Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1881-10-06

J before ne should force ms way int hi
victims room.
She was not minute too soon. Tn,
man was already fumbling at the door
Ervinc put out her hand in the dark
ness, and, with some fatal surety, seize.
both of his.
The captive gave q little, half-smotb
cred imprecation Of surprise, and mad
struggle to free himself; but Ervine'
hands were too strong, and for mo
ment she held him fast.
She did not scream, nor could sh,
tell what it was that smothered he
with great fear, great uncertainty
until the man wrested one hand from
her clasp, and, with unerring aim
caught at her throat, demanding, in .
4 low, concentrated voice:
"Who are you? What are 70,
about?
Ervine knew the voice. The man, a
the first touch of the fair, white throat
with a bunch of withered roses wins
against the bare breast, recognized tn,
sex # his opponent.
1t was the girl who struggled now
but the mans strong right hand claspee
hers.
"Who are your" he questioned
again, but in changed voice.
Still IRVINE was mute. Still she
struggled to free herself.
81 will not let you CO." he whispered
until know who you are. Until -
His hand slipped up Miss Grancy's
arm, and touched bracelet she wore
a tiny line of gold, with crucif2
dangling from it. No one else in the
house wore such trinket.
''Ervine Miss Grancy Is it you
Tell me-"
But she would not. Then he sud
denly threw both arms about her, and
drew her close to his breast. Worn out
by her useless attempts to free herself
Ervines splendid figure yielded to his
embrace. Only her heart throbbed
madly For moment the two stood
| thus in the darkness, the mans pulses
quickening and answering to her beat
ing heart.
~ know yon," he said presently
'and l think / have frightened you
Did you take me for burglar?'
EYES," whispered IRVINE. "Will you
please to let me go now?'
mo; not until you tell me why you
tried to capture me-"
81 thought" with little constrained
laugh, "you were going to steal your
own diamonds. l heard some strange
men, who were fishing in distant part
of the park, talking ABOUT diamonds
this afternoon, and how easy it was I'd
sell them"
Ingraham commenced to laugh softly
in the darkness. Why, it was Jack
Valdon and /. Jack is an intimate
friend of mine, and came to see me on
little business. He only arrived il
the village in the morning, and goes
away this morning, SO | could not per-
suade him to come up here. But we
went fishing together in the afternoon,
and after dancing last evening wentto
the hotel and played cards with HIM
until quite late. Coming home it hal
grown quite cloudy, and in the park !
lost my way. When | found the house
all was darkness and stiffness, | went
round to the rose terrace, and thought
would sit on the balcony until some
of the servants were up, rather than
rouse the house. There, to my sur.
prise, l found window open, and 50
concluded to try to find my room,
though, unfortunately, | had no matches
with me. Where were YOU"
"Asleep in n chair by the window you
entered. | must have awakened by
the time you were half across the par
lor."
"And how was it you called no one p
~ expected you would go directly to
the buffers pantry and could run up
the stairs and arouse the house. In
stead of that you went up the stairs,
too"
Again Ingraham laughed softly. NJ
eyes, to steal my own diamonds
he said
"Whose diamonds were you talking
about?" demanded Ervine.
"About Miss Shorts. | was descro-
ing her to Jack. He thought he had
seen her in the village, and | asked if
she wore blue dress and great array
of diamonds"
"Well, have made great goose OF
myself" said IRVINE, with disgust in her
tones.
And then she Strengthened herself
suddenly remembering that she had
been standing all this time with lngra-
hams arm about her
Don't say that" retorted her COM
panion, without loosening his clasp.
81 am glad it has all happened; and l
don't mean to let you go yet; for, per-
haps, here in the darkness Il shall have
the courage to declare what your freez-
ing eyes will never let me say when
| can look into them--that | love
you, IRVINE, and want you to marry
me-
"Me-me, Mr.. Ingra ham?' said Err
vine, blankly IL
"Stop, IRVINE Don't tell me that
you care nothing for me. Give me
some hope. Tell me that you will try
to care for me, for you are the only
woman | ever wished to marry the
only woman will ever marry -
"Mr. Ingraham, you cannot accuse
me of having encouraged you 20 talk
in this way" said IRVINE, proudly.
enc" he broke out, passionately