Page:Maud Howe - Atlanta in the South.djvu/252

 threshold and widened into a little pool, and lay there sparkling in the light of the sun that shone alike on flower and tree, on clear falling fountain, on singing-bird, and on the stricken, bleeding man.

Philip Rondelet was a light sleeper, and the man who had come to rouse him had need to knock but once, though it was just the hour of sunrise, when he was wont to sleep most soundly. His visitor proved to be the dago, the half-brother of Theresa's mother. He shambled into the room through the door which Philip held half open, and stated his errand. Therese had been wilder than ever of late; her mother believed her mad, but he himself knew better. She had made a promise to the dead; and those who make promises to the dead are never easy till they have kept their word. The man nodded at Philip as if confident that he was understood, and then went on with his story. They had watched her till they were both weary, and the night before she had escaped them, "taking that which she always carries here with her," he added, significantly striking his breast and making a gesture as of stabbing. The mother had sought her everywhere. They had been to his house, and learned that she had passed that way, and talked with the servants of where she might find him. They knew not