Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1935-01-17
CHAPTER discontinued
III
"Thank you, motherl"

THANK you. motherl"
Berenice looked around with a quick
smile. Don't mind Mother Martha.
She's old and tired, and she says just
what she thinks, like children. She
was nurse to all my brothers and ST.
ters."
"All Of them," came the quavering
voice. "All those little chicks"
"You don't mind If she comes with
usf She's like Balder. She doesn't
feel any fear Of them"
She picked up a small, rose-shaded
night lamp, and, holding 1t a little
higher than her head. went on before
Payne. The light cast rosy shadows
on her white silk dress and down the
delicate Wilderness Of her arm. She
wore blue sash knotted just above
her hips. When they came to the
foot of the basement stairs she mo-
toned Payne to 60 on ahead of her.
Its the seventh door to the left"
He began to feel his skin pricking
little. and that unique coldness come
into his breast which Is a sure &C
compartment of fear, yet he endeav.
ored to laugh at his own sensation.
What utter folly He. a grown man,
nervous over four wax figures repre-
senting four handsome children peace
fully at study.
AT the door he waited for her, turn.
Ing his head so as not to look into the
circular glass inset. A horrid feeling
possessed him that he might see face
on the other side Of the glass peering
out into the passage' Berenice turned
the handle and entered. Her manner
seemed to change instantly, and she
breathed a sigh Of relief.
always just before opening the
door l think perhaps they are gone
though know 1t Is a foolish thought
then | see them here quite still and
lovely. and am very content; but the
coming herel That's dreadful"
"That hair ribbon on Isabers head
has one end too long," Mother Martha
said, and crept across the stone dag
cling. "Old Mother Martha can tie the
ribbon better than that-can't she?"
she crooned in an old, weary. but ten
der voice.
Berenice watched her retie the ribbon,
and turned appealing eyes to Payne as IL
to ask his understanding Of the rather
pitiful action. In that moment he felt
a refreshment Of SPIRIT a receding of
barriers. an opening Of the paths of
the sky. which transmitted the scene
into a tableau of enchantment He
had never dreamed that love would
come to him suddenly and swiftly, up
setting all his calculations, disturbing
the ordered peace Of his scholarship.
"She acts as II the old, happy tend
ing Of your brothers and sisters was
still very real to her."
Nnetimes ! think she fancies they
are really alive. She is very old-and
the nd love the past"
"And you are very young. The past
should not be allowed to grip you too
heavily"
"You do not like these figures |"
They are beautiful--Qulte marvel.
ously made. But considering the cir.
cumstances-" he hesitated.
Eyes. know-they seem morbid
things. But perhaps my poor father
was not wholly well when he drew up
his will"
"People are afraid Of them"
"oh. yes, they are afraid; the school
grew emptier and emptier, then
stopped. then, after some years,
asked my guardian to have teachers
just for me and the farmers boys
and girls. You see. wanted the
lightning dispersed little. oh. Moth.
er Martha. dear-don't you know that
sash is quite perfect7"
"Poor childreni They ought to 20
to bed--who's keepin' 'em upT
mo one. dear. There. sit on the
bench; want to show them more
closely"
She held the rose light before each
ace In turn. oddly lighting her own
II the same time. so she was actually
art of that ring OF radiance. The
lnnvufnd sbn,lOu.e faonal a.. H.. -.