The morning star and Catholic messenger., 1878-05-19

stood trembling. bnt self con trolled still Anne
thought she could almost hear the bsaung o.
her heart in the dead silence that followed,
while both held their breath, listening 1or
what would come next
Cheerful sounds-a mans brisk step crush
ing the gravel, voice giving come direotlons ions
posely loud and reassuring tone of voice, then
comm place knock ut the door
Mise Thornley, withdrew her hands from her
face, into which color and expression had rush.
ed back.
"There |" she said looking up at Aune, 81
have been foolish again and you have seen 1t.
my little fright; it was nothing, You see, and
i would not have him know how nervous am
apt to get, when he is long away, for the
world /; it would make him needlessly unoom.
Portable"
Anne had only time for gesture of compli-
snce, for the brisk steps were approaching the
library door, and Miss Thornley, spraug for
ward to meet her brother.
well, John, are you very wet and tired 7"
Yes, wet through; but my pockets are well
stuffed to make up for it. Three letters-one
ever had before, from the Ba lyowen book-shop.
Actually, a Quarterly only six months old
and a volume of Napier's 'Peninsulsr War
Don't You call that worth riding in the rain
The tones were light, but the brothet'e
and sisters eyes met there was an eager ques-
tion in them that betrayed more feeling than
comes into everyday meetings and partiDgs.
81 have you safe at home again, and nothing g
has happened 7" tho sisters eyes asked, while
the brothers telegrsphed back an atfecticnate
remonstrance.
Yes, you see am safe. Why do you let
yourself be anXioCsI'
The expression passed in a moment, as Mr..
Thornley, turned to address Anne: but it Was
not lost Oh her
~ thought 1 heard gun go eff in the direc-
tion of the field, beyond the lsIch grove, at the
back of the house" Miss Thornley, rem ark ed in
q stndiedly Indifferent tone of voice some
minutes later.
"Ah! yes, dsresay you did" her brother
ar Hered; "some stupid fellows popping at the
rabbits, suppose"
shooting rabbits in the dark and close TO
the road -
"well. jumped over the stone wall and
looked about in the wood thinking l should
surprise whoever it was, but saw one"
"JGmp, d over the wall! Oh, John, how rastl
You promised YOU would rot run risks"
TIE risk of being mistaken for rabbit 1
assure you, Bride, it was not risk; il was the
best thing to do
Tue par of grey eyes met again, and looked
into eacH other; there Was an agony of ques-
tioning now IN the sister's. What did he nleanf
Had he jast come out of great perilf Had be
had haIr-breath escape Of bis life few min
utes ago, and did he know il himsClff Anne
couid not quite make up her mind what to
think. Her eyes, 100, were rtvetted on Mr..
Thoruley's face, and she faucied there was a
little trembling of the lip aa If ne were tryin &
10 keep down some emoS.on before he spoke
again.
may be the true one tonight" he said. Let
US be satisfed With it, and aek no more ques.
tions. We shall never have moments ueace
here if we try to account for yerythipg that
happens on reasonable suppositioDs. Now,
if Miss O'Flaherty will excuse me, w i'll empty
my pockets of books aud so and change my
wet Clothes"
1t was clear that Anne could not delay her
leave-takiug lorger. AS she took Miss Thorn
ley's hand to cay Goodbye" she managed to
bring out the invitation that she intended TO
speak with her first greeting. 1t was mega
tlyed 80 decidedly by brother and sister in one
breath, that she felt there was no possibility
of urging it further. Her disappointment was
less keen than it would have been an hour ago.
The events of the evening had convinced her
that the danger was too real and grave to be
met by the measures Ellen had suggested.
Another project had dawned on her mind.
She was now in haste to return home. aud
spend the rest of the evening in taking the
first step for carrying it into execution.
(To be continued.)