The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1921-09-07
REVELATIONS
OF A WIFE
RY ADELE GARRISON,
BY ADELE GA

Who is the Person Who Frightened
Baby Marion3
The screams of little Marion Morton.
Lillian's child, held us all terror
stricken, motionless for an instant
That is. all but Lillian. With moth
ler's instinct she had turned at the
first shrek and had dashed swiftly
up the stairs. We were not far be-
hind her. however. and as we reached
the top of the stairs we saw the child
rush into her mothers arms.
What Is 1t, my precious?" Lillian
asked soothingly. sitting down in
chair and gathering the child to her,
while l snatched he blanket from the
bed and covered the little thing warm
~. What frightened your
Marion was too frightened to an
swer for moment or two. she
simply sobbed convulsively. but fin
ally managed to get out the choking
words.
Somebody looked in at that window
at me-"
The window at which she pointed
looked out upon a small upper baIco-
J ny, from which steps led from the
lower story. It would have been an
easy matter, however, for anyone with
even slight acrobatic skill to climb the
posts supporting the little veranda.
But we all looked at each other in
credulously-the thing seemed too pre-
posterous.
The men rushed to the window how
ever, and opening, stepped out upon
the balcony. Tire was no snow upon
the roof, so 1t was impossible for any
trace of footsteps to prove or to dis
prove the child's assertion. But the
child screamed again as she saw them
outside.
Don't let her come in Don't let
her get me-"
"Her!" The word hit home to Rob-
ert Savarin. Dicky and me, although
it meant nothing to Lillian and the
Durkees.
What Robert Savarin Said.
Only the day before Robert Savarin
had arrived at our door almost in
state of collapse because he had seen
the face of a woman known as Mrs.
Allis looking out of car window after
he and Dicky had alIghted at Marvin.
II had trembled for the keeping of his
newly found sanity, for the sight of
the woman whom he had once called
wife and who had ruined his life. had
effected him terribly. I had also done
a little private trembling on my own
account, for had reason to dread Mrs.
Allis. could still hear her vindictive
voice threatening to get even" with
me because / had spoiled her plot toll
steal the valuable collection of Saw
arin paintings at the farmhouse of her
sister, Mrs. Cosgrove.
It was almost too melodramatic to
think of Mrs. Allis prying about our
lonely house at night. Besides, wo
man could never have climbed that
balcony
AS IL Robert savarin read my
thoughts, he said in a low tone while
the rest were occupied in looking for
traces of the intruder;
|sShe was once a circus acrobat"
/ looked at him startled.
you think it was she. them" III
asked trembling.
I'm afraid So" he answered. But |
there is no need to alarm the others, I
especially Mrs. Underwood. Better
let them think it is all the child's
Imagination. But shall keep watch /
tonight"
Tn intonation in his voice as he |
spoke LiIlian's name told me some
thing that I knew the man himself /
did not guess as yet. But I knew /
that the old feeling for Lillian which I
/ was sure he had had in the old
days was being revived and had con-
quered his fear of Mrs. Allis.
Lillian Is Not Deceived.
He went directly to Dickyy after
leaving me, and l knew he was re-
peating his advice to give the i'm
preston that the little girls fright
was the result of imagination. Dicky
rose to the occasion at once.
i've found out what 1t was" he
said, and knew by the expression of
his eyes that his imagination was be-
ginning to work There's a piece of
white cloth caught in a bough of the
tree that overhangs this balcony. The
wind has swept the bough along the
window and Marion saw the white
cloth and thought it was a woman's
face.
Il didn't either" Marion, who had
been soothed to quiet in her mothers
arms, raised her head and gazed hys-
terically and defiantly at Diclxy. 1T
was a woman's face I tell you, and
she had such black eyes and such
black hair, and she wasn't as tall as
mother or auntie Madge, and she
wasn't as short as Mrs. Durkee. I'd
know her anywhere. She wasn't any
old cloth, she was bad, bad woman"
The child's voice trailed off into
another burst of frightened sobbing,
and her mothr warned US with her
eyes to say no more
Mrs. Durkee," I said softly, won't
you take these men down stairs and
entertain them I viii stay with Lill-
Ian till Marion is quieter."
Little Mrs Durkee nodded efficient