Under the
lights here and there one stood out more clearly than the rest--Louis's,
flushed and virile; Rosamond's, lovely as a child's; old Mr. Kendrick's,
intent and grave, forgetting to smile. The father and the mother were in
the shadow--but little Gordon, Stephen's boy, made of himself a central
figure by running forward at the last to fling up a sturdy arm and cry:
"Good-bye, Auntie Wob--come back soon!"
It had been a white Christmas, and the snow had fallen lightly all day
long. It was coming faster now, and the wind was rising, to Richard's
intense satisfaction. He had been fairly praying for a gale, improbable
though that seemed. There was a considerable semblance of a storm,
however, through which to drive the twelve miles to the waiting cabin on
the hilltop, and when the car stopped and the door was opened, a heavy
gust came swirling in. The absence of lights everywhere made the
darkness seem blacker, out here in the country, and the general effect
of outer desolation was as near this strange young man's desire as could
have been hoped.
"Good driving, Rogers. It was a quick trip, in spite of the heavy roads
at the last.
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