Middletown transcript., 1871-04-22

did so, she knew that Sallie's brother, Will
lis, would be sure to come along and the
less she saw Of Willis Turner the better
she was pleased Willis was m honest
industrious sort Of fellow. and he was Mar
garcts most devoted admirer, but with
the usual Inconsistency Of her sex, she ut
terly refused to see what was best for her
The long afternoon wore slowly away
Margaret real little, aud drummcd few
tunes listlcssly on the old-fashioned piano.
played with the black aud white kitten,
and held the old cat curcd up in her lap
like sleepy caterpillar. and at last it was
sunset.
Time to milk the cows and shut the
barn doors for the night
II was evident enough that there was
going to be storm, for the north aud
west were dark and gloomy with ominous
black clouds. and the east wind sighed
drcarily in the pine woods back Of the
house And, indeed before Margaret
had done up the old jobs at the barn, the
first great scattering drops Of frozen rain
began 10 fall, and BY the time she had eat
en- lser supper aud strained the milk the
storm had set in in deadly earnest.
She closed and barred the doors-thc
windows were already fastened drew the
shutters, aud piled the kitchen Fireplace
full Of dry hickory Tie kitten had gone
to sleep in a cushioned chair in the corner
and tn old black cat sat on the hearth
blinking her eyes sl,eply at the cheerful
blaze.
Margaret read i'tle and dreamed n
great deaf as girls of her age are proned
to do when lcf, 10 themselves Shc made
very pretty picture if only there hal
been semn one 10 see htr,
Her soft brown hair was unhonnd. aud
fell ripplidg To her whist; her +. round
face was tinted as dclicatcly pink as the
inside Of a sea she'll her brown eyes were
dreamy aud full of laneuor aud her rel
lips were sweet and wompnly enough for
my true lover 10 find his rarest happincs.
in kissing
slowly, at length the oil coffin shaped
clock in the corner struck ton NIargrrct
startc up She had not thought il was
so laic. The evening had gone of much
more quirl,', than sht lAi expected it
would II was not - dreadful 10 STAG A.
lone, after all, She said to herself
She ,pene,l a shutter. aud pccrcd out
into the night Il wa, as dark as l.rrhns.
aul The wind anil ruin beat against the
pane in a perfect torrent The iulga
wonl not think Of returning on such a
night
Well. Tommy. said Sic. to the cat.
:" guess yoa aud l. aud Kitty will e
TO bed We lnns, be up betincs in til
morning, ypu know siuce ,hcie'll be none
but Us 10 do up the chores"
As she spoke, Margaret stopped to
,trokr old Tommy, but - hee infinite sur
prise. She SAW tllt thr animal. paw an /
lail were erect her eyes hal changed Ia
slassy green Of rasn and terror. md wth
slow, panthet-lil,e trsai. she WIS making
her way 10 the door which opened up8n
thu cellar siairwas
Aud while she eaasa. Margaret saw
with horror that the latch va. slowly lift
ing, aud the neNt moment the d0nr swung
open with an ominnus crenk. and a mau
stepped into the rapm. He was short.
tlitekset fellow. with sandy hair md
whiseers. ani n f1le. ieraeians.loekine
blue eye se. FAR haek in his heal.
. so ho. nv aear, sail he. you are
sole proprietor, il appears
For an instant Marraret,s heart staol
still but she was naturally brave. aud She
was proud AS we'll. aud would not allow
this man to sce that she feared him
:" have that honor. she said. tooily s
f - \ i 4t.t I y
. trust son will esarsr M if he.
gleet TO introduce myself. said the man
with much conrtesy=-.' = far my buincss
| am quit happy 10 inform you about
that want the eigh, thousand dollars
that the judge brought from ndgely bauk
last night. aud depeul On yon to point
il out II me
The indignant blood rushed 10 Marea.
re,'s faee, and she answered sharply.
. will die before will do US YOU
ask !"
!" iou shall have your choice"
lie produced pistol which hc cooked
deliberately and pointed at her head
. Show me- the place where the tin is
hidden, or Ill blow your brains out. :"
Like lightning n varied train of thought
rushed through the head Of the girl; in
that one instant of time she thought Of u
score Of plans 10 evade the rascal. apd
simultaneously discarded them as imprac-
ticablc.
There she was alone. helpless, n weak
girl almost mile from any other human
habitaton. aud in such storm it was by
no means likely that any QUO would be
passing by from whom she could claim as
sistance
For = second she thought Of riskins
everything to escape by tho outer door.
and trusting to the darkness and her
knowledge Of the way, to attempt to reach
Mr. Turner's aud seek protection.
But the man seemed TO divine her
thought for he stepped between her and
the dnor.
No, my beauty, spu don. play that
game nm me I" he s.id with n sarhon;e