The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1916-03-02

full enough to get him to mind me
without being torn to pieces. .
But you mustn't stand there all night;
I'll open the door,"
~.
1t was not till the next morning
that Mrs. Sloan. the housekeeper and
sole servant, became a definite per-
sonality. one which, Helen arrived at
the conclusion, might have to be
rechoned with. She was past middle
age. tall, lean and wiry, and as aus
tere as any prelate. Helen gave her
considerable attention when she came
to her room to inform her that Mrs.
Davensnt was impatient to see her."
During these first few minutes
Helen became aware that Mrs. Sloan
owned an unpleasant, not to say dis
concerning, trait. 1t became manifest
after Helen told about seeing the man
running through the orchard-the
man who had been running as if death
were at his heels.
Much to Relen's surprise the wom-
an warmly, almost Indignantly, scout
ed the very idea that a man could
have been near the premises at the
time. Indeed, so vehemently did
Mrs. Sloan deny the possibility that
all of the girls suspicious were
aroused. She recalled the others ap-
prehension of the previous night, an
apprehension that was not associated
with the girl who had just arrived.
Thereafter it was that she became
sensible of the unpleasant, discomfort
ing trait. The woman's beady, deep
set eyes were constantly trained upon
her. In steady, unblinking stare
they followed her every movement and
she soon realized that it was a case
of the watcher being watched.
Mrs. Davenant she found to be the
wreck of a beautiful woman. Her
fine, dark, still lustrous eyes wore a
haunted look; beneath them were deep
shadows, and her cheeks were sunken
and pale
That first day Helen had little
enough to do besides advance
and develop acquaintance with her
charge. and it gratified her to feel that
the invalid was attracted to her.
Once during the afternoon she real
lied suddenly that Mrs. Daveant's
dark eyes were fixed upon her. She
came out of revery and smiled at
the lady upon the davenport. close by
which she was sitting at the time. The
invalid's features responded with a
wan, wistful counterpart OF the girls
bright expression, and she stretched
forth hand and caught one Of Hell
ems.
MY dear" said she. aren't you
afraid to stay here?"
Afraid" Helen's tone disclaimed.
What is there 10 be afraid of"
"Ah. you don't know-you don't
know! 1t is awful"
The footsteps, you mean?"
The dark eyes grew all at once more
intent.
You know about them?" Mrs. Da-
yenant asked, a note of surprise in
her voice.
of course / know about them: they
are one of the reasons why am here "
Her manner was matter-of-fact, indi-
eating that she regarded the footsteps
as Of little or no consequence.
Helen made up her mind to be bold /;
she felt that she was far enough ad-
vanced in her charges confidence and
good viii to risk the step. She said
with quiet earnestness:
Mrs. Davenant, please don't think l
am trying to surprise any OF your Sc
crets or anything that is none of my
business, but I believe the footsteps,
whatever their source, are the cause OF
your unstrung condition"
She was startled by the terrified ex.
preston that overspread the pale face.
Abruptly she stopped.
Don't" said the woman hoarsely.
You mustn't There are some
things. Just a silly notion OF
mine. l am sure that while in your
strong, supporting presence l shall
never hear them!
My dear, don't want TO appear ex.
acting. but. during the night, l want
you TO be always near me. Sleep
there in that alcove. l trust you are
a light sleeper?"
4 can be if occasion requires" Hell.
en- assured her.
The woman sighed again and re-
Taxed amongst the pillows. 4 be
lieye l can sleep" she murmured.
Accepting this as a dismissal. Helen
arranged the pillows, saw that her
charge was otherwise comfortable, and
quietly went away.
The enormous boarhound, she re
hected, had been provided to protect
this isolated household; yet a speech
OF Mrs. Sloan's the night before i'm
piled that she Was in the habit of keep
ing him chained up of nights. Why?
The woman Enthusiastically had been
surprised that the beast had slipped
his leash
Thought Of Boris led her TO the rear
where she found that a high wire
fence separated yard from orchard
which accounted for the dog having 50
soon given up pursuit Of the fleeing
man.
Turning her back TO the gate and
facing the house. her glance was ar
rested by a porch that had been con
verted into a flower conservatory
though one now empty of flowers,
One Of the glass panels stood slightly
aiar. and some inner prompting
scarcely intuitiva hut more a subcou.