Show L 0 r i 1 1 ets am VIZ evs 0 a cadin B Y L I 1 D A L A R R I 1 M 0 R E 0 MACRAE SMITH CO SERVICE CHAPTER I 1 I 1 the bright disc of flashlight moved over the rough pine paneling of the door found and illuminated the keyhole under the latch gabriella graham fitting the key into the lock knew that her fingers were trembling it works she said with forced composure then expectancy in her voice and oddly too a muted note ot of reluctance she added a little breathlessly kate were here so I 1 presumed there was no expectancy in kate olivers pleasantly drawling voice only weariness characteristic humor a casual acceptance of lifes little surprises 1 I agree with you though she continued it does at the moment appear to be a notable achievement like scaling the alps for instance I 1 feel as though I 1 had scaled an alp im practically paralyzed all over poor katel gay said but the words absently spoken held more of personal preoccupation than sympathy for her companion never mind she added still absently but in a tone of warm affection well have a fire and food pretty soon 1 I can use both rate kate said feelingly how are the beds kate was aware of her hesitancy give me the flashlight she said ill go ahead gays glance turned quickly resentfully sent fully why should you she asked a trifle sharply no reason kate replied with unshaken good humor just trying to be helpful its an irritating habit I 1 mean to imply that you might be frightened of 01 course you did gays low clear laugh was a plea for forgiveness im not though she added she would not admit misgivings not even to kate who during this tiring trip to the cabin in maine had been disarmingly incurious resourceful amusing people got at you if you let your defenses down she pushed the door wide open and stepped inside the temperature of the room was warmer than the air outside as though been a fire she thought fleetingly and dismissed the idea as absurd the cabin had been closed for three years since uncle john died not very secerel securely y closed though the pale rectangles in the wall were windows there have been something shutters boarding perhaps A question st startling artlin 9 in in implication just touched the edge of her mind Is that a wood range kate asked yes gay replied do you think we can manage it certainly kate said with confidence on second thought though who cuts the wood well buy it cut or have a boy out from the village that relieves my mind im not so good with an ax kate pressed against gays shoulder to look into the room the apparatus for she asked in an interested voice the flashlight disclosed a table with a porcelain top on which were jars test tubes an object which might be an alcohol stove an assortment sort ment of bottles the built in bed was neatly spread with blankets there were no other furnishings except a straight wooden chair strange odor kate said sniffing smells like a hospital or a chemist shop something uncle john left I 1 suppose gay said entirely at random fluids for developing films perhaps she added slowly he was interested in photography he had a great many hobbies the explanation appeared to satisfy kate she made no further comment it did not satisfy gay though on the surface it was plausible uncle john had been interested in photography but would the odor have remained in the room for three years the fluids in the bottles insecurely covered with circles of gauze have evaporated during the time that the cabin had been closed and what had test tubes to do with kodak films again and with greater insistence the question startling in intimation forced its way into her mind these are the living quarters gay turned the light through a second door opening from the kitchen at right angles to the first the notion was absurd she told hersell herself the cabin was her per bonal property free from lestric res eions or reservations compact and anc convenient no elevators no stairs to climb living room drawing room dining room all in one she sh concluded conclude A what no breakfast nook kate asked in mock dismay well have our meals on the porch if it too cold do you suppose it will be gays voice rippled on not waiting for kate to reply the weather was beautiful in september I 1 here this late in the month though that was the fall mother put me in school in switzerland while she was in paris it was lovely here when I 1 left the leaves were just beginning to turn and the air was like wine she had thought her expectancy the strength of her desire to return seemed absurd now romantic incredibly naive gay stood conscious of fatigue acknowledging disappointment in the frame of the open door uncle john was dead she was no longer fifteen a tall ardent child with dreams and half I 1 gays glance scorned so craven a suggestion glimpsed realities mingling to veil her perceptions in a roseate mist six years separated her from the summer she had spent at the cabin six crowded years filled with complexities of which she had then been unaware the six important years which had produced the gabriella she was at twenty one she S should hould have known it was futile to attempt to recapture a lost emotion sad to go back are there lights kate asked of course T the he mist of introspection spec tion cleared gay felt kate watching her knew that kate was aware of some preoccupation withheld and unshared her fingers groped against the wall beside the door then she laughed a clear amused laugh of candid surprise theres no electricity she