, 1877-01-12


.arna revolver. with Captain Hargrave's
crest anI initial. upon Il. which vas ap-
t,arrntiv the friend" alluded 20 by
Helen. Judging Nv the loving manner IN
uhich Il Va examined. and then placed
IN H. ca-r On the mAnlel piece. ready 70
tale mp 10 bel.
What q delightful idea. sAid why
it, quite romantic Just like what one
rra.is II IN books. declare, Bob,
-houldnt have given you credit for
thinking oi such a thing"
Il thought You would like II, he
saii. That ungrateful girl. Helen, de-
clarcs Il very insecure. and wants me 10
have an iron safe. Now, for my part, |
like something out Of the common. !
hal it made chiefly for the security Of
Helens valuable jewelry.'
"Oh. Bob. how oay yOu tell such fbs?'
interrupted Helen.
Yes; and vet she declares it TO he
merely whim Of my own, because l
like doing things in q way that no one
else does"
well, 1 dare say it is but how do
you manage to keep it from the servants?"
81 never open it unless they are out
Of the way, and no one could possibly
find it out for themselves. You see there
is no mark whatever on the wall, and the
springs take o very hard pressure"
So saving, Bob closed his ingenious
contrivance, and every thing appeared
as before. Then we said good night,
Helen accompanying me to my room, to
see me safe into bed, and tucked up"
"You will have Susan to sleep with
you, after tomorrow, you know, Ally
dear" she said, consolingly, for the
great room did look very dreary and
ghost-like, in spite of q comfortable fire,
and all that was done to make it look as
cheerful as possible. "How stupid of
me not to think of asking you if you
would like Bennett, my maid, to sleep in
YOUR room. She's gone to bed now, for
when I'm late 1 never let her sit up for
me"
erOb. never mind. thanks" I repliyd
AS scbeerfully as could, though nv spir-
its sank to zero at the thought of Sleep
inc all by myself in dark old room full
| of recesses each of which looked war
ranted TO contain ghost. How 1 longed
for Susan to have arrived (Susan Eliot
was NV consin. about the same age as
myself and inst as great cowardf, or
Rennet or aome one to share NV solitudel
I-HI saw Helen" I begged. "before
Won 90. let MS hunt in ali the hooks and
corners. Only don't tell Bob-he would
Eteaze me 80. 1 don't believe he knows
what II is TO be frightened"
"Well. there wouldn't be quite 90
mneh excuse for him being frightened,
| as there il for a nervous little girl like
Won Bob's an old soldier and has seen
1lentv of service. Won know. and now
fat,s 5nnt for the Booies."
Tb;s We did most thoroughly. leaving
no nook or Granny unsearched, and sat
isfyin0 ourselves that at least there we're
no visible inhabitants of the chamber be-
sides our two selves.
Goodnight, dearest" said Helen,
who had waited to stuck me up" COM
!. fortably in the huge four-poster; ''pleas-
ant dreams to Won. told Bennett to call
Won at eight. The Meet is at half past
ten. don'tforget that-good- d-nightagain. "
And off she tripped, leaving me alone
with a train of reflections that would
have been yery pleasant, if it had not
been for a wretched feeling of nervous
ness that. do what 1 would, I could not
overcome. Then suddenly recollected
that the door was not locked, and very
reluctantly proceeded to la-tGck myself.
The lock was very stiff, but I managed
it at last, or thought had, after which !
threw my dressing-gown over my shoul-
ders and settled myself in deliciously
snug armchair by the fire. ] thought
as I was up and not particularly sleepy,
that It would be rather pleasant TO sit up
for while to think over various things
that had happened and were to happen,
and to build delicious little castles in the