CHAPTER IX
GATHERING CLOUDS
The word which the lighthouse keeper had received was rather indefinite. It was a letter from his sister, but it only confirmed that which he already knew.
“And it doesn’t give me any address where I can write to her!” he complained when Cora had paid him a visit, in response to the invitation given by Rosalie during the swim. “It’s postmarked at–maybe you can see it, my eye-sight isn’t what it used to be,” and he held the envelope out to Cora.
“Edmenton,” she read. “That’s in this State.”
“Yes, but what good would it do to write to her there?” he asked. “She evidently doesn’t want me to know where she is. Just read the letter, Miss.”
It was not long and in effect said that Mrs. Raymond would not come back to her relatives until she had found Nancy Ford, and cleared her name of the suspicion on it.
“Don’t try to find me,” wrote Mrs. Raymond, “as I am going from place to place, working where I can. I am seeking Nancy. I thought she might have gone back where she used to live, but I wrote there and she had not arrived. I must search farther. I am doing fairly well, so don’t worry about me. Some folks have been very kind–especially some young ladies. I will tell you about them when I see you, brother–if I ever do.”
“She must mean you–the time of the fire,” said the light keeper. “I’m sure I’m much obliged to you for befriending my sister.”
“Oh, it was nothing,” protested Cora. “I wish we could have done more. I am sure we could have, had she not gone off in such a hurry. But we can’t blame her, for she was very nervous and excited.”
“Poor Margaret,” murmured Mr. Haley. “She was always that way. She tells me not to worry–but I can’t help it.”