Still another laggard awoke to action on this eventful Tuesday morning.
Madame Cerise had been growing more and more morose and dissatisfied dayby day. Her grievance was very tangible. A young girl had been broughtforcibly to the house and placed in her care to be treated as aprisoner. From that time the perpetrators of the deed had left the womanto her own resources, never communicating with her in any way.
During a long life of servitude Madame Cerise had acquiesced in manythings that her own conscience did not approve of, for she consideredherself a mere instrument to be used at will by the people who employedand paid her. But her enforced solitude as caretaker of the lonely houseat East Orange had given her ample time to think, and her views hadlately undergone a decided change.
To become the jailer of a young, pretty and innocent girl was the mostsevere trial her faithfulness to her employers had ever compelled her toundergo, and the woman deeply resented the doubtful position in whichshe had been placed.
However, the chances were that Madame Cerise might have obeyed herorders to the letter had not so long a period of waiting ensued. Duringthese days she was constantly thrown in the society of Louise, which hada tendency to make her still more rebellious. The girl clung to Cerisein her helplessness and despair, and constantly implored her to set herfree. This, indeed, the Frenchwoman might have done long ago had she notsuspected such an act might cause great embarrassment to Diana Von Taer,whom she had held on her knee as an infant and sought to protect withloyal affection.
It was hard, though, to hear the pitiful appeals of the imprisoned girl,and to realize how great was the wrong that was being done her. The oldwoman was forced to set her jaws firmly and turn deaf ears to thepleadings in order not to succumb to them straightway. Meantime she didher duty conscientiously. She never left Louise's room without turningthe key in the lock, and she steadfastly refused the girl permission towander in the other rooms of the house. The prison was a real prison,indeed, but the turnkey sought to alleviate the prisoner's misery byevery means in her power. She was indefatigable in her service, keepingthe room warm and neat, attending to the girl's every want and cookingher delicious meals.
While this all tended to Louise's comfort it had little affect insoothing her misery. Between periods of weeping she sought to cajole theold woman to release her, and at times she succumbed to blank despair.Arthur was always in her mind, and she wondered why he did not come torescue her. Every night she stole softly from her bed to try the door,hoping Cerise had forgotten to lock it. She examined her prison bystealth to discover any possible way of escape.
There were two small windows and one large one. The latter opened uponthe roof of a small porch, but, there were no way to descend from itunless one used a frail lattice at one end, which in summer probablysupported a rose or other vine. Louise shrank intuitively from such adesperate undertaking. Unless some dreadful crisis occurred she wouldnever dare trust herself to that frail support. Yet it seemed the onlypossible way of escape.
Time finally wore out the patience of Madame Cerise, who was unablelonger to withstand Louise's pleadings. She did not indicate by word orlook that her attitude had changed, but she made a secret resolve tohave done with the affair altogether.
Often in their conversations the girl had mentioned Arthur Weldon. Shehad given Cerise his address and telephone number, and implored her atleast to communicate with him and tell him his sweetheart was safe,although unhappy. This had given the old woman the clever idea on whichshe finally acted.
By telephoning Mr. Weldon she could give him the information that wouldlead to his coming for Louise, without anyone knowing who it was thathad betrayed the secret. This method commended itself strongly to her,as it would save her from any trouble or reproach.
Leaving Louise at breakfast on this Tuesday morning Madame Cerise wentdown to the telephone and was soon in communication with Arthur. Shetold him, in a quiet tone, that Miss Louise Merrick was being secludedin a suburban house near East Orange, and described the place so hecould easily find it. The young man questioned her eagerly, but asidefrom the information that the girl was well and uninjured shevouchsafed no further comment.
It was enough, however. Arthur, in wild excitement, rushed to therescue.