Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1935-02-14
CHAPTER v-Continued
is

CAuueu us examinations OF the diaries,
which, on the whole, had yielded little
meat for his theories to feed on. Doc
tor Bracebridge evidently had been a
gentle, affectionate father, not too
forcible in his management Of a quar-
tette Of high-spirited young people re-
sentful of newcomer. who had, doubt
less, assumed too easily that they were
under his authority.
When he knew Berenice better he
might some day ask her about the will.
But he shrank from an undue and
perhaps to her mind an unjustifiable
curiosity. And he did not wish to
fasten In her mind any suspicion Of
which her guardian was the object.
Berenice was as beautiful as an
angel. he thought. tired with the ap-
proach Of dawn, too tired to think Of
rare SMILES and new terms.
"Oh, l am too tired to sleep.
think I'll steal march on Arthur and
60 down to that old church."
1t Was glorious, faring down on this
last day Of September. with the red
naples coming up like grenadiers from
the valley under vast volleys Of sun
rise; and the academy black-purple
cloud on the hill behind him. The
country roads were firm and cold I'm.
der his feet. The red bright sunlight
was on the walls of the deserted vii
lage as he reached 1t, and he noticed
white chrysanthemums in what had
once been garden lying fresh and
cool along the matted, sparkling grass.
He entered the church, and was
soon on the belfry stairs. which
creaked and groaned beneath his
weight. When he reached the landing
he looked along all the exposed raft
ers for key. But no key could he
find.
Descending the church again, he
found key sticking in the keyhole of
an old closet In the vestry, and went
up the belfry stairs again to try 1t
on the locked door. 1t fitted snugly,
and though 1t turned the lock with
difficulty. It served the purpose. He
found himself in q room with four
windows facing to the four points of
the compass; and absolutely nothing
In the place but an old Christmas tree
still nailed to its square base of green
painted wood. Nearly all its branches
had been stripped or torn from It; but
enough were left to indicate its char
acter with the aid of a few bits of
nf fncffvn M A
Christmas tag was still dangling from
one of the branches. with a name writ.
ten on It. He examined 1t more close
ly. The name was "Althea Brace
bridge" He unused over this poor
little memorial some moments pa
thetic signpost pointing back to some
long-ago Christmas celebration in this
church. But why had the tree been
carried up and stored away In the
belfry room-instead of thrown out of
doors7 perhaps the boys got hold
of 1t and carried 1t up here to form
a part Of their endless ingenuities;
think I'll take the card. Berenice
might be glad to have It."
He united II carefully. He was
about to put It In his pocket when
ne saw that on the back Of 1t was the
date of the celebration of which this
was perhaps. the old memorial. Cal.
culating back. he made 1t precisely the
Christmas before the accident.
"But this church must have been de-
serted them" he thought. Maybe they
reopened II for a Christmas celebra.
ton. To what had this little card
been attachedl A book? A bottle OF
perfume7 A box Of candy7 And had
Althea liked her PRESENT."
He tried to picture the scene-the
old church with the pale winter sun
shine streaming In and some one In
the choir singing, "Hark. the Herald
Angels: and the youngsters excited
over their gifts and impatient for the
exercises to end. And had Berenict
been rhere7 AS usual when he thought
of her. horizons began to open and
the sky to clear. "Mrs. Denver-bless
heri-told her to marry. But what Of
poor me; with so little yet laid uT
for wife,"
He relocked the door and replaced
the key in the vestry.
Jnnef was gtrolling In the ground1