The Republican journal., 1877-11-22

mg," SAID Alice, seizing her savagely by
The arm ''NO one will come the cooks
dfugged and you are at our mercy. Give
me the key"
''lll trouble You for that pistol" said
2 stern voice behind Virginia, as a quick,
strong arm jerked the weapon away from
/ Alice
Alice, with a shrek, fell on the floor.
for she realized all at once But Virginia,
gasping, "Ah, my God y gazed as if
turned to stone, for it was Langley TEN
pie that she saw.
"Firginia. don't be terrified p he said
ut IS my very self, no ghost Take my
hand, love; see, it is flesh and blood like
your own, dear" He had her in his arms
me door-b was ringing turiously, but
he would have let the neighbors pull the
wire till it broke before he would have
left her III that dumb, shocked state. AS
he touched her she trembled violently;
then the light came back TO her eyes, and
With sob Of joy, Virginia flung herself
on the breast of him whom she had
mourned an dead.
The Motleys had time to think that
| Virginia was murdered before the pair
| opened the door Very much surprised
were they to see, instead Of the policeman
| theN expected to find, a very tall, hand
some yHung man, in undress, navy uni
form. Fred, now that bis part Of the fun
was over, began to roar, and Virginia
took him up in her arms, while the four
gentlemen, assisted by the real simon
pure policeman, a brawny son of Erin,
opened the closet and secured the prison
al VIII hin tbn vt ~
other servants had returned ~ for the
burglary took place before II O'clock
and Alice, having recovered from her
sWoon, was carried to the station house.
| don't know how Langley and Yir-
glna were occupied till my return, but
when Frank thrust his latch KEY into the
door, Virginia flew out of the library, and
tried, with 4 few incoherent sentences, to
prepare me for seeing something. The
consequence was, that when [ pushed the
door open in d very beWildered frame of
mind, and saw Langley smiling at me, ]
was terrified almost ont Of my senses and
came near tainting
10 the best Of my recollection, the
household sat up nearly all night, though
finally, after had heard the whole story
been specchess over Virginias bravery.
and hugged Fred-noW asleep in the arm
chair-Fran}I dragged me off to bed.
don't know that Langley and Virginia
sat there till morning, but certainly the
first persons saw upon coming down to
breakfast We're themselves, on the identi-
Gal sofa where had left them.
I.angley's story is too long one to be
told here suffice it to say that, being on
deck when the Tecumseh sank, he had
been able to strike out from the sinking
ship, and. under cover Of the smoke and
war Of battle, to swim ashore. There
however, he was taken prisoner and kept
in close confinement for some months,
finally making his escape. Coming direct
to Frank to gain intelligence before pre-
senting himself to his family, he had
stopped to light a cigar under the gas
light, where Virginia had mistaken him
for policeman. He had known her in
stantly and probably only her fright and
agitation prevented her from recognizing
his voice, which, as he mischievously told
her he did not disguise in the least.
Alice ahd her accompllce We're identi-
fed by the police as old offenders. The
woman had carried on Il systematic pill
tering at the Temples and was an accom-
plished hypocrte. To my intense graft
fcation the pair We're sentenced for a full
term in Sing Sing.
Langley and Virginia We're married
very quietly soon after. Frank gave away
the lovely little bride. whose fair, girlish
bloom had come back to her, and who,
under the influence Of love, seemed diff
ferent woman from the pale. sad creature
who had moved 50 quietly about the
house.
Thry idolize each other, and think
have quite forgiven grandma Chichester
and poor Horace Kent. Fred has ALWAYS
been q great pet with his aunt for his
bravery Oh the night of the attempted
burglary
Between Frcd's boasting and my sly
teasing, poor Frank will never be allowed
to forget his instrumentality in introduce
ing me to such ''periect treasure"