Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1935-01-31
CHAPTER Iv--Continued
Is

Ck1APIEN lV--Continued
Is
The head Of Lostland academy
seemed Unfortunately fond of flowers,
and, as Mrs. Denver came down path
to take the air, he CALAMITY gathered
Q bunch and handed them to her. She
took them shyly. then her face lighted
mp with pleasure as she saw the quar-
fette approaching. Balder in the dis
lance rested on his hoe and watched
the scene. The evening wind was
blowing cold from the lake and
moaning began In the pines. Payne
noticed = black glove lying on the
white gravel Of side walk. The wind
grew wilder. All at once the bell high
up in the belfry struck one note. Has
kell started violently, and Mrs Den
yer almost dropped her flowers.
Berenice said: II am sure It is
e Mother Martha, Guardian. You know
she likes to think the boys and girls
are coming back to school"
Il remember the rope does run down
tie through the end Of the passage where
.creahe lives. But didn't know she had
look erength enough In her old hands to
- ak Of our chrysanthemums2 can't
SAin much here--but these plants take
resoiu's Of themselves"
.-sain the bell sounded. Balder
! TO stare at them and resumed
u 0rk.
ANQome one has dropped a glove.-
Mfs Denver remarked, and picked
Il mp.
~It's Mother Martha's." said Ber-
enice. Look, Janet-may | call you
Janetf-she knits these black gloves
herself. and puts them on"
Haskell frowned. "Now. Berenice,
don't reveal your old nurses eccentric
ities."
1T isn't an eccentricity to mourn
is It? She wears them on the ami
versaries of peoples deathsl What
can It be today All, l remember
my brothers and sistersl"
Haskell turned with kind of an
ger to Janet. There, you see l did
what / could to divert her mind
away with sad anniversaries, sayi I
hope you win be happy this evening |
Go into the library, build fire. Go
down into the kitchen and make fudge.
I'll tell the cook you are to have any
thing you like. Wilton. are you too
grave psychologist to make fudgeT"
Wilton was thinking he had mis-
judged Haskell, who certainly had his
problems in managing an estate so
freighted with old tragedies and ira
ditions and 80 involved with the fu-
ture Of q girl as charming as Ber-
enice. He approved Has'lell's effort
TO keep this snniversary from the
girls mind. you'll come, Mrs. Den
ver-to this partyT'
@Indeed will" she answered heart
lily; then In lower voice, May walk
little with you. Mr.. Payne? want
TO ask you something"
"Haye you seen the lake"
.No."
He turned In that direction. She
came along gratefully. budding her
rather worn coat of Hudson seal
about her and glancing from time to
time at her companions face.
How we all walk herei II seems
as II everybody hated to be indoors.
You are a psychologist, Mr.. Payne.
Tell me what IL wrong with this
house3"
"Ah, you've been thinking too much
Il %of these-hgures of the old, sad story. +"
II She lowered her voice, looked about
III her cautiously. Its a story that's
not finished"
Are any stories ever nnishedl" he
said gently.
tits not fnishedi You'n think me
strange have q feeling we were
brought here to finish it--we-uncon-
Querable fourr'
I'm glad you include yourself. II
means you'll stay"
''Yes. I'll stayi want to GO
4 but I'll stayi I'm afraid OF Bal
der, Of Mother Martha, of the prin-
cipal with his queer bright eyes; but
I'll stayw
At the door which led into the base
ment he left her-and descending the
4 messy stone steps he found himself
In the passage where the wax figures
were lodged A new keyhole contain
ing key had been let into the door.
| He heard some one on .he base
ment stairs. and stepped inside the
! room beyond that in which were the