judge
that some attention should be given
In longancgleetod rooms. lie had haid
on rising from the breakfast table
ttho words are more or less impor
thnD:
= am really sorry to trouble you.
Mrs. scoyillc. but n you have time
this morning will you clean up my
study before leavc9 The carriage
IL ordered for half.paH, nine"
Tho task was one abe had long de
fired 10 perform. Giving teuther the
rest Of the work 10 do, nho presently
appeared before Tim With pail and
broom and a pio Of fresh linen Noth
Ing more commonplace could be lmas
tnsd. but 10 her n not 20 him. there