The Indianapolis leader. (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1879-1890, 1880-09-25

the large, rich house. Several doors, whicl
she found unfastened, she locked, and sud
denly stopped liz the front hall. looked sbou
her with q suspicious air. Then she cam
into the library, whore her aunt was writin,
| Q letter.
"Aunt Gertrude, has any one called at tn
house to-day who smokes cis=.s7"
"No."
~ think can smell cigar-smoke in thu
hall"
"You must be mistaken, my dear. 1t i
probably the broiled meat which Gretchen
burned at supper
NAB smiled family as she sat down AGAR
to her cook Her senses were all very I'm,
and keen; it was impossible that she SHOULD
be mistaken.
She left the library-room, and went care
fully all over the house, coming back to bel
book, but not to read. When her cousin.
went up to their room, she went with them
She sat by the open fire for few moments
then quietly remarked:
"Gerty, would like to sleep with Bell TO-
night It seems lonesome in my room. now
that uncle has gone"
Gerry looked her surprise, but answered
"You can just as well, can't she, Bell? ]
will 60 down and sleep with mamma. !
meant to have proposed it to her, but forgot
In moment, Gerty, enveloped in wrap
per, had run down stairs. Nab went into
her own room, and came back with maya
zine.
Don't you want to enjoy the fire little
while, Bell7 Sit down here, and will read
you story"
Nab was q very beautiful reader, and Bell
eagerly scquiesced-
They were soon occupied with the book,
and presently the clock had struck IL, and
the entire silence of the household told that
all were deep in slumber.
"Do you like the story7" asked NAB.
"Yes; and think, never heard you
read 90 beautifully, Nab, Bell replied.
For she had been struck by an unusual
clearness and steadiness in her cousins voice;
when Nab leaned forward and laid q written
slip of paper in her lap,
In silent surprise, Bell took it up 1t read
in pencil;
make any noise, but trust me-"
As Bell raised her eyes, blind with terror,
she saw Nab draw her little, glittering pis-
toll from her bosom, and walk toward the
bed She stopped before it.
"Come outp she called, in q clear, reso-
lutte voice "Come out from your hiding
place, or will shoot you in It'll"
One thrilling instant there was silence;
then stir under the bed betekened, without
doubt, q presence there. In q moment,
british young fellow crswled from under
the bed, and stood, trembling, before the
steadily presented revolver.
"Don't shoot mep' he whimpered. 81
didn't mean to hurt nobody, an wanted
money bad"
take yourself down stairs without max
ing the least noise" Nab responded, ad-
vancing upon him with the revolver, and
closely following the young man down the
thickIy carpeted stairs. She closed the front
door upon him, remarking at the last
"Ever attempt this again, and you will not
get off so easilyl'
Bell met on her return, Mab's blue eyes,
glittering, her cheeks burning.
"He has gone" she said; land no one has
been disturbed or alarmed" when the color
suddenly faded from her face, and she sank
into the easy chair she had just left, white
and helpless.
"Oh, Mab-dear, dear Mab-don't faintl"
cried Bell, in terrified whisper, clinging
about her.
But poor NAB, her delicate strength all
spent, fay as if dead, and IN spite of herself
Bell felt forced to call her mother.
Bravely initiating Mab's self-control, she
revealed nothing but the fact that Nab was
in O faint; and Mrs. Reed, accustomed to
sickness. devoted herselfto Mab's restoration,
without alarm.
The latter soon recovered, and, folding
the girls tenderly in their bed, Mrs. Reed
gave few last directions and warnings, and
stole back, satisfied, to her own warm couch.
Bell, for the first time in her life, stole
caressing arms about her cousin, and Nab
returned the embrace.
Bell was filed with wonder at Mab's char
acter, and Msb-a strange sweetness stole
over her as she rested in the gentle en-
brace.
It was nearly daylight before the two
slept. Mr.. Reed came home early, and they
were called, at last, to late breakfast.
"Whst do those pale cheeks meanf" he
cried, in wonder.
And then Bell could be no longer re-
strained. To the amazement of the rest Of
the family, tho whole truth was told.
Mr.. Reed caught the small form of Nab
in his arms, and, as if she had been his own
girl, drew her down to his knee, and looked
searchingly into her pale countenance.
"You, ehild?' he said. ''How dared
your"
"Uncle Godfrey, knew there might be
terrible work if did not" answered NAB,
earnestly. "But thief is most
always q coward, amt he2 Yet a
brave robber is conquered by q revolver. 1
was ready to kill him on the spot rather
than he should hurt one of you. oh, uncle,
Aunt Gertrude, girls-you don't know what
you are to mel never was loved and cher
Ished before. can't remember my mother,
and no one else has ever loved me. l seem
to you small and young but from child
my heart has grown old in breaking for
affectionl And cared 80 much for it that
/ could not make light friendships, like
other girls l have always been alone; and
have tined TO do without love and be brave
and useful in the world. Do you understand?
Why, never in all my life have known
anything like your thoughtfulness, your
little atsentions, your glad pride In each
other, your unselfshness. Aunt Gertrude,
do you remember the night you rubbed my
feet in your warm hands, when came frsm
riding? / went to bed and cried, yet l tried
to keep myself from loving you. Uncle, d.
you remember the channels jacket you
brought me, lest should take cold skating
No one ever thought of my health before,
since can remember. Do these seem little
things to youi Oh, they have been 80 much
to mel And now that have told you all,
perhaps you will and do love me little, for
love you I love you all dearlyl" and the
poor child broke down in passionate crying
They gathered about her, weeping, too,
and bestowed upon her kisses and caresses
enough even to satisfy her hungry heart
Her Aunt Gertrude must needs take her
right in her lap, and when all were calmer
Nab begin to tell more about the strange