Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1877-07-27

upon Bob's mind he felt an immense sense
of relief, instantly followed by more
poignant perception of the nextricable falls
ity and cruel absurdity Of his position. He
had but little time to think it over and de-
termino his best course.
John stepped forward, and with the point
of his cane.sword motioned him into a cor
ner, thus leaving the way clear to the ladies',
who at once buried into tho dining room,
throwing glances Of fear and aversion upon
Bob as they passed. Angie paused at the
doorway and asked:
"What are you going to do with the dread
ful mani"
Bob even now was able TO notice that he
had never seen her so ravishngly beautiful
as now, with her golden hair falling over
her charming dishabille, while her eyes
scintillated with excitement. She would
have bushed to have been seen by him in
such an undress toilet, but, with an odd
ceiling Of being double, he perceived that
she now regarded him as she would have
an animal.
"George aud will attend to him. You
had better go to bed" replied John to her
question aud then he sent George after
some cord, meanwhile standing in front Of
Bob with cooked revolver. Had he scan
ned his prisoner closely, he might have de-
tected something familiar in his lineaments,
but in careless contempt lie took him in
with a sweeping glance as an average burg
lar, whose identity was question for the
police.
Bob had not uttered word. In the
complex falsity Of his position he conld
not indeed muster presence of mind TO re-
solve on any course, but regarded with
kind of faulty the extraordinary direction
events were taking. But when George re-
turned with the rope, and ordered him to
put his hands behind him, he said, in tone
SO quiet that it surprised himself:
"Hold on, Mr.. McLane; this joke has
gone far enough. I am Robert Witbers, at
your service, and respectful ly decline to be
considered in the light of a burglar any
further
Georges jaw dropped with aDtonishment,
and John was scarcely less taken back.
"D-d if he isn't ~ calculated the former,
ailer a moment, in tone Of incredulous
conviction, as he recognized at once the
voice, and now the features Of Bob; "but
where's your hair"
Bob blushed painfully.
81 weara wig" he replied: land tonight,
coming down stairs amer you were all abed
TO get my ring which had left on the table
here, did not fully dress. Going back, it
was my luck to stumble over that cursed
stand in the other roomr
"But what did you hide fOr?" asked
John sharply.
Bob touched his bald head and replied:
81 heard The ladies up"
John pitched the revolver on the sofa and
stood pensve. Finally he said, with a sar-
donic smile:
"Mr. Wthers, how do you propose TO get
out OF this? Shall call in the ladies and
let you explain? They will presently be
wanting TO know what we have done with
the burglar"
Bob made no reply. Already bitterly
Inundated, he saw no way of avoiding in
definite and yet bitterer humiliaiions.
John thought few moments longer, aud
then he said:
Take a seat, Mr.. Withers; ! have a
proposition 10 make"
They sat down.
You are aware" continued John, in the
calmest, most imperturbable tone, "that
don't like your match with my sister, and
have done my best To break it of. But she
is an obstinate girl, and had pretty much
given up hope. These peculiar circum-
81 H.,
my power, and propose TO make the most
Of my advantage. If were to call in An
gle now aud Introduce you, feel tolerably
well assured tha: it would be the end of
your matrimonial expectations in that
quarter. Sill, you shall have a chance for
your life. will call her if you say soH"
and John rose.
"For Gods sake, don't let her come in
here? groaned Bob in ahject panic.
John grinned, stepped toward the door,
and then turned back irresolutely, mutler-
ing:
wonder if ii wouldn't be the shortest
way out of ii 10 call her DOWN." Then,
with saving reflection upon the uncer-
tainty OF a woman's course under any Civ
en set Of circumstances, he came back, and
resealing himself opposite Bob, said, with
a sardonic smile: $50 you don't like my
little suggestion of giving you one more
chance with Angie? On the whole, think
you are wise. The other alternative is to
leave the house al once, relinquish your
engagement, and never see her again.
Make your choice, and as quickly as con-
venient, for I'm getting sleepy" and he
yawned lazily.
Bob sat in an attitude of utter detection,
staring al the ashes of The fire, which an
hour ago had blazed as brightly as his own
love-lit fancies. He was completely de-
moralized and almost incapable OF thought
or resolution. There was something so
piiialjle in Bob's odd-looking, dismanlled
figure, half-dressed, with that queer, white,
bulbous head, dimmed, blank eyes, and
expression of crushing shame and defeat,
that it would have moved almost any one
TO compassion. 1t did stir compunctons
in George, but there was no mercy in Johns
steel blue eyes. Two or three minutes
passed in silence so complete that even
the almost noiseless movement of the
French clock on the mantel was distinctly
audible.
"You are taking altogether too long to
make up your mind, Mr.. Withers. 1t will
make shorter work TO call Angie" finally
said John sharply, his patience quite at an
end. He rose and stepped to the door as he
spoke.
at won't be necessary, John-here 1
am p said a clear voice, with a sharp ring
in It that the family had learned to know
meant decisive work, and Angie stepped
into the room, her blue eyes flashing with
indignation and her lip trembling with
scorn, beautiful as a goddess.