Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1878-07-04
on the last evolution; and leaving the cars
l trudxed on foot antil the sentinel pop
lars guarding Aunt Margery's gate with
their long black shadows came 10 view.

IL was with a beating heart, notwith
standing my bravery, that took the ke,
OF the side door from nv pocket, and en-
tered the familiar domicile at nightfall lik,
q shadow.
IL was easy enough to obtain access I,
the inner part OF the house from here, fol
most OF the doors were carelessly latched
and was not likely to meet any servant
at this Tune In the evening. | remembered
certain Woe window-sill In the hall upon
which l sat down TO rest my self, which had
not entered into my calculations when
planned this audacious expedition Then
removing my shoes, slipped softly throu Oh
the long. deserted passageway TO nv ow N
room. The door opened with a treacher.
Gus creak. that seemed bent to betrav me
II appeared an age before | was tsirIy
within.
rus was ny own pretty, pleasant little
room, the shelter where had SO often be-
taken myself from Aunt Marxery's raspiny
voice and tneessant fault-tinding-wbere /
nad dreatned day dreams and reyelled In
nightly visions. This cherished and famil-
lar little nook had chilled 10 me Ia one
days absence. II had given possession TO
a horde Of shadows that, mockiny and
gesticulating. fitted to and fro In the IN.
certain light. Perhaps the blown
branches OF the elm outside PLAYED me this
trek; but 1t confused me strangely. and
rendered my search for the watch a long
one. Till 1t seemed as II some tricksom. elf
had fiched II TO distress me. AT length.
however, my hands touched and graspcd
the treasure; the heavy chain glided with
snaky coolness through my fingers. and [
thrilled from head 10 foot with new and
strange sensation. For at that very mo-
ment heard the door shut with a snap.
Inc noise in Itself was not startling no one
was likely to hear 1t save myself; bu, 1t an.
nodnced that | was trapped, prisoner
shared In my own net: for the door closed
with . spring, and l had len the key on the
outside.
l put my two hands to my head and
thought desperately for a moment. There
was no possible egress now excep, ,brouyb
Aunt Margery's room. with which mine
was connected with a narrow passaye
How could hope TO pass through without
waking herr For just one instant I felt
ike despair. How was | 10 hep Dick now
IL must be done. however gathered mn
my courage; ! remembered the indIguiti..
had borne. the needs Of my friend the
ausoIule figbfulness Of what | was doing.
and strong IN resolution, glided across the
nan silently. slowly, lest the ghost of a
'oot-iAl! should rouse the yigilani slccpers
"thlh. There was something dreadful in
ms after all. The strange advent among
familiar things that look on the intruder
With sinister eyes j. not desirable expe.
rance. irue, l was on a mission OF mcr-
y out this fact failed To support me as
stood poised on my aunt's door-sill. A
seak-minded doDbtiuiuess creeping I'm for
moment paral.zed my activity. This
'snoie had been In Aunt Margery's pos
'ession for years. Was 1t mine? was /.
'ers! The sacred rights Of property" l
lad heard talked OF so often: were nv
nothsrs sacred, or my sun,'s All. what
would become OF all the property In the
World II riehtfully divided! Would then
'ick 60 out starving and housele.s from
AUNT Margery's surplus Of luxury: Dan
..erous speculations, but brief | swept
neH All aside Ike cobwcbs. Never
touid deser, Dick in his time of need
topping on tiptoe In my unshod feet, | e.
ayed 70 convey my beating heart as far
5 possible from the high old-taSh oned
light lamp sent thin tnreah 6i1i.Hra-
cross the floor: IL rested on the heavy
rapery festooned TO the ceiling, which
ave this couch an awful dignity in my
hlldish days. And there just opposite 1t,
stood tracsiixed. There lay Aunt Mar
.ery, with eyes wide open, looking at me.
returned the gaze steadily, frozenly. |
now not how long We might have regar-
ed each other thus, but the parrot. In its
overed cage within, croaked uneasilv.
AUNT Margery turned sieepily on her pill
ow.
You are late, Jenny" she said, 9uer-
lously. what kept you SO, child?
land me the camphor yonder; my head
ches dreadfullv."
| handed the cAmphor silently, and out
4 habit proceeded to bathe her hands and
orehead as usual, and then came the usu-
j innumerable orders. little warm wa
er from the bathroom, little mixture
rom the medicine chest. Her pillows
eeded adjusting, her lamp needed trim
ming. and thus | was chaiAed TO her side
prisoner with that doubtful time-picce
n my pocket, and my brain dizzy with
chemes for escape.
Oh. what would Dick think OF me, rccre-
mt that was In his time Of trial?-pOor
Dick. watching vainly all this time at Kate
,atterby's cabin, or wandering on the road
nayhap. all the nightfall, meditsting on
he faithlessness OF woman; then In the
morning, discouraged and hopeless. he
would drift away somewhere out of my
each | hardly dared think OF this con-
ingency. To let 90 my hold on Dick was
o give up my hold on life. Utterly ex-
with long watching, | fell asleep
i last, the heavy sleep Of youth and wear-
ness.
was aroused from this dreamless slum-
yer by sudden loud crash. q rapping and
caring at the window.
Aunt Margery started up aghast. Rod
,ers" she exclaimed, clutching my arm.
But there never could have been so bung-
ing q robber as this. stood up and faced
he intruder with wide-staring eyes.
"All right" said q loud CHEEKY voice.
The confounded sash :" And there
tood Dick.
.'why, bless my heart. aunfie, | beg your
pomWcl U!d Caesar In the NOR
ing for puttiug me in st the wrong win
low. But, Jenny. girl, I've been walking
he road till couldn't stand 1t any longer,
hought you had been robbed, or way
aid. or something"
Propped up on her elbow among the
pillows, Aunt Msrgery looked out majes
ically and interrupted this TRADE.
Richard" she said, "are you fool?'
Couldn't exactly state Tonight, auntie.
Haven't time TO anAlyze. l only came TO
Ook after Jenny. She's all right, it seems
30 III bid you goodnight"
Dick" said the invalid, shaking her
Ong fOrefinge. At him authoritatively.
you'll stay just where you are. cant
10 without Jenny. find she can't do with
,ut you, 1t appears.
''Of course not" said Dick, deliberately
.aking chair. II always was an appen-
iage Of Jenny's, you know, and shall be
Ior the rest Of my natural life, I'm afraid"
"Just So" screamed the parrot, one
bright sunny morning. as stepped down
stairs In a floating veil. and with my Cir
die, Aunt Margery's wedding gilt. Dick
was waiting for me below. with beaming
face and arms outstretched. Beside him
stood old Cesar in his best clothes and
Sunday shoes. "Pienty OF room now,
MISS" said the old man, stepping admir-
ingly aside from my sweeping bridal train.
/ Hdrper's Weekly.
A Harrison Sunday School teacher
was telling her scholars the other Sunday