The weekly register. [volume] (Point Pleasant, Va. [W. Va.]) 1862-1909, 1881-10-12

waving tree'tuPsi anu ses ue paItiaiiy
screened from the cool, dewy air.
Lying there and planning her fu.
ture she fell asleep.
when she awakened she could not
tell how long she had been uncon-
scious, but there was no moon; the
room was Gold and damp and black,
and she was trembling and her heart
was throbbing violently. ~
She drew herself up and tried to
think, and then a sudden faint, soft
sound brought her swiftly to her
senses. Some one was in the room
some one had come in at the opened
window, had. passed her in the dark
ness without perceiying her, and
was cropping away across the parlor.
She grew calm at once. It was q
BURGLAR, Of course; but The house ges
"a, " Z ~ " 5 ~ a. 4.
him goshis way and then steal softly
after and arouse some one. He could
not doiany.harm, and he should not
even escape, with her on his track.
She gathered her black tulle skirts
closely around her, and guided by
the stealthy footsteps which sounded
distinct enough to her alert senses,
moved as noiseless as spirit across
the great room.
As she approached the hall she
hesitated. She had supposed that
the burglar, if he knew anything
about the house, would make direct
ly for the buffers pantry, where
were locked stores of solid silver
But he was apparently feeling for
the foot of the staircase.
Yes, he gained it and commenced
ascending. Ervine followed, scarce
ly drawing breath lest she should
be discovered. The head of the great
staircase reached, the man groped
his way along the corridor until he
came to second corridor, where he
turned.
Quick as q flash it came to Ervine
that Morgan 1ngraham's was the
room sought; and then the words re-
Cured TO her which she had heard,
dreamily, in distant part Of the
park that afternoon:
Diamonds! should say so! You
see, diamonds can always be disposed
of to advantage. Just take them out
of their setting, and there is nothing
to betray their former owner, and
you can get full value for them"
Morgan Ingraham wore ,magnif-
cent diamonds. His watch was mon
ogrammed with them, his sleeve-but-
tons were Of untold value, and his
studs, though small, were of the
choicest water.
All this passed through her mind
| like the transient but vivid CLEAN of
lightning-and, too, that Morgan's
room opened on a balcony, from
which any desperate man could easi.
ly jump to the velvet sward below.
The thought was no sooner framed
than Ervine's satin-slippered feet
carried her.with.a few swift bounds
through. the darkness TO Ingraham's
door. 1t never occurred to her to
call any one now, only to arrest the
thief before he should force his way
into his victims room.
She was not a minute too soon.-
The man was already fumbling at
the door. Ervine put out her hand
in the darkness, and, with some fate
full surety, seized both of his.
The captive gave a little, half
smothered imprecation of surprise
and made struggle to free himself;
but Ervine's hands were too strong,
and for a moment she held him fast.
She did not scream, nor could she
tell what it was that smothered her
with great fear, great uncertain
ty, until the man wrested one hand
from her clasp, and, with unerring
aim, caught at her throat, demand
ing, in low, concentrated voice:
"Who are you? What are you
about?"
Ervine knew the voice. The man,
at. the first touch of the fair, white
throat. with q bunch of withered
roses lying against the bare breast,
recognized the sex of his opponent.
IT was the girl who struggled now;
but the mans strong right hand
clasped hers.