Middletown transcript., 1915-05-08

separated from them by a partition,
there brooded another human being
helplessly awaiting a message which
would never come. and listening, but
how vainly, for the step and voice for
which he hungered, though they were
the prelude to further shame and the
signal for coming punishment.
So strong was this thought in both
their minds, that the shadow deep
ened upon both faces, as though a
presence had passed between them;
and when Mr.. Black rose, as he very
soon did, 1t was with an evident dread
OF leaving her alone with this thought.
They we're lingering yet in the hall,
the good night faltering on their lips,
when suddenly their eyes flashed to-
gether In mutual question, and Deb
orah bent her ear toward the street.
An automobile was slowing up
stopping-stopping before the gates!
Deborah turned and looked at Mr..
Black. Then the bell rang. Never
had 1t sounded 80 shrill and penetrat.
ing. Never had It rung quite such q
summons through this desolate house.
Recoiling, she made n motiona of en-
treaty.
Go" she whispered. open! !
cannot"
Quickly he obeyed. She Leard him
pass out and down the walk. and
through the first gate. Then there
came silence, followed by the open.
| iuO ~ the oAnnud oatn Tko~ - ..,,,
like smothered greetings. followed by
quickly advancing steps and voice
she knew:
How Is my father? Is he well?
cannot enter till know"
1t was Oliver!-come from some dis
tant station, or from some other line
which he had believed unmatched
Tumultuous as her thoughts we're, she
dared not indulge in them for a mo
ment, or give way to gratitude or any
other emotion. There were words to
be said-words which must be uttered
on the instant and with as much i'm
periousness as his own.
Throwing the door wide, she called
down the steps:
Yes, he is well. Come in, Mr.. Os
trander, and you, too, Mr.. Black
Instructions have been given me BY
the Judge, which l must deliver al
once. He expects you, Oliver" she
went on, as the two men stepped in
He bade me say to you Immediately
upon your entrance that much as he
would like to be on hand to greet you
he cannot see you tonight. For to
night at least, and up to a certain hour
tomorrow. you are to keep your owl
counsel. When certain persons whose
names he has given me can be gotteI
together In this house, he will joir
you, giving you your first meeting IL
the presence Of others. Afterwards
he will see you alone. If these plans
distress you-if you find the delay
hard, am to say that it is even harder
for him that 1t can be for you. But
circumstances compel him to act thus
and he expects you to understand ant
be patient"
Young Ostrander bowed.
Il have no doubt Of the facts" he as
sured her, with an unsuccessful effOrt
to keep his trouble out Of his voice
But as my father allows me some
explanation, shall be very glad t.
hear what has happened here to Occa
sion my imperative recall"
Mr.. Black glanced at Deborah. who
was slipping away. When they found
themselves alone together. oliver
manner altered.
"one moment" said he, before Mr.
Black could speak Il should like t
ask you first Of all, II Miss Scoville Ii
better. When l left you both SO sud
denly at Tempest Lodge. she was moi
we'll, l."
She is quite recovered. Mr.. Os
trander."
Involuntarily their glances met in 4
question which perhaps neither desired
to have answered. Then Oliver re
marked quite simply:
MY haste seemed warranted by my
fathers message. Five minutes-onG
minute even is of great importance
when you have but fifteen In which tC
catch a train"
you know my route" A short laugh
escaped him. Il feared delay-pos
sibly the interference-but why dis
cuss these unimportant matters! But
your reason for these hasty summont
that is what l am ready now tC
hear" And he sat down, but in such
way as to throw his face very much
into the shadow.
This was a welcome circumstance
to the lawyer. His task promised tC
be hard enough at the best. BlacA
night had not offered too dark a screen
between him and the man thus sudden
ly called upon to face suspicious the
very shadow of which is enough to de
stroy life. The hardy lawyer shrunh
from uttering the words which would
make the gulf imaginatively opening
between them a real, If not impassable
one. Something about the young man
appealed to him-something apart
from his relationship to the Judge
something inherent in himself. Per
haps 1t was the misery he betrayed
Perhaps it was the memory of Reu-
theirs faith in him and how that faith
must suffer when she saw him next
Instantaneous reflections, but epoch
making in a mind like his. Alanson
Black had never hesitated before in