Page:Frank Owen - Woman Without Love (1949 reprint).djvu/8

 creeping footsteps. It gave Mary the shudders merely to enter it, but she was not really afraid because Whitman was with her and she knew she'd be safe anywhere as long as he was with her. Nevertheless she wondered why he had chosen such an uncanny house in which to room until he explained to her that the place was kept by an old friend of his who had often done him favors. "He'd feel hurt if I stopped anywhere else while I was in town."

They ate supper at a nearby restaurant. Mary had no appetite. The gloom of the house had settled over her. When they returned to their room she decided to retire at once. When she was under the coverlets, Whitman came and took her into his arms. He held her so close that he could feel her heart beating against his.

"Happy?" he asked softly.

"Very happy," she whispered. There were tears in her eyes. She hoped he wouldn't notice them. For the first time she wondered what her father and mother were doing on the farm at that moment. Just the slightest suggestion of homesickness was creeping over her.

Why should there be stealthy footsteps always passing up and down the stairs? Why should the house be full of whispers? She wished Whitman had not turned out the gas. She imagined that the room was haunted. Once she heard the sound of laughter. Again she heard the loud voice of a man. This house was owned by one of Whitman's best friends. Yet she had met no one therein who seemed at all friendly. She was mortally afraid. Cold perspiration dampened her forehead. She wished Whitman had not gone to sleep so quickly. But she knew he was asleep because he was snoring sonorously. Finally from sheer exhaustion her eyes closed.

How long she slept she neither knew nor cared. But suddenly she was awakened with a frightened start. She listened intently but she could hear no sound. From beside her on the pillow she could hear the sound of breathing. But Whitman had ceased to snore.

For awhile she lay gazing in abject terror into the darkness. Still everything was silent. There was not a sound except his