Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1878-06-07

SlaNEIu Wy treasures the nraNS cham
glded with snaky GOODNESS through my
fingers, and | thrilled from head il foot
with \ new and strange sensation For
~ that Very moment heard the door
shut with q snap. This noise in itself
was not startling; no one WAS likely to
hear 1t save myself; but it announced
that was trapped, a prisoner, shared
III my own net; for the door closed with
II spring, and | had left the key ON the
outside
| put my two hands 10 my head and
thought desperately for moment.
There was no possible egress now cxecp,
through Aunt Margery'S room, with
which mine was connected bv mar
row passage. How could hopeto pass
through without waking herr For lust
one instant | felt like despair. How
Was g help Dick now Ii must 10
done, however. gathered NJ MY
courage; | remembered the indiynities
had borne, tac needs of my friend
the absolute rightfulness Of what was
dong, and, strong III resolution, ghdca
across the hall-silently, slowly, lest the
ghost OF n football should rouse the vig.
liant sleepers within. There was some
thing dreadful i'll this, after al. This
strange advent among familiar things
that look ON the intruder with sinister
eyes is not II desirable experience. True,
! Was ON II mission of mercy; hut this
fact failed To support me us | stood
poised on my .,ants door-sill. \ weak
minded douhtitlness creeping in for n
moment paralyzed my act Nty. This
banhlo had been III Aunt Marycry'S
possession for Years Was il mlnc9
was il hers The sacred rights of
property" lind heard talked IL ~
often were my mothers sacred, III my
aunts@ All what would become of
all the property in the world il right
fully divided? Would then Dick 90 out
starving and houseless from Aunt Mar.
gery'S surplus of luxury Dangerous
speculations, but brief. | swept them
all aside like cobwebs. Never should
desert Dick in his time of need Step
ping on tiptoo IN my unshod feet, | es-
Saycd to convoy my beating heart as
far MS possible from the old.fashioned
hed>tcad. II almost seemed Aunt
Margcry might hear it III her sleep.
The low night lamp sent thin thread
of light across the floor il rested ON
the neayy drapery festooned e the
ceiling, which gave this couch All awful
dignity IN my old childish days. And
there, Just opposite il, stood transiiN-
ed. There lay Aunt Margerv. with eyes
wide open, looking 1t me. returned
the gaze steadily, frozenly. ! know not
how long we might have regarded each
other thus, but the parrot inits covered
cage within, croaked uneasily. Aunt
Margery turned slcepily on her pillow.
" You are late, Jenny she said,
querulously What kept you so,
child? Hand me the eanphor yonder;
my head aches dreadfully.'
| handed the camphor silently, and
Of habit proceeded TO bathe her hands
and forehead rs usual, and then came
the usual innumerahle orders. A little
warm water from the bathroom, Il little
mixture from the medicine chest. Her
pillows needed adjusting her lamp
needed trimming, and thus was lchain-
ed % her side 4 prisoner, with that
doubtful time-piecc in my pocket, AMI
my brain dizzy with schemes for escape.
Oh, what would Dick think Of mic, re-
creant that was in his time Of trial?
--poor Dick, watching yainly all this
time Mt Kate Catterby's cabin, or wan
dering on the road, mayhap. all the
long night fall, meditating ON the faith
lessness Of woman; then in the morn
ing, discouraged and hopeless, he would
drift away somewhere out Of my reach
! hardly dared think of this contingency.
TO let 20 my hold ON Dick was TO give
up my hold on life. Utterly exhausted
with the long watching, ! fell asleep Mt
last, the heavy sleep Of youth and wea-
riness.
was aroused from thi. dreamless
slumber BY sudden loud crash, 4
rapping and tearing ut the window.
Aunt Margery started up aghast.
" Robbers !" she exclaimed, clntching
my arm. But there never could have
been SO bungling robber as this.
stood up and faced the intruder with
wide-starlng eyes.
"All right - said loud, cheery voice.
The confounded sash = And there
stood Dick.
Why, bless my heart, auntie, beg
your pardon-Pll pommel old Cesar in
the morning for putting me in Mt the
wrong window. But, Jenny girl, I've
been walking the road till ! couldn't
stand it any longer Thought you'd
been robbed, Or waylaid, Or some
thing"
Propped up Oh her elbow among the
pillows, Aunt Margery looked out ma
jestically ANA interrupted this trade.
Richard" said She, are you 4
fool2'
Couldn't exactly state tonight,
auntie Haven't time to analyze
only came 70 look after Jenny. She's