Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1881-10-27

ma, l said. She looked up with a
start.
Margaret" said she, you are a
good, honest girl. will make YOU a
rich woman Give up this foolish love
affair. You cannot marry young Will
ton. l mus choose your husband N.Y.
self" "
Give up Charley l stared at her in
utter incredulity. Give up my hearts
true love for the sake of money |
laughed aloud at the thought.
"You are testing surely, grandma nI
said. ''Why, love Charley-how can
l give him up?''
"And do you love poverty?" she de-
manded sharply. "You had a taste of
1t before you came here-you will find
1t worse to 60 back to. A poor young
country doctor is no match for the
heiress of Greyfriars enough,
perhaps, when you could do no better,
but not now-not nowl"
arose Indignantly.
You utterly misunderstood my
character, grandma, if you think |
would sell my heart and faith for mon
ey. | would not accept fortune as the
price of truth and love. | thank you
for your kind intentions, grandma; but
on such terms shall never be your
heiress-and this decision time can
never change!"
linen we part tomorrow morning
My roof shall not harbor disobedience
and ingratitudel Good might"
And thus dismissed | sought my
own chamber, with a heavy, aching
heart.
lay awake in my bed that night,
too much distressed to sleep. 1t was
so sadly strange to go to rest without
the accustomed goodnight kiss and
blessing-so hard to bear the accuse
ton of disobedience and ingratitude to
one loved so well. Yet l felt that
had acted rightly-my conscience &C.
quilted me although my heart still
grieved. 1t was the loss of my grand
mas confidence and friendship that
panied me. If she would only be rec
onciled, felt that should not care
much for the loss of fortune which,
after all, l had never possessed, and
observation-disclosures greatly miss. Iwon-
dered whether, perhaps by this time
her anger having somewhat cooled),
she also might not be feeling sorry for
our quarrel. Might she not even, if
ventured into her room, bid me kind
goodnight" | resolved to make the
trial, late as it was, and, as slid noise.
lessly from the bed to the floor. the
great clock in the hal! outside my door
struck twelve
A pitch dark night There seemed
to be neither moon nor stars; all was
black as Erebus, and silent and still as
death. CROPPED about cautiously to
find match. Suddenly my heart
gave great bound; | stood still, list
ming. Into the darkness and silence
crept sound of whispering voices and
of stealthy steps.
My first thought was of the ghost.
Did it, indeed, as the servants said,
come down from the old bell tower on
certain nights and roam through the
lonely house? Would it come here?
My coward heart beat SO that it almost
choked me, my eyes dilated with their
vain endeavor TO pierce the darkness.
l could actually feel my face grow
white with horror, when l suddenly
heard another sound.
| leaned forward. listening intently.
A sharp metallic, rasping noise, like
steel grating against steel. 1t broke
of-was resumed again-this time
recognized it. 1t was the sound of fiji
ing lock-there were burglars in the
house
In the relief Of finding it was not
ghost, | actually became quite calm.
Burglars were tangible flesh and blood.
l felt able to cope with what | could
comprehend; | stole softly to the head
of the stairs and looked over. There
was light in the dining-room, and
from thence the noise of the filing
came; thay were trying to open the
great chest where grandma kept the
plate.
In an instant | was at her door. Our
quarrel was fogotten, anxiety and her
safety was my only thought. ] knew
she had money and jewels in her
room. Iopened the door and went in.
A dim light was burning in her room,
and | saw that she was not asleep, but
rose from her pillow on sight of me.
Motioning her to silence, whispered
the fearful discovery had made.
She was brave old woman and I'M
derstood the situation at once. She
did not speak, but she took my face
between her hands and drew it down
to hers and kissed me earnestly-once
-twice-thrice-and | understood that
we were reconclled.
1--WE can't alarm the servants" /
whispered, "for the robbers are down
stairs, and perhaps have secured them
already, but | have plan"-for in
deed my heat was thrilling wildly with
bold resolve. 'Iock your door
when l go out am going, God will
ing, to the old bell tower, to ring the
alarm-bell for our neighbours"
In my excitement and the depera-
ton of our case, had clean forgotten
the ghost
She babe "God bless me"-her old
lips quivering, her eyes like sparks OF
fire. l went out softly-heard her turn
the key inside-th that instant the light
i Il oto ;r-