Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1878-06-21
NO. l46.
Gales and Sketehes.
Continued from yesterday.)
JUST So"

Continued from yesterday)
| We stood before the window of a pic.
ture shop where picture of some Ra-
phael Madonna smiled down upon us be-
| nignantlv. Her feet were on the clouds.
! stars encircled her head far away were
the manger and the misery, yet perhaps
she remembered them still Regal in her
azure robe, she floated above this sordid
whirl. crowned and triumphant after toll
and travail. A few tears crept to nv
eyes as | looked. wiped them swiftly
away lest Dick should see them; but he
had already forgotten his surliness, alb
sorbed in contemplation of some gorgeous
chromos. A something like motherly pity
filled my hear as | contemplated his bright
face, so careless and unturrowed in the
midst of his troubles, and suggestion
came to me then, perhaps from the benefi-
cent mother beaming down upon us.
Dick, said |, abruptly, IL am going
back"
"Al right little one," patting me pat
thing you can do"
Not to stay. Dick" said 1, vexed at
the alacrity with which he accepted the
proposition. "No; I've an idea in my
head"
Look So" respord ded Dick. sententious-
~"
Dick. listen to "-authoritatively. IL
shall sleep at Nurse Catterby's tonight,
and if you meet me there, III have some
thing to help you"
My darlingm cried Dick; but | re-
PEELED this latter exhibition of affection
Put me in the cars, my friend I'm
hungry. You know. and tired to death.
you know, but there's no time TO lose"
In my feminine fertility OF resource |
felt myself infinitely superior to this help
less, good-hearted lump of a Dick, and |
nodded my head at him gaily at parting,
without thought OF failure.
And this was the thought that came to
me under the smile of the Madonna. In
my room at aunt Margery's there hung
grand old-fashioned timekeeper with h
gold coin attached to its heavy chain, and
Il big seal wherein glowed ruby. Sc
cretly | regarded this as my own, for it
had once been my mothers, an heirloom
of the family, the source of endless dis
putes. as had heard, between the grasp
ing elder sister and the younger. Nv
mother was OF a high spirit, and finally,
in fit of utter weariness and vexation,
flung the watch, with all its glittering
appendages, at her sisters feet. Aunt
Margeiy had never returned it-that was
not her way-but it had never been
wound up since that day $50 old Caesar
said,) and long after my mothers death
1t hung silent and shining in the room de-
voted ID my use-pelhaps a supersttious
offering to the vexed spirit of the depart
ed.
had determined to 90 back without
being seen. ii possible, and get this watch,
arpropriating II, as felt sure my mother
would approve, to aid myself and nv
friend in our sore need.
The ride seemed long one; the road
wound about in a manner had never OBJ
served before, with persistent lodging of
the end, that gave me ample time for re-
volving ways and means for carrying out
my scheme, till finally the moon shone out
on : . the laSsff2N9luton II and leaving the cars
trudgedbhs&oot until the sentinel poplars
guarding Aunt Margery's gate with their
long black shadows came in view
1t was with beating heart, notwh-
standing my bravery, that | took the kew
of the side door from my pocket, and en-
tered the familiar domcle at night fall
like a shadow.
1t was easy enough to obtain access to
the inner part OF the house from here. for
most of the doors were carelessly latched,
and was not likely to meet any servant
at this time in the evening. | remembered
a certain wide window sill in the hall,
upon which | sat down to rest mvself
which had not entered into my calcula-
tons when planned this audacious expe-
dition. Then, removing my shoes, |
slipped softly through the long, deserted
passageway to my own room. The door
opened with treacherous creak. that
seemed bent to betray me. 1t appeared
an age before | was fairly within.
This was my own pretty, pleasant little
room, the shelter where had SO often be-
taken myself from Aunt Margery's rasping
voice and incessant ult-iinding-where
had dreamed day dreams and revelled in
nightly visions. This cherished and ia
miiar little nook had chilled to me in one
days absence. 1t had given possession to
Il horde OF shadows that, mocking and
gestlcplating, lifted to and fro in the un-
certain light. Perhaps the breeze-blown
branches OF the elm outside played me
this trick but it confused me strangely,
and rendered my seach for the watch
long one, Till it seemed as ii some trick
some elf had liched it to distress me. At
length, however, my hands touched and
grasped the treasure; the heavy chain
glided with snaky GOODNESS through nv
fingers, and thrilled from head to foot
with a new aad strange sensation. For
at that very moment heard the door shut
with a snap. This noise in itself was not
startling; no one was likely to hear
it save myself; but it announced that |
was trapped. prisoner shared in my own
net; for the door closed with a spring,
and had left the key on the outside.
put my two hands to my head and
thought desperately for a moment
There was no possible egress now except
through Aunt Margeiy's room, with which
mine was connected with a narrow pas
sage. How could | hope to pass through
without waking herP For just cse IA
stant felt like despair. How Wss l 70
help Dick now 1t must be done. how
ever | gathered up my COURAGE: / re-