Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1875-11-17

! WoulN ScI illc INV t''n Cuioeu SIoSc
hole end then lock the door on me.
Take out the key and fling it down the
stairs, and come in along with me. |
shan't eat you.
She obeyed. him literally; and as
they stood together in the stih ling
place, which was hardly large enough
to contain them, Margaret, with the
hand which she had left free, seized
on the door and closed in.
1t Shut with a sharp cick-shut anl
locked at the same time.
A fitlce oath burst from the lips of
the burglar.
"'Vhat do you mean he cried.
"Hell and furics ! | shall Huffocate
here ! Open that door or will shoot
you"
"Do as you please" said Margaret,
deflantly The door has Il sprlng
lock, and can be opened only from the
outside, and unless some one comes to
our release we shall remain here until
we die, which will be in few hours at
most
"You she.dovil ! Why have you done
this?' he demanded, hoarse with r.ge
'Don't you know that YOU will die,
too?"
"Certainly; but | prefer death to
the ruin of my best friends. II we die
here-as we shall without doubt-the
money will be saved.
The oaths, and threats and curses
of the man were fearful, but Margaret
felt no fear. Something above and
beyond herself sustained her, and she
was happy IN the consciousness that
her life would purchase the old home
for her kind benefactors.
The close, torpid air weighed upon
her like lhad already had the wretch
who was her companion sank stupe
fed to the floor Ali her past life
came up before her; she remembered
things long ago torsotten-she saw
faces dead and buried-she heard
voices long mute beneath the grave
clods, and then life and sense faded
out and she knew no more.
#
Judge Wallace found his sister bet
ter, but the storm coming on, it was
deemed best to remain all night !; but
early next morning, he set ont for
home accompanied by his wife.
Arriving in sight Of the house, he
was surprised to see the shutters still
closed and the chimney giving out no
smoke of welcome.
At the gate a young man was tying
a horse, and the Judge exclaimed to
his wife:
"Bless my life, Annie, that's Alger-
non There's no mistaking him. He's
a month earlier home than we expect
ed him. But | greatly fear something
is amiss with Maggie ? She's an early
riser and the shutters are yet closed"
lie whipped up his horse, and very
soon he had his long absent son by the
hand
The first warm greetings over, the
Judge raped at the fastened door, but
elicting no response, his alarm in
creased, and after shouting for Mar
garet at the top Of his voice and re-
ceiving no reply, with Algernons aid
he burst open the back door and ell
tered the kitchen.
All was as she had left it the night
previous the fire burned down, aud
black brands covered the hearth ; the
chamber door stood suggestively open.
Father and son a;cended the stairs,
and half way up the Judge hit his
foot against the key Of the oak closet.
"Good heavens y he exclaimed,
"the key ofthe coset where | left
that money, Igreatly l fear that evil
has befallen Margaret.
They found the closet door locked
and to their repeated knockings there
came no response from within.
Algernon then applied the key and
the opened door revealed a fearful
sight.
With tearfully distorted, purple
face, the robber lay on the floor, stone
dead, and little removed from him
pale and quiet lay Margaret.
Algernon bore her down stairs and !
into the open air, but it was very long
before she gave any sign or token OF
life. And it was week before she /
was able to give a detailed account
OF what had happened during the
night of horror IN the oak closet.