Show A BY IL L LAU apa 5 Y RAY res y ca SYNOPSIS alas patricia holbrook Holb and miss nelea colbrook nol ol 01 brook he her niece were entrusted to tha care 0 4 11 lourenca irenas donovan a writer erin g near port annandale Annan dala ats patri patricia cla e confided 0 n fi deato to donovan donova that aha h feared eared her br brother ether 11 henry nr who hn ruined minea b by a I 1 bark a r k failure tal hire had constantly threatened h her r f or money from lils hla fat athera liers will vill ot of wrel miss patricia was waa guard guardian fah they came to port annandale An to escape honry henry CHAPTER I 1 continued it if a strange in quest of a lady tomes comes riding through the wood how shall I 1 know him what valorous words are written on his shield tod and does he carry a lance or a suitcase suit butt case ile he Is the knight a of the sorrowful countenance said miss holbrook in ia my own key as she rose you would know him anywhere by his bis clothes and the remarkable language lie he uses ile he Is not to bo be taken very seriously the trouble with lilal but I 1 have been afraid that lie ho and my brother might join hands handa in the pursuit of us dut but the sorrowful knight would not advance hla his Int interests orests by that ho he could only injure his causel cause 1 I 1 exclaimed oh ho be has no elty hes a very foolish person ho he blunders at windmills with quixotic ardor wont you please say goodnight good night to miss holbrook for vie me I 1 said my h hand a rid on the door and then an odd thing happened I 1 was waa about to take my departure through the front hall when I 1 remembered a short cut to the glenara glenarm gate from the rear of the schoot school I 1 walked the length of the parlor to a a door that would I 1 know knew L give 2 ive ready exit to the open to miss pat who stood erect serene adorable in tho the room that was now touched with the first shadows of waning day and her slight figure was so eloquent of pathos her smile so brave that I 1 bowed again with a reverence I 1 already felt for her then as I 1 flung the door open and stepped into the hall ball I 1 heard tho the soft swish ot of skirts a light furtive step and caught a glimpse or could havo sworn I 1 did didok ot white while there was only QUO one sister in the house and a 0 bew it seemed incredible 1 0 1 jali g u upon do thir this guest of the house I 1 crossed a narrow balli ball found the rear door and passed out into the p park ark something prompted me to turn when I 1 had taken a dozen steps toward the glenarm glenara gate the vines on the gray stone buildings were cool to the he ly eye e with their green grben that hung I 1 like I 1 k a tapestry from eaves to earth and suddenly as though she came out of the appeared on the little balcony opening from one on of the first floor rooms rested the tips of her fingers on the green vine clasped rail and seeing mv m bowed and smiled she nas was gowned in white with a B carlet ribbon at at bler throat and the green wall vividly accented and heightened her outline I 1 stood staring like a fool for or what seemed a century of heartbeats heart beats as she sha flashed forth there out ot of what seemed a sheer depth of 0 masonry then she turned her head bead blight slightly ly as th though in disdain of me and looked off toward the lake I 1 had uncovered at sight of her and found when I 1 gained the broad hall at Il house that I 1 still carried my hat an hour later ws asa I 1 dined in solitary B tate state that white figure was still present before me and I 1 could coald gothelp not help wondering though the thought angered me whether that graceful heart head had bad not been bent against the closed door of the parlor at st agathas and it such were the tact fact why helen holbrook who clearly enjoyed the full confidence ot of her aunt should have stooped to such a trick to learn what miss bliss patricia said to me CHAPTER 1 11 I confidence bliss patricia Patric fa received mo me the following afternoon on the lawn at st agathas where in a cool angle of the buildings a maid was laying the cloth on a small table it to la good of you to come helen will be here heie presently she went tor for a walk on the shore I 1 you must dust both at you make ir tree e ot of the Gle glenarm narin preserve dont con bider the wall over there a barricade it s merely to add to the of the landscape miss bliss Ila patricia was vas quite rested from her journey and expressed her pleasure in the beauty and peace pace of the place tn in rank frank and cordial terms I 1 1 I 1 could ask nothing better than this big sister margaret la Is most kind hind la in every way helen and I 1 have bad a peaceful 21 24 scours the first in two years and ana JL yee feal that at last laet we have fope safe rest assured dt 0 it miss bliss the summer colony Is away off there and you fied see nothing of it it la Is quite out of sight and sound you have seen annandale me sleep sleepless sleepiest slee lest of 0 american images with at shop and a candy and soda rada fountain place and a picture vc postcard booth which the th young ladles ladies ot of st aga abas li patronize onize extensively when they ro bete berei thy summer ridente real rI denta dents are just to arrive an on ther their shore 1 A 1 I saw a dark figure tc via me ir ib veranda