Marshall County Republican. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1856-1878, 1876-07-27

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Aunt Phoebe was too much pre- -occu-
pied with the preparations for the
new inmates TO bestow upon her the
usual attention. By four o'clock the
arrangements were all completed.
Bright fires burned in the long de-
serted room of the second floor, and
dainty little repast was provided
for the refreshment Of the expected
dodgers. Five o'clock struck, and
they had not arrived; then 6-and
just as Miss Halliday was beginning
seriously to apprehend some railroad
accident, and just as the gathering OF
dusk rendered it impossible to ac-
curately distinguish more than the
general form of objects, a carriage
drove up to the door, and lady and
gentleman alighted.
Miss Halliday stepped to the door
to meet them.
I'VE have been expecting you ever
since four O'clock" she said blandly
Il hope there has been no acci-
dent?"
mo accident, madam but 1 found
Mrs. Hewlett suffering so severely
with toothache that we were CON-
PEELED to wait for the evening train.
Indeed, was unwilling to have her
exposed to the cold, but she insisted
on coming at once"
"But where is the baggage?" in
quired Miss Halliday.
"Oh, ma'am, the gentleman says as
how he hadn't time to look after the
baggage on account Of his anxiety to
get his wife out % the cold air. Theirs
only two big valises that they've
brought along in the carriage, and
tomorrow he'll see to the rest"
$50 very nice, said Miss Halliday,
as she prepared to retire at the usual
hour of halt-past 9. How fortunate
we should have secured such in
matesl"
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
o'clock? for she had no opportunity to
let him know that he must not come.
The library was on the first floor,
and its window was some six or eight
feet from the ground, looked upon a
retired little bit of the front yard,
screened by shrubbery. This win
dow had been, during the past sum-
mer, a favorite seat of Katie's. Here
she read and sketched; and here, up
on more than one occasion, had Mr..
Duncan, happening to pass while she
was so employed, stepped quietly in
to the little, unused side-gate. and,
screened by the rose bushes from all
other observation, held sweet dis
course with her. Precious stolen
communion, sweet to young lovers
denied any other opportunity OF
meeting. But to grant such an inter-
view at IL o'clock at night? Impos-
siblel How could Mr. Duncan think
OF it?
Still, the fear OF his being discov-
cred by some one, even Nancy, made
Katie very anxious and nervous.
Perhaps it would be well, after all, to
see him, and tell him to go quietly
away; and so, after considering the
subject. the poor girl could think Of
nothing better that she could do, and
it would save Charlie probably from
long waiting and eventual disap-
pointment.
She advanced few stew steps, and
then she suddenly started. Was that
the sound of a footstep? Just then
the great clock in the hall, close to
her, rang out the hour Of IL. Charlie
was at this very moment under the
window waiting for her.
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Her heart beat fast, and she stepp-
ed hastily and lightly down the mar
row passage way that led to the Ii
brary. She held in her hand the key,
which always hung in the little clos
ct between her own and her aunt's
room; for, as we have said, the libra
ry was kept locked. But on this
night there must have been some
strange oversight; for, as Katie
reached the library door. she per-
ceived 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? Peering eau
tiously in, she saw, to her extreme
astonishment, two figures moving ST.
lently across the floor, apparently
carrying some heavy object. The
light was extinguished. A thrill OF
fear kept her rooted to the spot and
prevented her from screaming. She
heard the window slowly and eau
tiously raised; and then she could
discern, against the light without,
one Of the persons looking out Of the
window start suddenly back.
Caught, by Jovel" was uttered. in
a low, breathless whisper.
The two seemed to hold hasty
consultation, after which they ad-
vanced to the door, so quickly and
noiselessly that Kate had no time
for retreating. She heard an oath as
one Of the men ran against her In the
dark, and in the fear and horror Of
the contact she uttered q shrek
which rang long and loud through
the house. The next moment there
was the sound of some one scram-
bling up the wall without and spring.
ing through the window-the ring OF
some heavy body falling to the floor,
blows, a struggle, and finally the re-
port of pistol, followed by the
shrieks OF female voices, and rat
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