The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1869-11-11

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a horrid oath. Then, with half-stiheC
scream, she fell insensible to the floor
a sound of voices broke the stiffness
and the guilty heart Of Claude Hamilton
quaked rs he fancied he heard the fal
Of footsteps. With hurried hand ht
gathered together his plundcr. anc
wrapped it securely in his packet hand
kerchief Then vaulti,,g lightly out o
a window, be sped across the garden
The panic of fear was upon him, and b,
heard behind him the quick step snS
hurried breathing OF some pursuer. II,
held the condt inning evidence of hi,
crime 10 his hand, aud. anxious to b,
rid Of its accusing presence, he glanced
around with eager eyes for hiding
place. The barn was just before him
Its wide door stood gaping open With
quick motion he hurled the bundle fal
up toward the dusty rafters, thc1
hasteucd on with headlong speed '
The moon sank behind the Western
hill; ghostly shadows from the sombre
tree that stretched its huge arms be
lore the house crcpt still aud phantom
iike across me hoor the OLD clock III
tue corner .'cked WIN SAD noootony
and the chirp of the little cricket in
the chimney corner sounded doleful ia
the darkness. Time passed on, and
anon the morning. sun peeped above the
Eastern horizon, ana flushed the dull
gray SKY with rosy ight' lhe little
BIRDS 10 their cosy nests gave an oeca-
sionai chirp' as u rouSing from their
sleep me cock IN the old pair tree
rang out n's clarion shrill and loud,
All nature was awakening revived and
refreshed iet, Carrie Gray still lay
mute ana iosensioie'
Mi. gray oustied out OF ms room
RAISING the s'tting'room' he carelessly
glanced IN at the open door.
Hs! what th'sF he cried aghast
as he behe'd the PROSTATE form OF his
daughter lie raised her from the tioor
ana placed her upon a lounge Here
wiie' get up quick, ior God $ sakeP be
shouted, chahng her cold hands with
MS great rough palms
Mrs' Gray hurriedly obeyed his call
WIN woman $ ready hand she applied
ths simple restoratlves that the house
afforded, Carries numbed senses soon
returned, and raising hastily, with a
scared look in her face, she wildly ex'
claimed;
Is he gone! is he goneW
who gone, Carriet said her father.
~, we've been robbed; we've been
robbed! shriiiy eJaculated Mrs. Gray,
pointing with trembling finger to the
rined secretary.
"hoboed! repeated Mr. Gray, in
choking whisper.
Ihe word almost unnamed him.
with tottering step he approached his
secretary. one glance told him that
she spoke the truth With groan OF
anguish he sank into a chair. All the
slowiy.accumulated savings OF lifetime
OF hard, unremitting labor gone in a
moment: But Carrie! Seized with a
sudden hope, he arose aud confronted
his trembling daughter.
Carrie, he excitedly exclaimed
you saw the thief! You recognized
him
"Yes, father-O yes" she walled
~ saw him knew him."
She dropped her head upon her
bosom, and clasped her hands in the
abJectness OF her dispair.
"Tell me who he is-quickly, child
and III away TO the sheriff, and we'll
catch the scoundrel before he has time
to escape a e
81 cannot, father--O, cannot! He
forced me to swear q fearful oath never
to reveal bis name. al iA
But, Carrie, m oath thus forced
upon you Is not lawful, or binding upon
your conscience. waBslar
Father, she shadderingly answered,
II swore with my hand raised to Heay-
en-. 1t Is recorded on high. dare
not Prejure my soul" Hs 81
"ungrntefnl girl! Will you see yonr
old gray-haired father stripped Of all the
hard earnings ofa Lifetime for the sake
OF Keeping faith with yillainous thie'T'
Mute despair aud gnawing remorse
seized upon her soul. Silent and cow
ering she stood before her angry father,
let her alone for a while," said the
plying voice OF her motherj "she's
weak and dazed from her long swoon.
She'll soon recover, aud then she'll tell
you all. @
With choking sob she flung herself
into the sympathiziDg arms OF her