The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1878-01-24


clerk, whom Agnes barely recognized.
So affairs went on until Harry Morton
had regained all his original good looks,
and had made himself indispensable to
his employer.
One night Agnes gave n large party.
1t was her twenty sixth birthday, and
she laughingly told her friends that it
was the inaugural ball of her old-maid-
hood, and she meant it to be success.
And a success it was. Fanny and Percy
were there, and SO was Harry Morton.
Just before supper Agnes came across
some gentleman in the shadows of the
deserted drawing-room, and, tapping
him ON the shoulder, she playfully said:
"And whom do I find playing the wall
flower? ?"
She started back ere the words were
finished, for the gentleman turned face
of unutterable agony towards her, and
she saw that it was Harry Morton.
"Miss Carroll" he cried, "I love a
lady who is as far above me as yon cold
moon is above us now, and my heart is
breaking"
"Why do you tell me this ?" she said,
retreating haughtily, as he sought to
take her hand
"Aggie, Aggie !'' cried Fanny Bell at
the door. "Will you show Percy those
engravings you told me about?" And
Agnes hurried off, and Harry Morton
turned to his silent contemplation of the
cold heavens, at the long window.
"To-morrow," he said, "I leave this
house forever.
1t was three o'clock before the last
guest had departed, and the house was
still. Mr.. Carroll had gone to his room
long ago but Harry Marion still stood
at the window, and watched the Stars.
By.and-by, the drawing-room door
unclosed, and he saw Agnes come and
throw herself upon the sofa, and, taking
the cushion under her head, began to
weep violently. There was no light in
the room save that which came from the
open CRATE but he could see that Agnes
had not removed her evening dress; and,
wondering what could be the matter, he
was about to make known his presence,
when he was conscious of stealthy step
in the hail. In moment the room door
Enclosed, and a man entered. Morton
could see that lie was muffled to the eyes,
and carried dark lantern and then, as
Agnes became aware of the intruder's s
presence, she started up with terrified
shrek, and rushed into the music room,
and covered in the shadows. The man
with the lantern stood in thought a
moment, and Immediately followed her.
"Come, GIRL" he said, grasping her
shoulder, "hand over them rings and
bracelets, and you're all right. I locked
the old gentleman's door and the door
from the servants hall and how in the
name of wonder you found out was un-
der your bed, don't know. You might
screech all night, and gain nothing by it
but sore throat"
Agnes by this time was senseless, and
the robber proceeded to remove the
jewels from his unresisting victim, when
| he found himself caught in q powerful
grasp, overpowered, and bound before
he could recover his wits. Harry Nor
ton did his work quickly and well, and
pinioned the burglar with the heavy
cord of the lace curtains, which he was
drawing carelessly between his fingers
when Agnes entered the drawing room.
By this time, Mr.. Carroll had forced
open his door, and hurried to the scene
of action. The burglar had left coarse
sack in the hall, containing the most
valuable of the silver plate he had found
satisfied with that, he might have got
off safely. But he was tempted to enter
Agnes's room, and had just time to Sc
crete himself, when Agnes, who had re-
mained in the parlor long time after
her other guests, came into her room,
and sat down before her dressing glass,
and leaning her head upon her hands,
was buried in deep thought, when at the
foot Of her bed, which was just along
side of her glass, she saw strange-look-
ing sack, and beside it mans boot
protruding from beneath the bed. 1t
was in the glass she saw them, and, with
a thrill of terror, she rose up and stole
down to the parlor and remembering
the presenceof Harry in the music-room,
was about to seek him when she was
overcome by her excitement and terror,
and threw herself upon the sofa, hoping
he would come out and speak to her.
All this she told afterwards but when
the police arrived with the messenger
whom Mr.. Carroll had sent for them,
the robber knew that all was over, and
his nights work undone by Agnes's op-
perfume discovery.
At his trial, he confessed that he had
stolen into the house during the hustle
of the entertainment, and, after the
supper table was deserted, had helped
himself to every article he fancied. His
sack was well laden and, doubtless, he
would have escaped had he been salts
fed with its contents.
Harry Morton left the house as he had
resolved. To all Mr.. CARROLL entreaties
and Agnes proffered thanks, he said
81 only did my duty as you did yours
when you found me at the gate, house
less and starving. 1t is only heavens
mercy that was saved, brand from
the burning. 1 feel that self-respect
alike command my departure.
He went, but not to stay long. For
one day there came to him a note which
read as follows
"Mr. Morton, will you come to me
and finish the story you were telling me,
when Fanny Bell interrupted us the
night of the party
"AGNRs CARROLL"
Harry Morton went and the story,
no doubt, was long and interesting, for
Morton Carroll had to take his tea alone,
and Agnes astonished him by walking
into the library where he was DOING
over his papers, and saying "Uncle,
permit me to inform you that this gen.
tleman, who styles himself "a brand
from the burning, is from henceforth
my exclusive property"