The Washington times., 1918-08-19

eneampment Esther gave . startled
cry. .. .s..
'Thsy have moved the gypsies.s
she exclaimed. They used to be
on the other side Of Helm"
Harold glanced from the window,
but he made no remark. and almost
Immediately the carriage had
turned the bend and the gypsies
were out Of sight.
When they neared the station
Harold broke the silence II have
given orders that the Towers shall
be closed for awhile" he said II
have arranged for. the servants to
go elsewhere. The Griffths will
take charge till we need the house
again. Mr.. Graves win. OF course.
attend to the place. I shall wriss
to him fully. Does this please you.
Esther?'
yes. She murmured. She knew
the Griffths. They were an honest
family, who had occupied the houss
on other occasions when it had been
left empty"
@You need have no fear when you
return to the Towers" continued
Harold. Even II you do SO in ry
company"
In the train Harold tried to sallI.
to force conversation, but IL was
evident that It was an EFFORT for
him to do so. He iapsed into silence
At last, and Il was in silence .hat
the journey was ended. Esther was
glad when the Madison avenue
house was reached in safety, and
she nd Liltn RDLU RDL uRDLC
she and Lillian were once more
alone together.
Il don't know how I can endure
Il, Lillian" she sighed Some
months ago I should have been 70
happy at this reconciliation. but II
now terrifies me more than i can
tell you. Harold is SO strange, and
his manners frighten me. Just
now he looked at me, and I would
have given worlds to know OF what
he was thinking"
After dinner Esther was glad 70
be able to plead q headache, and to
withdraw to her own room, taking
Lillian with her.
"r Wish you could stay with me
tonight" She shuddered as she
sank down into a low chair before
the fire. 81 am very miserable
and very frightened, yet I cannot
see that I have done wrong, and II
were placed in the same positioa
q second time should act exactly
as have ! can. do nothing for
Harold tonight feel too weak
and I'll .mysetf-but tomorrow, u
he IL still of the same mind. I must
face the situation II he would see
q doctor IL would be easier. but
I am sure he would never do that
Yet IL seems wrong and wicked -
- III nj AZ ~
thing could be done to save him.
HE will probably send himself
on to sleep tonight with his drug,
said Lillian 81; am sure he must
have dosed himself with ie before
dinner, for he was so strange n
manner. You will never do him
any good, Esther, never. II would
be far better IL you would leave
him at once. All the world would
hold you justified"
Perhaps" said Esther, with .
sigh, "but you must remember that
Harold is the man ! loved For
him am ready to make any saert-
fees. / cannot forget that Harold
Is Harold, however much he may
have disgraced himself. Who can
tell what the future may bring
forth? Harold may take me into
his confidence about the Borradale
mystery, and we may be able 10
fight II together. The point about
1t which Is most inexplicable to me
is that no one appears able to light
the horrible thing. Before We were
married Harold was most energetic
in his protestaions.
Don't you remember how he said
that he would cleanse Adderley
from garret to cellar2 And yet as
soon as the whole truth is con-
fided to him he becomes worse than
his father. he whom I thought
strong mentally. as well as physi-
call. In barely year he has
brought himself to this state OF
abject prostratlon- What can the
mystery be, Lillian? Is IL indeed
something supernatural that II may
not be fought and conquered? Al
we know is bad enough: Zorska-is
not that the creatures name.-
and the others at Adderley or who
were at Adderley-but that Is
nothing TO the trouble which has
driven Harold to such desperation
oh, IL we could only fathom the
mystery! Perhaps then something
might be done for Harold. II this
can be fought. ought we not to
fight il? Is It not our duty"
"Shall We do so. Esther" Lillian
was standing by the fireplace, one
foot on the fender.
But can we-how" creid Esther.
Lillian thought a moment before
replying.
"As you know" she said, "my
advice has always been that any
interference with this mystery IS
dangerous and ill-advised. Edgar
Swan was very strongly OF the
same opinion I still think 1t Is
best left alone, and that your
wisest course would be to separate
yourself from Harold, who seems
now to be himself actually a part
of the mystery. But from what
Harold said. 1t seems that II you
were to leave him. you would not
be safe. Then again, IL he died,
how would you be affected by the
secret? You would be the only Bor-
radale left. We must remember
that. and that perhaps il might be
well to be forearmed."
What do you propose?" asked
Esther.
"why this. We will form our
selves into a small army to do
battle with the Borradale Curse.
You and 1 and Basil Fleetwood.
and Guy, perhaps, II you think he
can be trusted"-
"I am sure that he would take
up arms enerEeticalIy and devoted
Iy." said Esther. smiling, but he
has a way OF bringing about the
very disasters he Is struggling to
avert Still, let US include him In
our army"