Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1878-06-22

some gorgeous chromos. A something like
motherly pity filed my heart as i contem-
iowed in the midst of his troubles, and a sug-
gestiDn came 10 Inc then, perhaps from the
beneficent Mother beaming down upon us
Dick, said !, abruptly, I'm going back"
izingly on the shoulder; ''the very best thing
Not to stay, Dick" said l. vexed at the
ton. mo; I've an idea in my head"
otk SO" responded Dick, sententiOusly.-
Dick, listen TO me"-authOritatively. 81
you meet me there, I'll have something to help
YOU"
My darlingp cried Dick; but repealed
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
my self Infinitely superior to this helpless, good
hearted lump OF Dick, and l nodded my
lead to him gayly at parting, .hout thought
And this was the suggestion which came to
me under the smile Of the Madonna. In my
room at Aunt Margerys there hung grand
old fashioned time-keeper with a gold coin
wherein glowed ruby Secretly l regarded
this as my own, for it had been my mothers.
an heir. loom of the family, the source of end
grasping elder sister and the younger. My
mother was of a high spirit. and finally, IN
fit of utter WEAKNESS and veXation, flung the
watch, with all its ,glittering appendages, at
her sisters feet. Aunt Margery had never
returned it-that was not her way-but it had
never been wound up since that day, $50 old
Caesar Sald,) and long after my mother s death
ii hung silent and Shiningin the room devoted
10 my uSe-perhapS superstitiOuS offering to
the vexed spirit of the departed. l had deter
mined TO go back without being seen, If posi-
felt sure my mother would approve, to aid my
self and my friend in our sore need.
The ride seemed long one; the road wound
about in manner l had never observed be-
fore, with persistent lodging of the end, that
gave me ample time for revolving ways and
means for carrying out my scheme, till finally
the moon ShOne out on the last evolution aud
leaving the cars trudged on afoot until the
sentinel pOplars guarding. Aunt Margery's
gate with their long black shadows came in
view.
my bravery, that l took the key of the side
door from my pocket, and entered the familiar
dOmicile at night-faIl like 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. l remembered certain wide
window sill in the hall, cropping toward which
sat down to rest myself, with curiouSly
scared and hunted feeling, which had not en-
tered into my CALCULATIONS when planned this
shoes slipped softly through the long desert
ed paSSageway to my own room. The door
opened wi a treacherous creak that seemed,
ient to betray me. 1t appeared an age before
l as fairly within.
This was myOwn pretty, pleasant little room
the shelter where had so often betaken my
sell from Aunt M4rgery's rasping voice and
dav-dreamS and revelled in nightly visions.
This cherished and familiar little nook had
chilled to me in one days absence. 1t had
given possession to horde Of shadows that,
lnocking and gesticulating fiji ted to and fro
in the uncertain light. Perhaps the breeze
blown branches of the elm outside played me
this trick; but it confused me strangely, and
re. dered my search for the watch long one,
ill il seemed as if some tricksOme elf had
ilched it TO distress me. At length however,
my hands touched and grasped the treasures
the heavy chain gided with snaky GOODNESS
TO loot with new and strange sensation. For
al that very moment l heard the door shut
wi snap. This noise in itself was not start
ling: no one was likely to hear it save myself;
lut Ii announced that was trapped, prison
Ct. shared in my own net for the door closed
with spring, and | had left the key On the
outside.
l put my two hands to my head and thought
desperately for a moment There was no pos
>ih.e egTeSs now except through Aunt Marge-
Iy' rUOm, with which mine was connected by
Il narrow passage. How could | hope to pass
hl ough without waking her? For just one in
>tant felt like despair. How was l to help
Dick now? 1t must be done, however. |
gathered up my courage; L remembered the
inUignitieS l had borne, the needs of my
friend, the absolute rightfulness of what /
was doing, and, strong in resolution, gided
of football should rouse the yigilant Sleepers
within. There was something dreadful in
this, after all. This strange advent among
iimiilar things that look on the intruder with
True, was on mission of mercy; but this
fact failed to support Inc as stood poised on
my aunts door SILL A weakminded doubt
fulneSS creeping in for moment paraiyzed
my activity. This baube had been in Aunt
Margery's possession for years. Was it mine?
Was it hers? The sacred rights of property"
e.'s sacred or my aunt's? An! what would Would
rightinlIy diyIdsdS s E?ald then Dick 60 oqt
starving l "a and , houselesS from Aunt Margerys
but brief. l swept them all aside like cob
webs. Never should desert Dick in his time
of need. Stepping Oh tiptoe in my unshod
iai as possible from the high old fashioned
heGstead 1t almost seemed Aunt Margery
might hear it in her sleep. The low night
floor; it rested on the heavy drapery fes-
TONED to the ceiling, which gave this couch
an awful dignity III my old childish days. And
there, Just Opposite it, stood transfixed.
looking out at me. returned the gaze stead
ly, froZenly. know not how long We might
have regarded each other thus but the par
lot, in its uncovered cage within, crOaked I'M
J
pillow.
You are late, Jenny" she said ENORMOUSLY.
Nv Lat Kept you SO, child? Hand me the cam
phor yOnder my mead aches dreadfullyn
LANDED the campLOr silently, and of habit
proceeded to battle her hands and forehead as
usual, and then came the usual innumerable
orders. A little warm water from the bath
room, a little mix ure from the medicine chest
Her pillow needed adjusting, her lump needed
trimming, and thus was chained to her side
prisoner, with that doubtful time-piece in nv
pocket, and my brain dizzy with Schemes for
escape. oh, what would Dick think of me, re-
creant that was in his time of tria.?-pOOr
Dick, watching yainly all this time at Kate
CalteIby'S cabin, or wandering on the road,
nayhap, all the long nightfail, medilating on
the falthieSSneSS 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 at last, the heavy sleep of youth
and WEAKNESS.
Twas aroused from this dreamless slumber
by sudden loud crash, a rapping and tearing
at tie window.
Aunt Margery started up aghast. Rob
hers :! She exclaimed, clutching my arm. But
there never could have been So bun Cling a rob-
Der as this. stood up and faced the intruier
with vice staring eyes.
''Al right" said loud, CHEEKY voice. THE
COMPOUNDED sash" And there stood Dick
why, bless my heart aunte, | beg YOUR
pardOn-Ill pOmmel old Caesar in the morn
ing for putting me in at the wrong window.
But, Jenny, girl I've been walking the road
till | couldn't stand Ii any longer, ThOUoht