The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1881-01-04
tcrious disappearance, with Il snccring
laugh.
Tho voices were stealthy. A door closed
and shut them in.

Hc VolCcS "cTe stealtny. a uOOr closed
and shut them in.
Alice passed down into the street.
She walked fast, treading, unthinkingly,
upon the bull's-eyc, and went home. When
she flung herself down to weep, she sud
denly felt the crumpled paper in her hand.
What should she dor She lay thinking
lorg time. She considered the strange
ness of the request, the possibility that it
was not meant for her, the idea that it was
q hoax, OF written by some madman-for
1t was mans hand writing.
But the girls heart was warm and true.
The possibility that some one was In
trouble, and she might help them, was tho
thought that had the most weight. With
no one to counsel or object, she obeycd it.
She went 10 the store and spent 81 OF
her precious money for matches. She re-
ccivcd large package, containing thou
sands Of the little lucifers.
The city clocks were striking nine as she
reached the bull's-eyc.
The street was silent, the pavement de-
serted. AS she bent down, some one tapped
upon the bull's-eye She slipped sheet
OF matches into the crevIce. 1t disap-
pearcd. She waited Il few moments; the
hand tapped for more; she supplied them.
| AS she waited again q pedestrian ap-
preached. She rose, and stepped back
into the shadows until he had passed !;
other wise, she did not fear. The street
was quiet, and she could see the stars
twnkling in the clear sky.
Hour after hour she supplied matches,
ut intervals of quarter hours. Occasional
ly the rap came for al earlier demand. But
she could not sec the hand. She only
imagined 1t to be mans.
1t 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 loss what she ought to do she
rose from her cramped position, standing
i'll doubt, when voice said:
''COme with mel'
She started Ill terror, for man stood
beside her; but the next words reassured
her:
ut is whom you gave the matches to :;
DO not be afraid, but take my arm and
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 moduiated, and the strang-
er took her band with grasp that was not
UNI lcasant.
"You must be tired but this has been
good nights work for you, little GIRL"
he SAID.
What did you want the matches for7"
asked Alice, trembling.
lie had drawn her hand within his own,
and she walked rapidly beside him.
1t was the only way in which | could
the cement which incloscd the bulls eve in
M
through the cavity. 1t was 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.
81 was quite hepless," he added. sT
knew of no one to appeal to whom could
trust. But listening and waiting, as man
only listens and waits for freedom, I grew
familiar with your step as it passed 80 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 home9
Can go there for little rest before day.
light 2"
1T is q 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 a chair and dropped
his face Oh his folded arms upon the table,
Alice fancicd that he was praying, and
moved about noiselcssly, preparing little
breakfast. She did not realize that this
man was young a nd handsome, and 1t was
not, perhaps, propricty to have him there
She was only Jealous, in her pity, to serve
him, seeing, by daylight, how i'll he
looked.
But by noon there were strange doings
in the little sewing girls room. She had
been sent for lawyer, the most renowned
and popular one Ill tho city, and he came
with two other gentlemen, so grand that
little Alice was quite awe-strickcn. Finally,
MIR. Lionel Tracy--that was the name of
the hcro--wcnt away with them, and she
was left alone with her poverty and her
wonder. Only she was not quite 50 help
less and distressed rs 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 tie
landlady's little girl SAID that a carriage
was standing for her, and a 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 lraCy manSlOn ..
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-
cealcd, 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 fcur, and made her feel
like little queen in tho midst of the splcn-
dor. ..'Il n.
"1Iave the rest all gone away 7" she