The Van Buren press., 1877-01-09
Vol. l4.---No. 80

with hammers and wrenchcs, and in
short time the beautiful wainscot, split
into pieces, lay on the 6oor. Suddenly
there was a shout. The secret door
had flown open, and the staircase stood
revealed. -Four Of the:men, with picks
and pistols, prepared to ascend, while the
ifth guarded the opening below.
| AT that moment Winifred entered the
gallery from the further end. She torn.
ed deadly pale when she saw the open
door and the men.
"Oh Heaven have mercy r she cried,
and dropped half faiuting into q chair.
Rafe darted across the floor and seized
her hand.
"Hush.' he whispered. Don't say a
word. sister. He issafet
"He. Who p erie Ks
fred. III. foOnd the
But now voices sounI saw appear.
The men were com.s led G.assats
rallied her courage. fdssiosan ron 9St
ward She vas very white stru,Wltr
spoke in . steady voice. Hcrtwo
ers, Humprey in hiding place anS
Rate by her side, both admired hd
ly.
What Is the meaning of this, 10Th,
rant do you enter and spoil our house p
by the warrant which all true men
have to search for t.aitors,' said Jo-
tham
"You will find none such here" re.
spondcd Winilred, firmly.
1--WE find the lurking place in which
one such has doubtless lain,' said Zer.
rubabel. "Where holes exist look out
for vermin."
"You are less than civil, neighbors.
An old house like this has many strange
hooks and corners Of which the inhab-
tants may have neither use nor knowl.
edge. Ii your search is done, | will beg
you to mrke good the damage you have
caused as best you may and with rs lit
tie noise as possible. that my mother be
not alarmed. lothian Green, you are
good workman, know. Irecollect how
deity you once repaired that cabinet for
u.s."
All the men knew Winifrcd, and her
calm and decided manner made its i'm
preston. lothian slowly picked up the
fragments of the paneling and began to
fit them together The rest consulted,
muttered half apology about "wrong in.
formation" went away, taking with them
the injured woodwork, which Jotham
undertook to repair. Rates. first words
after they disappeared we're
"Winifred, you must dismiss Deborah.
1t is she that has betrayed u.s."
"How do you know that Rafc 2"
Then it all came out. Winifred listen
cd to the tale with streaming tears.
ooh, Rate, my darling, how brave you
were! You played the man for us to-
day. and have saved-I tr,,.. s-ses. !. aayt'
saved-our Humphrey, The men soa,,
NOT return to day, and tonight the lug
ger sails"
And Humphrey was saved Before
morning, well disguised, he had made
his way across country to little fishing
port, embarked and rsached France with.
out further accident 9
SO that strange Christmas adventure
ended happily. 1t was all long, long
ago. Humphrey and Winifred and Rale
lived their lives out, and lay down to
rest century and half since under the
daisy sprinkled English sod. Little
Hexie died an aged woman. before any
OF us were born But still the beautiful
old manor house stands amid its garden
and pasture lands, with the silvery look
of time on its gray walls Still the arm
ed figure keeps guard beside the secret
staircase, the tapestry hangs in the old
heavy folds, evening reddens the ceder
wal and the polished floor, and every
thing occupies the same place and wears
/ The same look that it did when little Rafe
piayeo the man in that gallery, and saved
his brother Humphrey, more than two
hundred years ago.-.St Nicholas.