The Sedalia weekly bazoo. [volume] (Sedalia, Mo.) 187?-1904, 1881-11-29


going TO desert me and cling to tn
Young farmer after all
He has gone. shall not see hin
again. Don't talk about him. please.
said Serena, rather unSteadily.
Il hope YOU don't regret him. Oar
ling !" -aid the silky voice. TO liv'
with him on one Of those dreary. lone
~ farms. /, would b. an awful fat,
for one 50 bright and fair. Wait I'll
| show YOU Chctwynd Hall. Wait I'll
YOU see the elegance of luxury. In,
perfect comforts of an English home
and then saw if YOU are sorry fol
places like thee. You will saw good
bye to poverty. dear. once YOU are m,
bride"
Poverty. Why. | have never beer
poor, exclaimed Serena. Grand
papa Is the richest man i'm town. and
he has always given me everything
that l wished for"
Il know know" said Colone
Chetwynd, CHANGING rather contemptu
ously at the square. red-brick house,
set in the midst If lis plenteous OF.
chards and gardens. The farm j.
his. | hear. But what is that to such
a home a. | offer you at Chetwynd
Hallf"
THE farm il only a small part of
grandpapas wealth." said Serena,
who. in spite of her infatusti.,n. slight
iy resented this persistent undervalu
ing of her family and friends on the
part of the gallant colonel.
1t WAS not the first time that he
had talked ia that WAY.
Should she-should she tell him a
secret which would make him ap-
proach her grandfather with more
respect. when he went to ask his con
sent to their marriage?
1t might be we'll to do so.
but a mans account tells the story
of his property. love" said the colonel
carelessly. "And your grandfather
has none at Meadowlands, so the
people saw. But what does that mat
ter" he added, changing his tone.
Il marry you for love, not money. my
tarling."
Louis, | will tell YOU something.
only You must keep the secret faith
fully" said the foolish girl. "Grand.
papa has horror of banks. He keeps
his bonds here at home"
lone or two of small amount, | sup
pose. dear. Well tina. is not very
dangerous.
"Small amount! To my certain
knowledge there are thirty thousand
pounds i'm bonds in his safe this night"
"A safe! But that is dangerous.
Any one seeing a safe in your house
would guess at once that it held
money"
flush, Louis! No one would ever
guess that secret. 1t is built into the
wall behind the great eight-day clock.
and the clock must be opened before
it is unlocked. And out Of that safe.
sir. a handsome dowry is to come for
ME when | marry with his consent"
said Serena. gazing tenderly into his
handsome face, as he bent above her.
to steal kiss from her half willing
lips.
Observation-Disclosures!
Yes, she must have been all that,
Or she never would have BETRAYED that
sacred secret Of the household to one
who was almost stranger.
Blind still, that she did not notice
he alteration in her lovers manner
after the secret was told. and the
aver. restless way in which he pre-
emily glanced at his watch, and re-
,retted that he must leave her be-
,ause he had an engagement TO keep
with his lawyer from the city," who
vas to arrive at Meadowlands by the :
as. train - the train that they heard |
wen then, shrieking and whistling its |!
way past Leigh house and farm.
After he had gone-after the magic /
influence of his presence had vanished |
Serena, in the quiet of her own
thought tremblingIy of
What she had done.
"But Louis is safe-LOuis ia like
ne of the family now" she said to
lerself.
And so she fell asleep.
At midnight Serena was reused
rom a dream of her loved one by a
Dudcry in the hall.
Her grandfathers voice.
And then heavy steps. low. fierce
like curses "a short, fierce
truggle, and a crash below.
I'm coming, grandfather! Oh,
that is it2" cried Serena, lighting her
amp with trembling fingers, and only
'aiting to throw on her dressing
own.
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