Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1917-06-15
CHAPTER LX
Copyright, 1917. Star Company

Like ghost I crept downstairs
The front door was bolted, and un-
fastened it carefully. Nervousness
and oppression caused by the heat
made me breathe quickly. I felt that
I would smother if I did not get
out of the house.
AS stepped upon the veranda !
drew a long sigh. The night air was
heavy with fragrance, but it was not
nearly as hot here as it was upstairs
had not brought wrap with me-
and a delicious GOODNESS struck my
bare throat where my negligee was
open.
| 1 started to take a chair upon the
veranda, then I hesitated. 1t was
/ here that had made that half prom
! Use this afternoon, the promise that
! my companion had told me harshly
| he knew would bind me. l suddenly
/ hated the chairs in which he and
l'had been seated at the time.
wanted to get away from the scene.
| Impulsively l hurried down the
! front steps, then turned toward tho
end of the house at which the orch
ard was, and where stood the bench
on which Tom and l had sat on my
first evening at Hillcrest. 1t was
under the nursery windows, and /
reflected, as I had on that other oc-
casion, that l was near enough TO
Grace to hear her should she call.
Seating myself upon the bench, I
| leaned against the old apple tree that
grew against it. A gentle breeze was
rising and every little while an ap-
pie from one of the trees in the orch
ard would drop to the ground with a
dull thud. The fruit was not yet
ripe, l knew. My employer had told
me that some of the trees seemed to
have a disease this year, causing
their fruit to fall before it had reach
ed perfection.
Il must have a specialist come and
look the orchard over before next
year." he had observed. It's pity
to see an apple, that might be per-
feet falling while it's yet green. 1t
makes one sorry for it-as if it could
feel and be disappointed at its fate. "
He had smiled when he said 1t. |
could not smile now as I recalled
his speech. He could be whimsically
sorry for an inanimate piece of fruit.
| 1t did not occur to him to be sorry
for a girl who might marry man
old enough to be her father, whom
she did not love.
But 1 had been fond of him-was
fond of him yet, of course. He was
very good to me. Surely I had once
fancied I could be happy with him.
What had made such change re-
Gently? I know tonight, as never
before, that 1 did not love him
that the hope I once had of loving
him was feeble now.
A Faint Sound
A faint sound made me start and
lean forward. 1t was the cautious
| opening of the front screendoor. This
door always creaked if opened slow
| ly. Was somebody coming out? There
could be nobody going in, for all the
family were in their various rooms.
I was not frightened. 1 only sat
listening. My sole fear was that my
employer might have come down
stairs and, finding the heavy front
door open, would search for the per-
son who had come out. would sit
still until I heard him go down the
steps and walk on the gravel path
toward the gate of the garden. Then
would slip in noiselessly and return
to my room.
I had reached this decision when
I saw a figure coming through the
orchard. In spite of the darkness
of the night the flashes of lightning,
which were almost incessant, showed
me who it was. 1t was Hugh Parker,
and the same illumination that had
enabled me to discern him had re-
vealed to him my white-clad figure
outlined against the dark background
of the treetrunk behind me. He
came straight to me.
Why" he exclaimed. you out
here. and all alone?"
"Yes," I said, in a low voice, cit
was so hot indoors that I could not
breathe. So I came out here.
thought you were all fast asleep, and
that nobody would know of my rash
ness"
MAY sit down here by you and
get a bit cool. too?" he asked.
Then, as I made room for him be-
side me, he added, We're going to
have a big shower soon. The wind
is rising. Are you sure you are not
chilly?"
"Ouite sure" told him.
"wait a minute" he ordered, 'T'll
be right back"
He left me for a moment, and re-
turned, bearing a light shawl.
ct happened to remember seeing
this in the hammock on the veranda
this afternoon" he remarked. Here
1t is If you need it."
THANK you," I rejoined, "but I
don't need it just now"
He sat down again, and there was
silence, but not an awkward one
Somehow I never felt i'll at ease with
this man.
81 heard YOU come out of the house
a few minutes ago." I said, presently.
A Strange Sound
."Oh. no, you didn't he smiled,
ofor I have lust come hona from n