The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1877-12-25

cried.
go back yourself II you are afraid,
replied Ralph Btoutly; and as going batI
alone through the dim paasags Seemet
Just then worse than staying where oh,
was, Hexie stayed with her valian
brother.
Very softly they Unattached The CALLER
door, and stole In. Il was long, loiti
apartment, paneled with cedar wood, i
which time had given a beautiful liRh
brown color. The ceiling Of the sam,
wood, WA carved here and there will
shields, coats Of arms, and other devices
There was little furniture: one tall eabi
net, a few high.backed Dutch chairs, ApS
some portraits hanging on the walls
The sun, not quite set, poured Btrean
Of red light across the polished floor
leaving the far corners and the empt,
spaces formidably dusk. The childreI
had seldom been In the gallery ut thil
hour, and II looked TO them almost like ,
strange place, not at all as It did at noon
day when they came to jump up and
down the slippery floor, and play hide
and.Seek In the cofners which now seemed
30 dark and dismal.
Even Raie felt the difference, and shiy
cred In spite Of his bold heart and tho biz
sword by his side. Timidly they wen
forward, huShing their footsteps ant
peering iurtively into the shadows. Sud
denly Hexie stopped with \ little scream
Close to them stood a huge suit Of
Armor, larger aud taller than man. The
empty eye'holes Of the helmet glared onl
like real eyes, and the whole figure was
terrible enough to brighten any little girl
But It was not at the armor Hexie
screamed; the iron man was an old friend
Of the children. Many a game Of hide
and-seek had they played around, and
behind, and even inside him; for Hum.
phrey had contlived = cunning way By
which the figure could be taken to piece.
and put together again; and more than
once Raie had been popped inside
and had lain shaking with laughter
while Hexie vAinly searched for him
through all the gallery. This had moi
happened lately, for Rate was hardly
strong enough to manage by himself the
screws and hinges which opened the ar
NOR; but he knew the iron man too well
to scream at him, and so did Hexie. The
object which excited hersterror wa,
something different, and so strange and
surprising that It Is no wonder abe
screamed.
Close by the armor, half hidden BY q
curtain oil heavy tapeatry was an opeE
door, where never door had been know
to be. It stood ajar, and dimly visibl.
inside was a narrow stair case WindinS
upward.
'"The hole Of the Bogiel" gasped Hexie
clutching at Rates. arm. He started
and felt for the sword. II ratified fear
fully, and the sound completed HsxiA'l
terror.
She burst away, flew like scared lap
wing down the gallery, along the passa
ses. and never stopped till she reached
the nursery and her own bed, where, will
two pillows and the guilt drawn over hel
head, she lay SobbIng bitterly ut thI
thought Of Ralph leII behind, 10 beea,eI
perhaps by the Bogie Poor little He1ie
Ralph, meanwhile, stood his ground
His heart beat very fast, but he would no
run away,-that was Tor girls. IL mus
be owned, however, that when momeu
later the sound Of rnGtfled voices bOoamt
audible down the stairs, he trembled ex
tremely, and was guilty Of the unman
like act Of hiding behind the curtain.
he was only ten years old, which mus
plead his excuse with bigger boys Wht
are confident that they could never, I'm
der any circumstances, hide themselvel
or be afraid.
The voices drew nearer, StepS sounded
and two figures came ont OF the narroV
doorway. Could there be two BOgies
No wonder they ate so much. But il
another moment all thought Of Rogtei
vanished from Ralph's mind, for 10 on
Of the figures he recognized his own sis
ter Winifred.
Her companion was man. Their
was something familiar in his form.
moved forward, and Ralph jumped 81
that the big sword ratified again. BogiI
number two was his brother Humphrey
uourned as dead ever Lsince the Sdmme
before, when so many brave gentlameI
COVE up their lives for King Charles n
the battle Of Naseby.
"what noise was THAR: whispere,
Winiired, tearfully.
"Solne sound from below" replied
Humphrey, after listening a moment
"Musl you 60, Winnie 7" 'l''I L.
81 must dear Humphrey. dare moi
absent myself longer lest 1 be missed ant
suspected. Oh, II tomorrow we're bu
over, and you safe on the French luRgs
and over the sea! cannot breath
while this hiding and danger 60 on"
a suppose ought to be glad aho,'
said Humphrey, ruefully; "but to me this
French lugger means exile, and loneli
ness and poverty for the rest OF my lif
perhaps. Better have laid down my liz
with the rest at Naseby, IN striking on
last blow for the King,
"DOn't, don't speak ao" pro!e,tet
WiRiired, tearfully. "You are alive
thank uod, and once these wars are ovel
we may reioln You, and have happy
home somewhere, II not 10 the land o
our fathers. Now, dear Humphrey, haVu
you all you need for the night%
.Ghrittmas cheer" said Humphrey, il
u would!bs cheerful voice. Bset and ale
what better fare could be? You are 4
gaIIan, provider, my Winnie, and there
is need, Tor since have lain in that hole
with nothing else to do, my appetit
has ragged like wolf. That sleeps hea,
was Woudrous sayory. | say though
Winnie, what do the servants think o
the famine / create In the lArder?'
"Oh, the stupid creatures fancy that
Bcsy has taken up his residence here.
livery hungry BOgie,' Joyce calls the cfes
ture |"
The brother and sister laughed; wher
they kissed each other.
"GOod night, dearest Winifred."
Good night BROTHER" and Humphrey
vanished mp the stairs. Winifred lineer-
ed moment; when, as il Remembering
somethiug, opened the DOOR again AM
ran after him. Ralph marked that shl
laid her hand on particular post 10 tn
carved wainscOt, and pressed It in hard
wherein the door spraug open. He stol
out, laid his hand on the same post AMI
felt no spring give way uuder his touch
Some underlined idea Of stealing In later
to make Humphrey . visit, was 10 BIZ
heudi but no heard Wiuifred returning
and hurried out Of the gallery. Putin
back the sword In tia place, DO entere(
the nursery. No Hexie was visible, bn