Show X K X EB EBONY Y WAT WATER R X K by ANNA mcclure X servian X copyright by W 0 chapman X CHAPTER X continued 26 well I 1 it nearly did he lingered a little longer to tell her of the burning of the figures then he followed the others into the kitchen and berenice related the strange contradictions of the academy life since wil tons going her guardians guardian frequent changes of mood of impulses his bitterness ter ness his incalculable actions like a distraught creature I 1 was sad and III myself these last days I 1 could not even write to you my dear this must end you must soon be freel but how well plan something well hammer it out some way but we must act together we four janet I 1 arthur I 1 have you any plans that may help berenice and me janet answered from her shado shadowy wy corner well have to leave whether we want to or not he told me this afternoon he be was sending arthur away soon he might keep me a little while because of berenice but not long 1 I cannot be left here berenice said tragically what would I 1 do I 1 know my father would not want me to stay on in this strange unhappy place if he could know 1 of course he be would not berenice payne exclaimed you can follow the paths of destiny too long and too abjectly the sure road must open to you if you demand it we four must go together its the inevitable thing 1 but how am I 1 to cut this chain hes always watching mel me I 1 why not come away tonight after your guardian has gone his usual rounds you and janet and sirs mrs denver could come downstairs and arthur and I 1 will join you how about it arthur im agreed its now or beverl never 1 once youre out of the place it wont be too easy to get you back pack your trunks and lock them then put in handbags what need for a day or two in the morn W wilton and I 1 will come down here say that you are at jerrys and demand the trunks I 1 dont think your guard guardian lari will refuse to give them up berenice put her hand on waltons Wil tons arm somehow I 1 think wed better face it out here I 1 hate that kind of leaving not for his sake but for all the memories the place Is sad tragic but wilton I 1 feel that I 1 must leave it in triumph openly perhaps we can really she go tonight janet interposed we can manage for a day or two I 1 can demand notice he certainly put us out in the snow they heard the heavy closing of a 9 door upstairs quick wilton fleming said ile he extinguished the light in the kit kitchen then and they all went softly down the passage but when they reached the basement door they found it locked and the key gone they could hear haskell talking to mrs Denv denver erand and then his footsteps starting down the basement stairs theres one room safe payne whispered to the panic stricken three your key berenice ile he had it in an instant and was opening the door berenice uttered a little cry gone but gone Is 1 never mind sit there in their places quick Is 1 he closed the door vwe we can unlock it from this side they groped their way to the desks and scarcely realizing from what instinct of self preservation they seated themselves and janet and berenice bent their heads over the desks as did wilton and arthur he probably will go straight ht down the corridor no need to to look 01 I 1 in here tonight they could see a faint radt radi ance in the hall which slowly moved toward them as apparently he looked in one room after another balder I 1 say balder baider where the devil Is that fellow hiding balder baider I 1 say come on out now bowl I 1 play this trick on me once too often you great hulking coward balder baider I 1 say I 1 want your news I 1 you were to bring me news and youve never come with IL it in this strain he went on per ber enice whispered 1 I suppose balder it hiding as usual ne fie hides when he stants ants to be particularly trying 9 and rid disagreeable then lie he will coni come e on from some room yawning and SIT s ly h he e was asleep 1 I 1 hope Ilas haslell Lell will give up the search soon arthur remarked dryly 1 I 1 am inell inclined ned to think it t a waste of tune I 1 do you know where the figures are arthur yes berenice he be burned them ile he heard her sigh in the darkness you are not sorry my dear wilton whispered arthur I 1 think hes coming back Bal balder derl 1 pay tor for this they heard haskells voice trembling with anger lie he was returning down the corridor a fact attested by the ores cres cent brightness of reflected light thrown on the wall of the schoolroom in the hall outside its advancing circle spread to a wider and wider arc keep your heads down bend over the desks wilton commanded he may not look in but if he does he did not finish the sentence the light was now opposite the circular inset of glass they could hear haskell muttering and talking to himself 1 keep your heads down wilton whispered A pause a silence as if destiny herself had ceased to breathe then a strange muffled cry reached their ears guttural with pain terror and violent anguish the light was suddenly jerked away they heard rapid footsteps then deep stillness then far off the slamming of a door hes gone berenice whispered they waited several minutes in utter silence instinctively keeping their positions then another light appeared and a womans comans voice weakly calling janet 1 berenice where are you not to frighten mrs denver by a too sudden appearance from that shunned room wilton waited until the lib light alit had passed the door and her f footsteps oot steps indicated that she was far down the passage then unlocking the door he stepped out and called her name softly she turned holdin holding her lamp out to see him better mr payne im so frightened I 1 something terrible P her voice faltered d Is he in the house no Is he coming back 1 I dont know did he say where he was going the look of fright came again into her eyes as she whispered yes tes the others stole out of the schoolroom they waited standing close together together to in the dim passageway passageway while the rising wind echoed about the ancient place and an old yellowed map on the wall near them oscillated in the arau drau draught bt they waited but did not speak and did not look at each other at last arthur moved restlessly ile he find us he whispered to mrs denver but he did find you you were all in this room 11 she pointed fearfully to the empty schoolroom the basement door was locked he thought this the safest place he must have locked it you sat at the desks she went on her voice trembling yes you raise your heads no but of course he saw us he did indeed and he be thought yes wilton interrupted not looking at berenice in that dim light wed better go upstairs she ohla they followed her silently through the hall into the drawing room she put down her lamp on the marble topped table and said sit down I 1 think it Is safe now what happened berenice asked 1 I heard him coming up the stairs like a man pursued and yet he was waa walking only a little quicker than usual but he was ghastly pale mrs mra denver he said as I 1 came out of the drawing room all awn down therel there 1 my heart was in my mouth for I 1 felt then he be had discovered you and he looked so wild and dreadful that I 1 did not know what he meant to do next all of them he went on all I 1 asked yes the tour four figures he was getting into his overcoat driven me out at last where are you going I 1 said you dreamed you saw them you burned them who told you he asked frowning 1 I know you burned them I 1 evaded him come back he said 11 where are you going up the ravine to look for balder and he was off before I 1 could answer him if hes gone you yon do not have to go berenice said to wilton no wed better all sit here and wait baym answered her but he had a curious instinct that gordon haskell would never reenter re enter the old academy they talked in low whispers softly happily with a feeling all shared of release freedom the very enchantment of freedom the old place grew quieter settled into profound peace even the wind went down ceased to harass the casements and to whisper along the empty corridors after an other hour wilton proposed that ber en ealce lee janet and mrs denver should go 0 to their rooms he and arthur would watch all ni night ht they divided the their ir night then at af last both slept in their chairs before the dying fire they were awakened by a pounding and ringing at the front door jerry stood there two bodies have been washed down he announced solemnly and here I 1 am again after thirteen years to tell of a brownin drow nin A woodsman found em as he was crossin cross ln the ravine near the mouth balder and haskell payne finished how did you know he said he was going up the ravine to look for balder 11 when about 1030 last night what sent him up at that hour ile he wanted to get away from this house 1 I should think he would jerry commented but she need never know berenice need never know anything of the real facts wilton answered his voice softening when this Is all over I 1 think I 1 hope that she will be very happy happ THE END |