Millheim Journal. [volume] (Millheim, Pa.) 1876-1984, 1881-01-13
erious disappearance, with sneering

She walked last, treadlng, untMnklnSly,
upon the bull'S-eye, and went home. When
she flung herself down to weep, she sud
| denly felt the crumpled paper in her hand.
| What should she do? She lay thinking
a lorg time. She considered the strange
ness of the request, the possibility that 1t
was not meant for her, the idea that it was
hoax, oI written by some madman-for
it was mans hand writing.
| But the girls heart was warm and true.
| The possibility that some one was in
trouble, aud she might help them, was the
thought that had the most weight. With
no one to counsel or object, she obeyed it.
She went to the store and spent 81 of
her precious money for matches. She re-
ceived large package, containing thou
sands OF the little lucifers.
The city clocks were striking nine as she
reached the bul's-eye.
The street was silent, the pavement de-
serted AS she bent down, some one tapped
upon the bull's-eye She slipped a sheet
of matches into the crevIce. 1t disap-
pearcd. She waited few moments; the
hand tapped for more; she supplied them.
AS she waited again pedestrian ap-
preached. She rose, and stepped back
into the shadows until he had passed;
otherwise, she did not fear. The street
was quiet, and she could see the stars
twinkling in the clear sky.
Hour after hour she supplied matches,
at intervals of quarter hours. Occasional
ly the rap came for al earlier demand. But
she could not see the hand. She only
imagined 1t to be a mans.
IL was long past midnight. The city
clocks were near striking two when her
matches became exhausted. She had not
been sufficiently supplied, she thought
Quite at u loss what she ought to DO she
rose from her cramped position, standing
in doubt, when voice said
Come with mel"
She started III terror, for u man stood
beside her but the next words reassured
her:
at is whom you gave the matches to-
do not be afraid, but take my arm aud
walk fast, | am not safe here"
Alice could see only tall form, and
pale face, the features OF which she could
not distinguish but the voice, though hur-
red, was gently moduated, and the strang-
er took her hand with grasp that was not
unT leasant.
"You must be tired; but this has been
good nights work for you, little girl,
he said.
What did you want the matches for"
asked Alice, trembling.
He had drawn her hand within his own,
and she walked rapidly beside him.
It was the only way in which | could
get fire." he answered. "The heat melted
the cement which incloscd the bulls eye in
the wall of my prison, and | escaped
through the cavity. 1t YVES larger than
the one in the pavement. | have been
prisoner in my own house for three years."
AS they left the vicinity of the Tracy
dwelling, he walked slower
II was quite hepless," he added 81
knew of no one to appeal to whom could
trust. But listening and waiting, as man
only listens and waits for freedom, grew
familiar with your step as it passed 50 often
over the bulls eye and up the steps, and
week ago, when heard your voice to that
beggar-boy, resolved TO trust you. |
knew YOUR tread the instant that it touched
the curbstone, and slipped the paper up
the Crevice. You saw it Immediately.
The hour till you came passed heavily;
you were my only hope. You are brave,
good child. Now, where is your home2
Can go there for little rest before day
light 2"
1T is poor place, " said Alice, "but
you are welcome.
Daylight was dawning when she revealed
her poverty stricken little room to him.
He flung himself into chair and dropped
his face on his folded arms upon the table.
Alice fancied that ne was praying, and
moved about noiselessly, preparing little
breakfast. She did not realize that this
man was young and handsome, and II was
not, perhaps, propriety to have him there.
She was only jealous, in her pity, to serve
him, seeing, by daylight, how ill he
looked.
But by noon there were strange doings
in the little sewing girls room. She had
been sent for a lawyer, the most renowned
and popular one IN the city, and he came
with two other gentlemen, so grand that
little Alice was quite awe-stricken. Finally,
Mr.. Lionel Tracy-that was the name OF
the hero-went away with them, and she
was left alone with her poverty and her
wonder. Only she was not quite SO help
less and distressed as she had been, for "ne
of the gentlemen had smiled upon her, and
left few pieces of gold on her table.
But the marvel was all over with her,
and the gold was spent, and poverty and
labor and care had come back, when, one
day, there was knock at the door, and the
landlady's little girl SAID that carriage
was standing for her, and man in wait
ing said that she had been sent for.
What could she do but obey the sum-
mons2 wondering what fairy work it was
that luxurious ride-until she began to
see through 1t, for the carriage stopped at
| the Tracy mansion.
There had been great public excitement
the papers had been charged with the
development of the infamous plot in high
life, whereby the true heir of great for
tune had been drugged, while ill., and con-
cealed, and story trumped up about his
mysterious disappearance but Alice, in
her solitude, had known nothing about it.
Her pennies went for bread instead of
news. But when she stepped upon the
Threshold, Lionel Tracy, the restored mas
ter, met her with tender courtesy that
took away all her fear, and made her feel
like little queen in the midst of the splen-
dor.
''Have the rest all gone away?" she
asked, seeing no one but new servants and
pleasant woman who was the housekeLer
Yes; l am quite alone, and shall be,
unless you will come and live with me"
said Mr.. Lionel Tracy.