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								 The 
								Curved Blades “Garden Steps” 
								was one of the show-places of Merivale Park, 
								Long Island. In summer it was an enchanting 
								spot, and the dazzling white marble steps which 
								led to the sunken gardens justified their right 
								to give the place its name. Other stone steps 
								gave on terraces and flower banks, others still 
								led to the Italian landscape gardens, and a few 
								rustic steps of a wooden stile transported one 
								to an old-fashioned garden, whose larkspur and 
								Canterbury bells were the finest of their sort.
 The house seemed an integral part of this 
								setting. Its wide verandahs, or more often 
								loggias, were so lavishly furnished with 
								flowering plants, its windows so boxed with them, 
								that the whole effect was that of a marvellously 
								well-planned horticultural exhibition.
 But all this was of the summer. In winter—for it 
								was an all-round-the-year home—only the varied 
								and extraordinary collection of evergreens 
								shared with the steps the honor of making 
								picturesque and beautiful the view from the 
								house windows.
 And now, in January, one of the all too seldom 
								enjoyed white snow storms had glorified the 
								whole estate. Wind-swept drifts half hid, half 
								disclosed the curving marble balustrades, and 
								turned the steps to snowy fairyland flights.
 And, for it was night, a cold, dear, perfect 
								winter night, a supercilious moon looked down, a 
								little haughtily and condescended to illumine 
								the scene in stunning, if a bit theatric, 
								fashion...
 
 
								
								  The 
								Mark of Cain Judge Hoyt’s strong, keen face took on a 
								kindlier aspect and his curt “Hello!” was 
								followed by gentler tones, as he heard the voice 
								of the girl he loved, over the telephone.
 “What is it, Avice?” he said, for her speech 
								showed anxiety.
 “Uncle Rowly,—he hasn’t come home yet.”
 “He hasn’t? Well, I hope he’ll turn up soon. I 
								want to see him. I was coming up this evening.”
 “Come now,” said Avice; “come now, and dine here. 
								I am so anxious about uncle.”
 “Why, Avice, don’t worry. He is all right, of 
								course.”
 “No he isn’t. I feel a presentiment something 
								has happened to him. He never was so late as 
								this before, unless we knew where he was. Do 
								come right up, won’t you, Judge?”
 “Certainly I will; I’m very glad to. But I’m 
								sure your fears are groundless. What about Mrs. 
								Black? Is she alarmed?”
 “No, Eleanor laughs at me.”
 “Then I think you needn’t disturb yourself. 
								Surely she—”
 “Yes, I know what you’re going to say, but she 
								isn’t a bit fonder of Uncle Rowly than I am. 
								Good-by.”
 Avice hung up the receiver with a little snap. 
								She was willing that Mrs. Black should marry her 
								uncle, but she did hate to be relegated to 
								second place in the household. Already the 
								handsome widow was asserting her supremacy, and 
								while Avice acknowledged the justice of it, it 
								hurt her pride a little...
 
								 
								 
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