Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1869-02-18

was, the stout old door resisted all his
efforts to open it. a fact which he was
not long in discovering so he turned
at once to the window. which look ed
out at the back Of the house, and
flung mp the lower sash-turnedi in time
to seea dark figure speeding along the
garden. evidently making for the
wall. and so over that into the fields
beyopf. John was never without fire.
arms--he had hunters love for the m
and ina case on his dressing table was
brace of pistols. from one of which
the Charge had not been drawn. and
the little drawer in his looking glass
was full of caps. 1t was the work Of
moment to find his pistol in the dark,
and pat fresh cap on the nipple. The
cloudshad cleared away, and the stars
we're shining lsightly; and Just as the
man hau succeeded in mounting the
wall. John took steady aim. and fired
The man gave a loud cry. and ilinging
up his arms. dropped to the ground
like a piece oflead on the outer side of
the wall
.My,.od perhaps have killed him.
exclaimed John to himself with a shud-
der. for he had fired in the heat of his
passion. without a thought for after
consequences and he began 10 hurry
on few articles Of dress. preparatory
TO goirg down to look after the burg
lar. Bus scarcely had two minutes
elapsed. when his quick eyes caught
sight Of figure hurrying up the slop-
ing ground behind the garden, and evi-
dently making for the shelter Of the
plantation at the top Of the hill. John
paused in his dressing. and watched
the fignre till was lost 10 view among
theyoung trees.
I'm glad | didn't kill him. murmcr-
ed John To himself Let the beggar
90. Hes not worth troubling about
further but think he has got some
thing that will make him remember his
visit 70 Cliff Cottage
An hour later. the watchful Hannah.
who had never been 10 bed. admitted
her brother quietly at the front-door
and like a sensible young woman, dress
ed his wound. and svmpathised
with him, without asking him any inn
pcrtinous questions rs To how he had
come BY his mishap.
CnAr. xyuI.-kATAFANGo THE MAGICIAN.
Mr. Brackenridge's wound. without
being a dangerous one, was sufficiently
severe 10 coniine him 10 the house for
several DAYS. IL wa. given out in
Normanfor-i that he hal fallen AMI
sprainc'l his len shoulder, and as lie
had sufficient knowledge Of surgery TO
enable him 10 dispcnce with the service
OF doctor in the case. the secret of his
nights adventure was confined 10 him
min i.dIhIdiD i1tfr: Hannah tended
being. indeed. well awaGs-, T. on. tis.,.'..
ous experience. that her brother al
ways cut up rough, rs he himself
termed il, when ncross-examincd against
his will Mr. Breckenridge temper,
which was not angelic ut the best OF
times. was by no means improved By
10 his own room but his
fits of cap,ious irritability were inter
sperscd with long hours Of silent, gloo-
my brooding, during which-so Ham
nah's femme instinct told her--he was
busy Matching some black scheme Of
revenge against his neighbour next door,
a scheme which that taciiurn and quiet
ly-watchful young person determined
10 do her utmost TO Illustrate. She
loved the handsome young Photograph
er. this thin pale-faced girl. who was
so shy and retiring. and yet who never
blushed loved him with love which
could not exactly be called hopeless.
because no clemeut OF hope had ever
entered into the composition Of u.
Hannah Breckenridge had 70 much
cold good sense to dream. even in her
widest moments, that John English
would meier seek to WOO and win such
a one IS herself She loved him pre-
positionally-with an u. II she had
been very handsome, and very rich,
and very accomplished, she would have
striven to lure this wild hawk TO her
side, and put her jesses round him,
and hold him as her own for ever. But
being none Of these things, being only
a poor pale-faced girl, with scarcely
word to say for herself in the presence
Of strangers, she was fain TO cherish her
little dream Of love as a flower on which
no sun would ever shine. MrsJakcway
and she were very friendly, and a day
seldom passed without the chemists SIS
ters paying one er more visits to Clif
Cottage and thus it was that she made
the acquaintance Of John, who had al
ways smile and a pleasant word for the
shy, quiet girl, who was SO different in
every way from her blsutering, loud
voiced brother.
Mr. Breckenridge was quite as
glad to get about again, and look af-
ter the interests of his business, as
his sister was to be relived from fur
ther attendance on him as an invalid.
There was no inhabitant Of Norman
ford who talked, and surmised, and
wondered more about the attempted
burglary at Cliff Cottage, than the
gossip loving chemist, who had
long talk respecting it with the head
constable OF the little town on the
very day Of his recovery; and who
examined with much interest the
bunch Of skeleton keys which had
been picked upin Mr. English's room,
and which it was hoped, would ulti-
mately lead to the discovery of the
offender. The affair had been
source Of considerable excitement in