Anne looked more puzzled than shocked. “What would we do in her study? She hasn’t anything I want.”
“Stupid! She has all of the contributions for the magazine in her desk. I saw them there today when I went to return a book.”
“Oh-h! Light is dawning. You want to get them?”
“Yes, and burn them. Then where will their Manuscript Magazine be for this month?” Anne had risen. She hesitated before replying. Kathryn saw this. Going to her dresser, she picked up a bracelet set with blue stones. “Here, you may have it.” Anne’s expression was hard for the watcher to interpret. The yellowish eyes were admiring the sparkle deep in the stones. Kathryn breathed a sigh of relief when Anne slipped on the bracelet. “Thanks, old dear,” she said. “I’ll drop in about eight.”
CHAPTER XIII
THE HEART OF ANNE
Kathryn von Wellering had been right in her prophecy. It was indeed a dark night. The clouds had gathered in denseness through the late hours of the afternoon and a chilling wet wind swept from the sea.
Miss Torrence hesitated about going to the faculty meeting. Her mother was not well. She had not been strong enough to get about since the winter set in, and of late she seemed weaker than usual.
“I wouldn’t leave you tonight, little mother,” the young teacher said, “if it were not that a very important matter is to be discussed. I’ll leave a low light burning in my study; one nearer than that might keep you awake, and I do want you to sleep and then you will not miss me.”
“It’s all right, daughter. Don’t mind me. I’ll just lie here and remember pleasant things that happened in the long ago. I’m not afraid.”
Miss Torrence leaned over the bed and kissed the sweet face of the little old lady that looked up at her wistfully from under a beribboned night cap. “Be sure to take your umbrella and wear your rubbers.”