, 1879-04-20

Will, replleu my aunI, Wuo suOWcu no SlED5 OF
fear after the first alarm had passed over ''The
convict will not be here tonight; you say2n
ssNo: Mrs, Wheeler said distinctly tto-mor-
row night at TO- But. auntie dear, does your
bedroom door fastcn sccurely:"
Yes; have strong nlght-bolt. I never
lock my door because of the contingency Of
fire. Your door is also secured by i bolt, as
well as by lock and Key"
s'And 1he closet with your plate, which is in
at shuts with spring, and can be opened
only By pressure on a'certain flower IN the wood
carving Of the door. tue secret Of which is
known only to nvsclf.n
s'You arc sure Mrs. Wheeler has not seen you
open it!'
She paused and thought q moment.
IT believe not !" she said at length; "but l
cannot be sure. 1 may have opened it before
and cleaned, years ago; for | hnve trusted her
entirely. But how did you know that I had d
closet there Mt a1l?'
'sShc told me OF II on the day + arrived, and
pointed out ttl.. spot. By-tlle-by, AUNT Helen, l
think any one might hide behind your tapestry.
It is nailed on 4 ledge, anu there is space for
crouchi1ig behind it." :.
'tFor you, perhaps" she answered, with a
smile, t'but for nothing larger thun tiny
creature like yourself"
The conversation, which had been held in
French, Was here interrupted by the ct,traucc OF
l5e ~
little medicine for her husband from Mrs,
Keith's mediciue-chcst, but really, wc botf,
believed, to ascertain by some Indication in nv
aunt's manner whether had discovered and re-
vealed the presence Of her son at the Hail. Aunt
Helen was, however, equal to the occasion. She
treated her housekcepcr with even more than 11su-
al kindness, kept her talking for some time, and
told her to tal1c q little brandy for her husband
an unusual liberality. l noticed also that she
turned her kindly chat on old days, alluded to
FL 81. Etra k,&1A1.
rendered her, and to her true friendship for him
and his wife. Mrs. Wheeler was touched, and
even shed tcars-perbaps Of remoEse and re-
lenti1ig.
The next morning dawncd and showed the
earth covered with a mantle OF snow, which was
still falling heavily. was dismaycd at the
sight. What ii it should prevent Mr. Denham
watched the sky all brcakfast-time, and when |
huI finished nv coffee fastened to Aunt Helcu's
room to tell her the bad news. She was not
much impressed BY it. Snow in the South, she
said, was not the obstruction that it generally
was in the North.
"Mv dear" she added, II have rung three
times for Wheeler, and she is not come; will YOU
20 atlu see what is the matter! am afraid her
husband may be worse"
. fastened to obey her, but met Mrs. Wheeler
at the top Of the stairs, coming, she said to see
WHY her lady had not rung Tor her
Iexplai,led that the bell had been r,1ng three
times, at which she seemed much surprised, aud,
llustenpg to my aunt's room, told her also that
no bell had sounded. Aunt Helen desired her
to 20 down and listen while she rang agniu, that
they might ascertain whether the bell was brok-
en- or il she had merely not heard it. She obey
ed; and Aunt Helm pulled vigorously Tie bell
rope which hung at her bedside. Presently Mrs.
Wheeler reappcarcd and announced that no bell
had sounded. Mrs. Keith looked aunoyed but
ordered her to send immediately to the village
for the bcll-lsanser and have the wire repaired.
" The gardener can 70 for him." she added.
Under the circumstances this ordinary acci-
dent gave US 4 very disagrecable impression,
especially as, soon after my aunt had entered
the drawing-room, saw the gardener employed
III quietly sweeping Il path in the SNOW. Aunt,
1leien asked Mrs. Wheeler rather sharply, when
she came to remove the breakfast things, why
be had not been sent for the bel1-haugcr. But
the wonlan-thoush looking, I thought, con-
that she had asked the butcher,
who CHANGED to be at the house, to send him, as
Jones, the gardener, was wanted to sweep away
the snow.
By noon Mrs. Keith and began anxlously to
expect the arrival of Mr.. Deaham, and did
little else but watch from the window across
the drcary waste Of SNOW tor his desired dppear-
ance,-Fatima's sister scarcely looked more
he did not come, and 2 o'clock
dinner was served in the profound gloom Of q
Wheeler, however, announced
Ing the bells.
:Lottic,'' said nv aunt rather uneasily after
dinner, 1.-THE bell-hangcr is q respectable man,
remember. 1t would be we'll to keep him per-
haps for the plight. His presence would be
protection. Go into my. roon1 dear, bring n
book Off my table for an excuse, and tell him
from me that, as the weather is SO bid, wish
him to remain to supper, and that Mrs. Wheeler
Isill air him q bcd.''
hastcued to tale the message, and found
Lie workman just descending his ladder, his
work being completed.
sand if you will please to ring, MISS" he
said. "you will find the bells uil right"
rang, and the uell was Immediately answered
oy Mrs. Wheeler, to whonl-instcad of to the
gave Mrs. keith's message. Her brow
rratctul, and thanked me and Mrs. Keith :1fu
'ivcly. I thought, US hc spoke, l had never
;ceu = more cunning type of face, and told
ny aunt SO when rcjolncd ller. She smiled.
"prcjudtcc! she said. ''Bcn Hill was al
yays ycry honest, hsrd-working fellow; your
ears begui|c your eyes, Lottie."
But felt very uucomfortably depressed By
he bcil-hunscr's looks, and, returning to The
bedroom he had just Quilted, looked all
hrougll it, behind the arras and under the bed,
ola, uu,i toilct-table. Then, glancng up at his
work, | was surprised to sec 19nr wires where
,1lcr bcll. Was there any Tick in the matter?
returned to NV aunt aud told her Of my tiis-
oyery.
s'Four wires! He must have hung another
el'' she said, tor perhaps he has Repaired the
larl1nl. Hill is an honest fellow, and, Il be has
nv suspicious ot the Whcelers. has probably
cte1 from q good intention. Take no notice of
he extra WIRE, dc:ar."
- But where is the alarm-rope, auntie!" I
slct1.
''Bchind the tapestry at the head Of my bcd,'
ht replied.
Twilight was now closing in, obscuring the re-
1ains Of the very little daylight VIC hud had, |
1nl 4 high and bitter wind walled through the |
Id trees us ii uttering i lament. l shuddcred |
t The sound.
q Mr. Dcnham cannot hnre received my note,
i he would have come," exclaimed despair |
lgly.
''My child,'' said Aunt Helen, we are not |
Ilrc that we are i'll any danger. 1t is mere sus-
icion. Wheeler may be faithful alter all, and
llv not permit her vil1ainous son to carry out |
is plots Remember, tou, VIC are III the hands |
+ Heaven, to whose care dcyoutly commend |
OIL :1,lu myself" shr addc! rcvercn1ly.
AT last it became necessary to rlng for lights. |
i'd we had tea, but still no Mr.. Dcnhan APP |
cared. Then project occurred to int, which I |
astcucd to suggest to nv aunt. l proposed |
nat, as was SO very small in person, l should /
uscouce myself benlnd the tapestry ut the side /
t her bed and watch there through tile night. /
the robbers appeared, or ! heard approaching |
DISCS, could instantly ring the alarm, and The
ltdcn sound would probably scare them away
- NV loyc,n she. answered, they would. ut /
nc first stroke Of tile bell, murder you anu N.Y.
.lf.' ::
M n,,,,t;o- y,1aaeo hpor NIL Yoi1 mist nrr- |