She experienced a great revulsion of
relief when she began to recognize the mysterious sound that had
attracted her attention. It was sleet--no longer slyly touching the glass
here and there, but dashing with all the force of the wind in tinkling
showers against it. The sound had its chilly influence even before the
warm fire.
Suddenly the shock of the bell, jangling out its summons in the dark cold
hall! Again Lillian's composed, swift exit in response. Crystal had
answered, and here was Mr. Julian Bayne at the hotel and on the wire.
Could he come to her at once, at her utmost need, and by the first train?
Oh! (at last a poignant cadence of pain) there was no train? Crystal was
not on a railroad at all? (A pause of silent, listening expectancy, then
the keen vibration of renewed hope.) Oh, could he? Could he really drive
across country? But wasn't it too far? Oh, a fast horse? Fifty miles? But
weren't the roads dreadful?
"Oh--oh, Gladys, he has rung off! He was in such a hurry I could hardly
understand him.
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