he and Helen stood at the door
the latter waving her handkerchief to the dear father who was never more
to enter his happy home in Kenalham.

CHAPTER 7

THE ALARM

Helen Winston found it very hard to be merry without her father, but she
did her best and Gladys took her little attentions very kindly.

"What do you propose doing now? she asked when breakfast was cleared
away.

"I must attend to the housekeeping first and then I thought a walk on
the hills would be nice" answered Helen.

"Very good" said Gladys "we can go and visit the old castle you talk so
much about."

"Yes" said Helen, and she tripped down stairs, more for the pleasure of
a comforting talk with Marshland than to order the dinner.

In an hour's time they were all ready and started on their breezy walk.

"How lovely it is up here," remarked Gladys.

"Yes is'nt it beautiful" replied Helen thinking of the last time she was
up there."

The little promenade quite cheered Helen up, and she and Gladys did some
shopping in the afternoon while Mr. Falsey stayed at home to smoke his
pipe.

The next day passed pretty much the same as the first and by Thursday
morning Helen was all smiles again, knowing that by tea-time her dear
father would be home again.

In the afternoon she went out and bought a tea cake for tea. She had tea
laid out on the best bamboo table with the blue and gold tea cups and
she also put fresh flowers in all the vases and all together the little
drawing room had a truly home-like aspect.

At 4 o'clock a ring was heard at the front door.

"How funny of father to ring" cried Helen "I thought he would be sure to
come in and supprise me."

"Perhaps he thought it would supprise you more if he rung," replied
Gladys.

"Ah perhaps so" responded Helen giving a last touch to the pink
rose-buds which drooped prettily over the china vases.

At that moment Marshland entered the room with a frightened look on her
face.

Coming up she handed a telegram to Helen "its given me such a turn miss"
she explained "them telegrams always seem to carry bad news."

Helens face grew pale and she hastily opened the envelope.

The moment her eyes rested on the words, she uttered a cry of anguish
and flung the telegram away from her. "Oh I know its father" she cried.

"Hush hush miss" said Marshland soothingly and picking up the telegram
she too read the fatel words. The telegram ran as follows:

Come at once, a terrible th