, 1860-08-31

with fear that they would never awaken to life
again. She cried in tones Of deepest anguish
that she had murdered them.
81 don't care If you haVe@they'd have killed
you II you'd give 'em chance, for they've sharp
knives and loaded pistols about EN-" said the
lahdlady, her future mUther-in-law, while her
daughter and servant maids echoed her words
and her son, George Allen, who fingered near
Marcia, said the same and more in tender Whis-
pers but all their comforting words did not re-
store peace Of mind 10 the anguish stricken girl.
Aiter many hours, however, the sleepers aw.oke,
to iind themselves not in Canada, with thou
sand dollars IN their pockets, as they had ex.
pected to be at this hour but in the hands Of
Justice, securely bound and with . host ol
frowning faces glaring upon them. They were
brought to trial and sentenced to the State Pri-
son for term Of years.
Bin never returned, and the Krouk family en-
igrated to the West A few days before they
left, Marcia went out into the woods 10 seArCh
along the edges Of the wasting snow banks for
the first spring flowers As she was bending
over cluster Of sweetiscented pink and white
blossoms, hand was laid suddenly upon hers.
She started In alright; i6f the terr0rs Of that
hight had retdeted her almost afraid Of her
own shadow. She turned round and met the
great, sorrowful eyes Of Nancy Krouk. Il was
the first time Marcia had seen her since that
night She was fearfully attenuated, her cheeks
were pale and hollow; and deep lines were worn
about the corners Of her mouth. She retained
Marcias hand, while tears Of sorrow and hdmil-
iation burst from her full heart ~
"Oh! Marshy, how ! have prayed icr this
chance. daren't 60 to your house, nd Oh
! could not 60 away without seeing you" She
WIS silent Z little time, while Marcia kindly
pressed her hand and uttered gentle, soothing
words. "Do you think, Marshy, that set up
the boys to break into your house that night o.
she suddenly asked looking full IN Mafcias
kind eyes! sHaa !
ana, no, Nancy, tnevet thought thatOf you" !"
was Marcia's eager reply.
"GOd bless you for thai" cried Nancy, CRATE
fully. "When got hum that night told 'em
! daren't stay, because you said there was ?
thousand dollars in yer hthefs desk; fof didn't
dream my brothefs vas wicked enough to rob
any one, or wild hosses wouldn't got the Sc
cret from my mouth; but the next news heefed
was that they'd been lok up for house breakin'.
Oil Marcia, Il almost killed US See here"
she said, barring her once plump, f6ind arm.
The flesh was wasted and shrunken to the bone
BY her consuming grief Mhrcia was shocked
beyond expression; her plying tears were
mingled with those Of her friend, and the two
parted with feeling Of goodwill which each
knew time and absence could never change.
The following autumn Marcia and George
Allen were married, and the thousand dollars
were used in Transforming the old homestead
into model country cottage.
Not but that liked it well enough g Il
was" said Farmer Hull, "and it would hate
lasted my days out but young folks like more
style, and I'm glad to humor EN- ss
There were some interesting points In the after
history Of Nancy KrOuk, which I may perchance
relate at some future day.