Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1874-03-26

Tor herseif, way of saving vet that
fatal money.
From the look the men had cast
around the room Mrs. Ferguson was
sure they knew nothing OF their where.
abouts.
"Shut that door," the man had said
and never so much as cast a look to.
wards where was the other door, CON-
pletely concealed in the shadow of the
recess!
Every pulse beating wildly, she
glanced furtively across the room
through the tall, narrow, church-like
window yonder she could see the moon
struggling through thick clouds, and
she could see-her sight quickened by
the peril Of the moment-she could
see faint thread Of light on one side
which told her that the further door
stood unlatched.
80, Heaven help me. and give me
time !" she prayed but her hand shook
so that it could scarcely obey her swift
thought. Another moment and she
took in her exact position: the men
STOPPING over the keys, the lamp on
the floor, and the next she had flung
her shawl over the lamp, darted across
the floor, out into the room beyond,
and flung TO the door with force.
Yet more to be done. She drew the
bolts with frenzled speed, above, below
that way was safe; then, with the
passionate strength of the moment,
she sped through the room, out on the
landing to the curtained door, and
made that fast from without, while the
furious captives beat at it from within :;
and then-Ah, then, poor thing, her
fortitude forsook her, and thousand
fears she had not counted on most cru
ely beset her. She slid down few
stairs, clingiDg to the rail then, los
ing her hold, fell heavily on the stone
floor of the hall below.
Mr.. Ferguson had reached his near
est station in safety, had sent back the
wraps his careful wife had guarded him
with, and started by the ten O'Clock
train TO Fordham
The rain beat on the windows rs the
train flew along in the darkness, and
presently prolonged whistle told him
that they were approaching certain
junction where he would have to wait
some ten minutes or so.
Two or three lamps on the platform
by which they drew up showed some
few passengers and q couple Of sleepy
porters. Another train had just come
in from the opposite direction, from
Fordham, now only fifteen miles dis
tant {; and some Of it's passengers had
alighted and were making their way
past the line of carriages.
Looking out upon his tellow-travel-
lers, without much curiosity or inter
est. Mr.. Ferguson caught sight of a
face which he had little expected TO
see. Shouting TO porter To open the
door of his compartment, he sprang
out and grasped the arm of man very
much like himself-in fact his own ell
der brother.
George" he exclaimed, were YOU
going for me: Is my father worse."
What on earth do you mean, and
wherever did you spin. FROM" was
the answer he got, accompanied by 4
look of profound amazement.
40, George he said, with gasp,
"did you not telegraph to me this even
ing that my father had had another
fit"
"Most certainly did not"
40, my wife, my wife, said the
clergyman and then he staggered up
to heap Of luggage and sat down
and hid his face in his hands. His
brother saw the matter was serious 50
he let his own train pass on without
resumng his journey, and was soon in
possession Of all the explanation John
FERGUSON could give.
Porter he asked, "what time does
the night-mail go through to Wheel
borOugh.'
Il 20, sir answered the man !:
"reach marlborough :45."
lhc distance was iive-and-twentv
miles; tue present time quarter, or,
by the time the explanation was end
ed, half-past eleven.
''No help for it, John, we must wait
for the down-train; we couldn't pick
up horse, nor yet a pair, that would
be ready to start this time of night and
get US to Wheelborough before quar-
ter-past two. Come, old fellow, cheer
up; it's no use taking for granted
everything you dread %
But George FERGUSON thought in
his own mind that matters looked black
enough to justify any amount Of fears,
and had hard work to find hopeful talk
for the next two hours. He tried fam
lily matters-anythins to pass away
the time-in vain ; his brothers mind
was filled with overwhelming anxiety,
his eyes peering up the line to catch
the first glimpse o: the approaching
train.
At last, the shrill whistle, the glar-
ing lights creeping nearer and nearer,
the minutes stoppage, and then of
again homewards-homewards and
he began to dread the moment he long,
ed for.
At marlborough the two brothers
struck out at once from the station on
their five-miles walk and, as they left
the further outskirts Of the town, the
church clock chimed half-past two
o'clock.
George FERGUSON could barely keep
up with his brothers rapid stride, and
thought him hslf-crazy with excite
ment when he saw him lightly leap a
ditch, and start running across brok-
en- piece Of earth.
"George," cried the rector pointing
to his own house, not a stone's-throw
distant, ''look ut that light!" And
through the long narrow window Of the
oratory a light shone plainly.
''Good God, if we are too late !"
The brothers scarcely knew how
they covered the short remaining dis
tance. A blow at the hall window,
and their united force ut the shuttera