Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1875-01-13

yelllowish looking missive-'and |
am sorry to say it contains bad news"
she added.
l sat just inside the hall where |
could hear all that was said
bad news -! Dear me " ejacula.-
ed Miss Berry, in her quiet way; Il
hope [ shall get no bad news"
'.Poor Uncle Russell is in great
atfliction, and sends for me. Mrs.
Russell is very i'll don't believe
she can live if she has one of her
spells; they're awful -
She did not see me as she came in
to the hall, but | saw her, and her face
was absolutely detormed with the
smile and strange look of triumph
which changed her countenance. 1t
almost said, 81 have deceived the whole
of you From that moment ! was
afraid Of the woman
II am sorry to be obliged to leave
tomorrow she said, as we fingered
at the supper table. Miss Berry's
forehead grew dark.
I'm sure don't know what l shall
do she said II don't think the
house is safe, and as soon as am over
my nervous headache, | shall get ready
to 60.
Said ! to my aunt as soon as we two
were toge:her-
81 don't believe that girl belongs to
DR.. Russel's family ! and then told
her Of my sudden suspicion, adding,
"Now have formed a plan which |
think will at least set our minds at rest
about her. Give me five dollars, and
| will bring you home the news"
She gave me the money, and Threw
on my ha, Miss Berry and Miss Bet.
ty were sitting on the veranda.
"Going out in the moonlight ;" ask
ed Miss Betty. and there was a curl
GUS light in her cyes--shc seemed try
ing to read my face. Suddenly she
sprang up. i've mind to 90 with
you" she said
Are you afraid Of the measles q
| asked, grown desperate, "because
am going where they have them"
Yes, am she said, hesitated, and
sat down. Pray don't come near me
on your return she added, laughing /;
but yet there was constraint in her
voice.
The telegraph operator was friend
Of ours, and one of his children had
been very sick with the measle,, !
was glad in my heart that | had that
excuse
1t was seven O'Clock when reach
ed the office. knew DR.. Russell's
address. and Immediately telegraph.
ed, -
"Your neice, Miss Betty Willis, tells
us that Mrs, Russell is dangerously i'll.
Is that a fact ?"
| waited at the office for the an
swer. 1t came within thirty minutes.
No. I'll send q detective down
early in the morning | have no
nelce of that name Detan the wo.
man
| went home with the message.
Miss Betty had gone to her room ;
Miss Berry was lamenting to my aunt
that she was to be left alone. | felt
strangely-trambled from head to foot
but was cautious enough to hold
my tongue, not even telling my aunt
any part of the message.
| think did not sleep at all that
night. felt fear that Miss Betty
might even now slip through our fin
gers. | was sure she suspected danger.
Her trunk was pacSed the first thing
in the morning. She wanted it sent
to the station, but it was an hour be
fore we could find man to take it.
| stood at the window, almost cry
inc, as it YVES brought down to the
lower hall. The next moment | saw a
strange man, who | felt must be de-
tective, enter the house.
can hardly tell what happened
next. Miss Berry was in Mysteries,
and the stolen goods were paraded on
lhe parlor floor. Presently the house
was cleared; Miss Berry soon came
to her senses.
Since then nothing can prevail up
on my aunt to take summer board
ers. Even Miss Berry h.s applied in
vain.
The largest trip hammer i'll the
United States has recently been com.
pleted at Nashua, \. H., at an expense