Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1921-03-03

doing anything with her till the mood
passes. Let her go If she wants to-
She'll come back about midnight and
tell us all about it and everybody will
be happy.
So the crowd continued its chatter,
apparently forgetful of the obstinate
COrdelia. But one man was moody
and silent. This was Jimmy West
lake. He did not like the idea of Cor
delia's being out alone, even though
the ruined house was on her own
property and there was nothing to be
apprehended from tramps or other
providers of the night. His solicitude
was not entirely based on disinterest-
edness; COrdelia had long ago en-
tangled him in the meshes of her at
tractiveness, but he was by nature a
silent man, who did not show well in
the company of the more brilliant, IL
shallOwer, group that surrounded Cor
della. SO he had never spoken.
AS the hour wore on toward half
past eleven, Jimmy's uneasiness in
creased. Finally he could bear 1t no
longer, and with a word of excuse
about going out to the garage to see
about something he had forgotten to
do to his car, he slipped from the
room. Once outside he headed for the
haunted house.
The broken edifce was ghostly
enough in the pale moonlight, with its
and shattered door. The weeds grew
rank and unkempt all about Vt. He
stole cautiously up the path to the
doorway, and even as his foot touched
the worn sill he heard muf1led shrek
from within. Every nerve on fire he
rushed through the Uttered hall and
came to a door from behind which
came sobs mingled with an unearthly
clanking sound.
1t was locked, but his shoulder sent
it crashing inward and he found him
self in a room dusty with the accu-
mutations of years, in which the
moonlight filtered dimly through dirty
panes; in one corner a huddled heap
Of white which he knew to be Cor
della; and across the floor something
black and shapeleSS was moving ac-
companied by that ghostly rattle
Jimmy's nerve was good, but even
he was shaken for moment. Then
reason reasserted itself, and he kicked
savagely at the thing; it leaped away
with a snarl, and the moonlight fell on
tia small dog with a collar from
which dangled a few feet of rusty
chain!
In his relief Jimmy laughed aloud,
and took two strides to where Cor
della crouched, her hands over her
face. At the sound of his voice she
looked up, then suddenly sprang to
her feet and threw her arms around
his neck, hiding her face on his Shout
der.
"Oh, Jimmy, Jimmy! I'm so glad
you came! I'm so glad! Oh, it was
dreadful! Please, please take me
away"
Even when he explained that it was
only a dog she refused to be COM
fOrted, Shuddering against him and
begging to be taken home. He helped
her outdoors, and in the open air she
found relief in tears. Somehow jim
my's shoulder seemed a good place as
repository for her grief, and she
wept unrestrainedly with his good
right arm h~-.ing her close. And as
she realized her need of him he felt
surging through him his love for her
and then and there, on the path that
led to her house he told her all that
his heart had aChed to express. Her
tears ceased; but she did not draw
away from his protecting arm. Al
the threshold Of the house they
paused. From within came sounds OF
| laughter.
"And you were the only one tc
think of coming for men' murmured
| Cordelia.
81 had to come-something made
me. I had to come because-be
| cause"
because what, Jimmy"
Because Of what l said before-be
cause l love you and have always
loved you. Cordelia dear, you dc
care, don't you"
"Oh, Jimmy, I'm so glad / was fool
ish and willful and went to that hOr
rible house,! l might never have
known-just think, might never have
and that l love you, Jimmy"