but they will not molest you it if they try to land over hero here well train our 9 guns uns on them and blaw them out of the water As aa our neighbor beyond the iron gate of I 1 beg that you look upon me as your manat man at arms my sword madam I 1 lay at your feet Phe sheathe athe it sir laurance nor i draw it save in honorable cause she ehe returned on tho the instant and then she eha arak 1 I ar wK 4 g 41 4 sister 9 ster I 1 targuie tar T gaie f is mosil it n every very way she seems seema wholly ay d discreet I 1 and lias has assured rag me of her interest and sympathy said bliss patricia RS no though she ehe wished me to confirm her own impression theres no manner of doubt of it she Is sister theresaa The assistant IL II is inconceivable that sho she could possibly interfere in your affairs I 1 bellevo you are perfectly safe bate here in every way bliss alsa at 0 end rid of 0 a week your brother has made no sign we shall be reasonably certain that he be has haa lost the trail 1 I believe that Is true and I 1 thank you very much I 1 had como come prepared to be disillusioned lusio ned to find her charm gone but her small email figure had bad even an added distinction her ways her manner an added grace I 1 found myself resisting the temptation to call her quaint as implying too much yet I 1 felt that in olden time on sonic some noble estate in ringland england or better la in some storied colonial mansion in virginia she must have had her homo home in years long gone living on with no increase of age to this present she suggested peace and gentleness and a beautiful pati patience erice and I 1 strove to say amusing things that I 1 might enjoy her rare luminous smile and catch her eyes when she gave mo me her direct gazo gaze in the quick challenging way that marked her as a woman of position and experience who had been more given to thin than to obey did you think I 1 was never coming aunt pat pata that shore shoie path calls for more strenuous effort than I 1 imagined and I 1 had to change my iny gown again helen holbrook adian advanced ced quickly and stood by her aunts chair nodding to ma imp smilingly and while we exchanged the commonplaces ot of the day she caught up miss bliss pats hand band and held it a moment caressingly the mald maid now brought the tea bielss rat pat poured it and the talk went I 1 orward forward cheerily voli oh mr donovan said helen holi hol brook as I 1 put down her cup there hera are pome letters I 1 should like to write and 1 I 1 wish Y yoa oa would tell roe me whether it is safe to 0 have letters come for us to annandale or would it be better belter to send nothing bothin g from hero here at all it does meent odd to have to ask such a question anti and she concluded la in a tone ot of distress and looked at me appealingly ly we must tale atto no risks whatever helen remarks d miss bliss pat decisively does no ona U e know where you are I 1 inquired of bliss patricia aly lawyer jn in new york has the name of this place sealed and he put it t awny away in a safety box and pr not to open it unless er ermo bome mo thing of wry iery great Import importance Ince happened it Is beat to take no chances I 1 aad salti I 1 so BO I 1 should answer your y our lion in the negative bits holbrook in ohp course ot a few y thing may seem much clearer cle axer 1 and D nd in the meantime tt it vill ill be wiser not lo JO with tho the outer world they deliver mill mall through the Y hita tre dan irant t ii ml en it must be a great luxury for the the farmers to have tho the post office at their very doors yes yea but the school and mr glen arm always send for their own mall mail to annandale our mat mail Is till all going to my law yer 11 said miss pat and it must watt wait until we can have it sent to us with out danger 11 certainly aunt pitt pat replied hoi hel rtin ta rm ron illy dlly 1 I meau mean to alv aiyu W corr correspondence escor was 7 it Is fa odd to b lo 10 0 shut u up bat in his way an and riot not to be able to ajo do as one liked in such little matters it was time for me to leave and I 1 picked up my hat bat and stick As aa I 1 started away I 1 was aware that helen holbrook detained me without in the least appearing to do so BO following a few steps stepa to gain as she said a certain view of 0 the lake that was particularly elcula ticul arly aly charming there la is nothing rugged ru aged in this landscape a but it Is delightful in its very tranquillity she said as aa we loitered on the shimmering lake before ua the wood behind ablaze with the splendor of tho the sun she spoke of the beauty of the beeches beaches bee ches which are of noble girth in this region and paused to indicate a group of them whose smooth were like massive pillars As wo we looked back I 1 saw that bliss pat had bad gone into the house drivon driven no doubt by the persistency of the west wind that crisped the lake helens manner changed abruptly and she said it if any di difficulty should arise here it my poor father should ond find out where we are I 1 trust that you may bo be able to save my aunt anxiety and pain that Is what I 1 wished to say to you mr donovan certainly I 1 replied meeting her eyes and noting it a quiver of the lips that was eloquent of deep feeling and as we marched on an and I 1 felt that there was the