But Hampton
had no eyes for this dreary prospect; with contracted brows he was
viewing again that which he had confidently believed to have been
buried long ago. Finally, he stepped quickly across the little room,
and, standing quietly within the open doorway, looked long at the young
girl upon the bed. She lay in sound, motionless sleep, one hand
beneath her cheek, her heavy hair, scarcely revealing its auburn hue in
the gloom of the interior, flowing in wild disorder across the crushed
pillow. He stepped to the single window and drew down the green shade,
gazed at her again, a new look of tenderness softening his stern face,
then went softly out and closed the door.
An hour later he was still sitting on the hard chair by the window, a
cigar between his teeth, thinking. The lowering sun was pouring a
perfect flood of gold across the rag carpet, but he remained utterly
unconscious as to aught save the gloomy trend of his own awakened
memories. Some one rapped upon the outer door.
"Come in," he exclaimed, carelessly, and barely glancing up. "Well,
what is it this time, Mrs. Guffy?"
The landlady had never before seen this usually happy guest in his
present mood, and she watched him curiously.
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