Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1935-02-21
EBONY WATERS


Arthur and Janet dropped behind
Berenice and Wilton on the way home.
II don't think Payne ought to have
told her about that tree" he said.
"That poor child is too morbidly In
terested in everything connected with
her brothers and sisters"
Wilton was meanwhile saying to
Berenice: IF were you would not
speak of the old tree to Mr.. Haskell.
After all, he has his memories. too;
and II may be as well not to revive
them"
"That's truel-I hope you will all
stay here until am twenty-one," she
added impulsively.
$50 far as am concerned, nothing
could drive me away"
AS they entered the grounds, Has
kell and one of the farmers of the
neighborhood came slowly down the
walk together. As they passed Ber-
enice and Wilton the farmer was say
ing: ~ can't make Sally come II she
don't want to come! And she's
afraid"
They heard no more, but another
moment Haskell came running after
them. "Of all the ridiculous nom
sense, must say" he painted as he
came up to them. Here's Obadiah
Wexford over to tell me his daughter
sally has nerves about this place, and
doesn't want to come to school any
more"
That's q pity" Wilton said. "For
she's quick and bright. Really, we
can't allow her to drop out. Do you
want me to walk over to the Wexford
farm and talk to herr"
Haskell frightened a little. II wish
you would. Go over Sunday after
noon-Berenice will show you the way.
One would think when these people
had a chance at education they
wouldn't be deferred by silly stories.
And, Payne, If convenient, I'd like
you to go to Birndale next Saturday
for some supplies"
where is it?"
up the line. You can drive your
self over II you want to. It's about
fifteen miles-a metropolis compared
to Blade-almost a thousand inhab-
itants, and a motion picture theater!"
Wilton was already sure of one err
rand he would perform at Birndale-
he would have duplicate made Of the
key to the room In which the four
wax figures were stored. Berenice
should go there when she wished.
When he had been In his rooms a
few minutes Arthur appeared. II
wish we were going to move out Of
this place tonight" he announced abb
ruptly.
Dean of the Mathematics, what's on
your mind?"
"You know, Payne, / am not a
nervous Individual i came up here
as full of health and spirits as a man
could bel"
Don't tell me you're afraid Of those
four wax figures?"
Il might as well say first as last
that am-and so is Janet; but it's
sense Of some danger still lurking.
Were we brought up to serve some
purpose other than our utility as
teachers?"
How should !, Fleming, know more
than you? II conjecture, my guess
is that we were sent for because Ber-
enice insisted on the terms Of her
fathers will being complied with
that she should be well educated. Ger
tainly she is getting intensive training
now, If she ever did,"
Payne told Arthur of the proposed
expedition to Birndale. THAT means
can get a duplicate key made Of
the wax-figure room door-for Ber-
enice's use."
"You think she ought to have one?"
She'll feel more at ease l could
have told her where Haskell hid the
key, but thought 1t might make
trouble II he found she knew it's hid
ing place. 1t may make trouble any.
way"
Il can sympathize with her. The
four figures have seemed much more
oppressive to me since they were locked
in. II they were kept openly upstairs
as we saw them that first night-for
everybody to look at and remember
or forget, as he chose, we'd soon all
forget them. You can't remember any,
thing that's constantly under your
nose"
There was knock on the door. Mrs.
Denver stood there, looking quite
white. II hate to trouble you, Mr..
Wilton, and you'll think me very fool
ish. but Mother Martha has been in
the kitchen talking Of those four chill
dren. She even told me what they
had on that day-Jethro and Norman
In corduroys; the little girl Isabel a
green silk blouse, Althea in a violet
dress-wash dress, think she said.
l listened as patiently as l could, be-
cause the old have so few to listen ia
them-but when Mr.. Haskell came in
and asked me to so In that room and
see that everything was right In there
and to dust around bit, l confess
I'm too nervous-to go alone"
did he give you the key, Mrs. Den
ver?"
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