least defiance in her air then site she drew a handkerchief from her sleeve touched it lightly to her eyes and smiled 1 I had not thought of quite following you hornet homel here to IB adonarm gate and there lie ile your battlements and towers rather they belong to my 01 old d friend john Gl glenara glenarm Glenn nn in n his gooda goodness ess of heart he be gave me the use of the place fr for tho the and as generosity with property la Is very easy I 1 hery berty tender you our fleet canoes boats steam launch ind the stable which contains cont alna a y variety of traps and a good alding horse borse or two they are all at your service I 1 hope that you ala your aunt will not fall fail to aval avail I 1 yourselves ot of ach and all do you rido ride I 1 was waa specially charged to give the horses exercise you ou very when we aro ara well settled bottled and feel wore more Bec seC tire nTO wo we ohalf be glad tp cau call ou on you rather father stoddard daid certainly served tm H well in its to you mr donovan ir a moment she aho spoke again quite slowly and with I 1 thought a very pretty embarrassment aunt pat may have spoken of another difficulty a mere nino annoyance Yance really and sho she smiled at me gravely oh yes ear of 0 the youngster youn Bater who has haa been troubling you yo bouy ur father and he have of ct courser no connection no decidedly not jilia ho he la Is a very offensive person my M dobovan Doa Dor ovan jvan lt aw uld be it a matter of great distress affie 1 ife should pursue us ia to this place it I 1 IB that it a eljule feg i in man a U it if he ha la Is a ke gentleman etleman should follow you merely for the purpose 0 of f annoying you I 1 have heard that young ladies ladled usually know how to got rid of importunate suitors oni 11 1 I havo have heard that they have that reputation sho she laughed back bach but mr gillespie tho the name la Is it your aunt d did 1 d not mention it 1 yes yea lie ho lives quite near us at stamford Stam tord aunt icat bat disliked hla his rather father him null ml now that he la Is dead rho obe visits her displeasure on tto lion but sho she Is quite tight right about it lie ire lei is a singularly unattractive and uninteresting person and I 1 trust that ho will not mot find us that la Is quite unlikely you will do well to forgot forget all about him forget all your troubles and enjoy the beauty of these juno days daya wo had reach Sil 14 Glo narni gate and st agathas was waa now hidden hy by the ho foliage along tho the winding path helen throw away tho the bits of 0 twig when wo we camo came to the wall and as I 1 swung tho the gate open paused mockingly with clai clasped hands hand a and pooped peeped inside 1 I raus must t go baek back sho she sald said then them her manner changing she dropped her hands at her side and fenced mo me you will wl 1 l warn mo me mr donoyan donovan of 0 the first approach of lo I 1 wish to save my aunt in every way possible she means so much to me she has made life easy for me whore it would have been hard there will bo be no trouble miss bliss hol hoi brook you mo are as safe as though you were vero hidden in hi a cavo cave in win tho apen nines I 1 but I 1 shall give elvo you warning at tho the first sign of danger my ily fattier father Is la is quite relentless t she murmured averting her eyes I 1 turned to retrace path her but she eho forbade me and was gone swiftly a hash flash of 0 white through ahn trees before I 1 could parley with her I 1 stared niter after liar her as long as I 1 could hear her light tread in the path and when she bho had bad vanished a feeling ol of loneliness posses possessed sod me and the coun coon try quiet mocked roe me with ito hi peace I 1 clanged the glenara glenarm gate to bother sharply anti saw went in to dinner lint but I 1 pondered long as aa I 1 smoked on 01 g W As no maw an Z ot of the holbrooks Hol 1101 broo brooka ica ham got on wy MY perves at beast ast that was wy for it now that hat I 1 thought of 0 it t they wore impudent intruders and paul stoddard had gone too tar far in turning bern over to me there was nothing in their story anyhow it t was preposterous post erous and I 1 resolved to 0 o let thorn severely alone but even as aa these thoughts ran through my 1 I 1 1 turned toward st Ag agathas Lithas w hose lights were visible through t the trees and I 1 knea that there was nothing honest in my impatience helen diol brooks eyes were upon me and her voice called from the dark and when tho the clock chimed nine in the tower beyond the wall memory brought back the tha graceful turn ot of her dark head the firm curve of her throat as she had bad listened to the mellow ling fling ot of the bells sobered by these reflections I 1 lett left the terrace shortly after 11 find and walked through the strip of 0 wood that lay between the house and the lake to the glenard glenarm pier and at once matters took a turn that put tho the love of woman quite out of the reckoning CHAPTER ill III I 1 meet mr R reginald ar id gillespie As I 1 neared the boathouse I 1 saw a dark figure sprawled on the veranda and my japanese Japa neso boy spoke to me softly the moon was waa at full and I 1 drew up shadow of the house and waited ijima had been with me for 6 several everal years and was a boy of unusual intelligence ile ho both |