said kerosene lamps my friend will there be kerosene we should have gotten a supply at the store 1 I forgot the light situation gay moved away from the door keep your fingers crossed and ill see there was oil in the lamp on the table A box of matches lay conveniently at hand gay placed the flashlight on the table so that its beam cut in a horizontal shaft across the room As she removed the shade from the lamp her eyes traveled along the bar of light saw in the clear circle against the hearth a pair of muddy boots theres oil she said when the sudden quick beating of her heart had quieted a little the clearing mist of abstraction vanished though her attention was fixed upon the difficult business of striking a match she still saw very clearly the boots upon the hearth good kate said from the darkness near the door better luck than we deserve gay tipped the chimney applied the flame of the match to the wick they were high boots with lacings facings lac ings the sort that woodsmen woodsman woods men wore and the mud that caked them was fresh it had been raining all day the lane had been soft with mud the wick is trimmed too she said playing for time in wah which to adjust her mind to this unexpected situation searching for an explanation not wanting just yet to share her discovery with kate Hi himml kate said with curious emphasis the bridegroom cometh what the china shade striking the chimney made a clattering sound very loud in the quiet room gay set it securely in the thin branching prongs bridegroom she repeated theres something in the bible about bridegrooms bride grooms and wicks and oil kate said in casual explanation never mind my rectory past will pop up now and then tactless of me to have mentioned bridegrooms bride grooms im sorry the circle of flame in the lamp steadied and brightened gay raised her head through the mellow light she saw kate walking toward her an amused expression in her eyes under the brim of a dark felt hat which on kate looked both disreputable and she turned away puzzling over kates comment not quite understanding the skeptical expression deepening the lines around kates twinkling eyes did kate think theres a fire laid ready tor for lighting she knelt on the hearth deliberately ignoring both the comment and the ready explanation we wont need more wood tonight will you hand me the matches please sheer magic kate said dryly alice in wonderland and the arabian nights oil in the lamps a fire laid or maybe wish fulfillment did it anyway im not kicking gay took the box of matches without meeting kates glance the implication now was perfectly clear kate thou thought astonish astonishment men t sharpened into indignation she resented having her motives questioned A denial sprang to her lips she forced back the words never deny or explain people got at you if you let your defenses down she reminded herself again in affronted silence she ignited the shavings beneath the pyramid of wood our guardian angel has slipped up though kate said still in a tone of skeptical amusement these boots certainly wont fit either you or me her voice altered who is it gay she asked with a directness which could no longer be evaded 1 I dont know someone is living here obviously who is it kate repeated 1 I told you I 1 know gay watched small active flames licking up against the logs was she telling the truth kate watched gay rise swiftly gracefully from her kneeling position on the hearth she had no reason to doubt her she thought backing up to the warmth of the fire in the roster of gays shortcomings short comings a dis regard for the truth was not listed still what are you going to do about it she asked more casually than she felt gay paused in her progress across the room do about ita it she asked 1 I just wondered kate rocked back and forth from her heels to her toes on the fieldstone field stone hearth she was observing irrelevantly the unconscious air of assurance with which gay carried herself thinking how trim she looked in spite of two days and a night on the road in the dark tailored suit which emphasized the grace of her long slender legs the breadth of her shoulders the rounded slenderness of her body ah youth she herself probably looked like a scarecrow scare crow a particularly attenuated and angular one not that it mattered the inward sigh which followed the thought was ph philosophical I 1 I 1 rather than envious I 1 1 I 1 I dont necessarily insist that we get out of here pretty quick she continued still carefully casual its an idea though to quote your aunt flora it might be advisable P perhaps gays glance scorned so craven a suggestion we will not she said with spirited emphasis this cabin belongs to me she pulled off of her hat tossed it on the couch ran her fingers through the flattened red brown waves of her hair ive no intention of being dispossessed if the phrase you might as well take off your bonnet and shawl were going to stay be no accommodations in the village I 1 suppose she said tentatively an inn or a tourist camp just for tonight in northfield gay laughed heavens not nol and its a long way back to machias twenty miles gay was lighting a second lamp on the table behind the couch have you forgot ten en she asked the condition of the road kate was a little abashed to feel a not unpleasant thrill of excitement tingling shamelessly up her spine after a summer at dunedin the graham estate on the hudson anything in the nature of an escapade was enlivening TO BE CONTINUED |