Frostburg mining journal., 1881-11-26

too later Just beneath my window
there sounded loud, low whistle. 10
was answered, could have sworn, from
an open window within the house.
I sprang to my feet, and stood with
fast beating heart, listening to every
sound. For time all was still, save my
own mad heart throbs.
A half-hour must have passed. Mid
night had struck it seemed a century
before, when suddenly 1 heard graf
ing sound, as though lock was being
fled.
Why was this necessary, when their
coniederates could throw open to them
the doorsp for ] no longer entertained
any doubt ~ to the real status OF our
guest. Everything went to prove it.
His close confinement to the house dur.
ing the day, the uncertain view we had
ever obtained of his face, the voice Of
youth and assumption of old age, the
spectacles which seemed so effectual q
diguise--all, all But my enlighten-
ment had come too late.
The grating sound continued, when
Suddenly there came to me desperate
courage. l was alone, an unmarried
girl, but I would confront those mid
night marsuders, possibly murderers,
and COW them by my very helplessness.
I threw open my door and passed
swiftly down the hall. Yes, Mr.. Sage's
door was ajar. His room was empty. I
ran on down the stairs. Th. dining
room was in darkness but, as crossed
the threshold, light fared up. Mr..
Sage stood beside the table, the obnox-
ious glasses gone, pistol tightly held
in his clenched hand,
/ now SAW him as he was, man who
could not have attained his thirtY-fith
year-a man both young and singularly
handsome, now that one could see the
bright flashing eyes.
"Miss Margaret" he began, in a
quick, alarmed tone, but my wrath
could no longer be repressed,
Coward traitorl" l exclaimed.
But at that instant there was sud-
den noise as the window was opened,
binding flash, deep groan, then my
courage fed and l tainted. When I
opened my eyes, Douglas Sage was hold
ing me in his arms, anxiously bending
over me.
"Poor child" he murmured, ten
derly.
"How dare youl" cried, wrench
ing myself from him; then, catching
sight of policeman in uniform, I
added, wildly, "arrest this mani" and
again tainted away
A long fever followed. For days I
lay unconscious and delirious. They
would not let me talk, even after had
recovered my mental balance. Fresh
flowers and rare fruits filled my room
during the long period of my conya-
lescence.
"Helen, you must not !" declared.
'It is wrong to be SO extravagant."
But she only smiled, and my luxuriea
were more plentiful than before.
But one day, as was sitting, dressed
for the first time, in large easy-chair,
there came quiet tap at my door.
"Come imp called.
And then thought my delirium had
returned, for in walked my robber. ]
turned deadly pale, and felt as though ]
might again disgrace myself by faint.
ing; but somehow tho first tones Of his
voice reassured me.
From his lips then learned my mh
take. My delirium had revealed it all
to him.
"Poor little girl |" he said.
And then he told me how restless and
unable to sleep, he, too, had heard the
unwonted sounds and stolen down
stairs, pistol in hand, to discover the
cause.
My answering signal, then, was all
my excited Imagination, for Mr.. Sage
had been barely in time to save the
thieves from entering, and to put o
bullet through one mans leg and into
another's shoulder, to guarantee their
capture.
A hot blush of shame rose to my
cheek as listened and looked into the
face of the man ] had suspected of such
villiany. / understood now from whence
came the flowers and fruits, but when |
tried to thank him he would not let me.
81 cannot be absolved from my sin,
Miss Margaret" he said, "for do you
know am not yet sure but that shall
turn thief and steal from this house its
most priceless treasure"
What could he mean, IwonderP Why
did his words thrill me with new, sud
den happiness? And, doubtless, my
reader has guessed; yes, guessed
rightly. But there is more yet to tell !;
for one day, when had grown quite
we'll and strong again, Helen came to
me with the old sad look gone from the
brown eye and wonderful new light
there.
"The Eleventh hen come home,