Weekly Trinity journal., 1876-08-12

preparations for the new inmates to be-
stow upon her the usual attention. By 4
O'Clock the arrangements were all COM
pleted. Bright fires burned in the long
deserted room of the second floor, and
and dainty little repast was provided
for the refreshment of the expected lodg-
ers. Five o'clock struck, and they had
not arrived; then 6-and just as Miss
Halliday was beginning seriously to APP
prehend some railroad accident, and just
as the gathering dusk rendered it impos-
sible to accurately distinguish more than
the general form of objects, n carriage
drove to the door, and lady and gentle
man aIighted.
Miss Halliday stepped to the door 10
meet them.
We have been expecting you ever
since A." she said blandly. hope there
has been no accident"
"No accident madam but found
Mrs Hewlett suffering so severely with
tooth-ache that we were compelled to
wait for tho evening train. Indeed, l
was unwilling to have her exposed to the
cold, but she insisted on coming at once"
"But whore is the baggage ?" inquired
Miss Halliday.
"Oh, ma'am, the gentleman says as
how he hadn't time to look after the bag
gage on account of his anxiety to got his
wife out o. the night mir. There's only the
two big valises that they've brought
along in tho carriage, and tomorrow
he'll see to the rest"
$50 very nice," said Miss Halliday, as
she prepared to retire at her usual hour
ofhalf-past0 0. "How fortunate we should
have secured such inmates !"
BY ten o'clock all was quiet in the
house and apparently all asleep, except
Katie. How could she sleep when she
knew that Charlie would be under the
library window at IL ? for she had no
opportunity OF letting him know that he
must not come.
The library was on tho first floor,
and its window, some six or eight feet
from the ground, looked upon a retired
little bit of the front yard, screened by
shrubbery. This window had been,
during the past summer, n iavorite seat
of Katie's. Here she read and sketched I;
and here, upon moro than one occasion,
had Mr.. Charles Duncan, happening to
pass while she was so employed, stepped
quietly into the little unused side-gate,
and, screened by rose bushes from all
other observation, held sweet discourse
with her. Precious stolen communion,
sweet to young lovers denied any other
opportunity of meeting. But TO grant
such an interview at Il O'Clock at night
Impossible 4! How could Mr.. Duncan
think oft?
Still, the fear of being discovered by
some one, even Nancy, made Katie very
anxious and nervous. Perhaps IL would
be we'll, after all, to see him, and tell him
to go quietly away and so, after consid-
ering the subject, tho poor girl could
think Of nothing better that she could do,
and it would save Charlie probably from
a long waiting and eventual disappolnt-
ment.
She advanced a few steps, and then
suddenly she started. Was that the
sound Of n footstepY Just then the great
clocl; in The hall, close to her, rang out
the hour of IL. Charlie was at this very
moment under the window waiting for
her.
Her heart beat fast, ard she stepped
hastily and lightly down tho narrow pas
sage-way that led to the library. She
held in her hand the key, which always
hung in the little closet between her own
and her aunts room for, as we have said
the library was kept locked But on this
night there must have been some strange
oversight for as Katie reached the H.
brary door, she perceived with surprise
that it stood slightly ajar-and, stranger
still, there was faint light within.
The girl paused breathlessly. What
could it mean ? Who could be there and
for what purpose ? Peeping cautiously
in, she saw, to her extreme astonshment,
two figures moving silently across the
floor, apparently carrying some heavy
object. The ligh: was extingulshed. A
thrill Of fear kept her rooted to the spot
and prevented her from screaming. She
heard the window slowly and cautiously
raised and then she could discern,
against the light without, ono Of the per-
sons looking out Of the window start sud
denly back.
Caught, by Jove ~ was uttered in a
low, breathless whisper.
The two seemed to hold hasty con-
sultaton. after which they advanced to
the door, 80 quickly and noiselessly that
Katie had no time for retreating. She
heard an oath as one OF the men ran
against her in the dark, and in tho fear
and horror Of the contact she uttered a
shrek which rang long and loud through
the house. The next moment there was
the sound Of some one scrambliEg up the
wall without and springing through the
window-the ring OF some heavy body
falling to the hoor-blows, struggle, and
finally the report of pistol, followed by
shrielGs of female voices, and rattling
blows of some wooden instrument, dealt
rapidly in the darkness.
Bring light, quick ~ shouted a
voice which Katie recognized as Char
lies while at the same time Nancy,s
tones arose in loud shrieksof " Help, helpl
Murder robbers thieves I"
Then there was rush Of footsteps out
side-a knocking at the door-and the