THE AMETHYST BOX
I. THE FLASK WHICH HELD BUT A DROP
II. BEATON'S DREAM
III. A SCREAM IN THE NIGHT
IV. WHAT SINCLAIR HAD TO SHOW ME
V. THREE O'CLOCK IN THE MORNING
VI. DOROTHY SPEAKS
VII. CONSTRAINT
VIII. GILBERTINE SPEAKS
IX. IN THE LITTLE BOUDOIR
THE HOUSE IN THE MIST
I. AN OPEN DOOR
II. WITH MY EAR TO THE WAINSCOTING
III. A LIFE DRAMA
IV. THE FINAL SHOCK
THE RUBY AND THE CALDRON
It was the night before the wedding. Though Sinclair, and not myself,was the happy man, I had my own causes for excitement, and, finding theheat of the billiard-room insupportable, I sought the veranda for asolitary smoke in sight of the ocean and a full moon.
I was in a condition of rapturous, if unreasoning, delight. Thatafternoon a little hand had lingered in mine for just an instant longerthan the circumstances of the moment strictly required, and small as thefavor may seem to those who do not know Dorothy Camerden, to me, whorealized fully both her delicacy and pride, it was a sign that my long,if secret, devotion was about to be rewarded and that at last I was freeto cherish hopes whose alternative had once bid fair to wreck thehappiness of my life.
I was reveling in the felicity of these anticipations and contrastingthis hour of ardent hope with others of whose dissatisfaction and gloomI was yet mindful, when a sudden shadow fell across the broad band oflight issuing from the library window, and Sinclair stepped out.
He had the appearance of being disturbed; very much disturbed, Ithought, for a man on the point of marrying the woman for whom heprofessed to entertain the one profound passion of his life; butremembering his frequent causes of annoyance—causes quite apart fromhis bride and her personal attributes—I kept on placidly smoking till Ifelt his hand on my shoulder and turned to see that the moment was aserious one.
"I have something to say to you," he whispered. "Come where we shall runless risk of being disturbed."
"What's wrong?" I asked, facing him with curiosity, if not with alarm."I never saw you look like this before. Has the old lady taken this lastminute to—"
"Hush!" he prayed, emphasizing the word with a curt gesture not to bemistaken. "The little room over the west porch is empty just now. Followme there."
With a sigh for the cigar I had so lately lighted I tossed it into thebushes and sauntered in after him. I thought I understood his trouble.The prospective bride was young—a mere sl