The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1881-09-16

1t was unusually gay at Jerome Lake.
that night. The summer season was
fairly inaugurated. The great dancing.
parlor was thrown open, lanterns
cleaned among the shrubbery and two
musicians played delicious music on the
balcony.
Ervine wsltzed TO her hearts content
and to every mans delight. There was
not such dancer in the room.
"May have this waltz. Miss Grancy?"
queried lngrabam, long before any one
had dreamed of saying goodnight. "I
am retiring eaily."
81 am sorry, but it is promised.
Goodnight J" and in moment moro
she was whirling away in the arms of a
very dark young man who was to all
appearances deeply enamored of her.
Ingraham walked away.
Evidently she doesn't carel" he
said,
1t was nearly twelve when the guests
separated for the night.
"Oh, I wish it wasn't all over |"
Ervine sighed, stepping out upon
balcony that opened on the rose e-terrace
and was empowered in fragrant masses
VI DlOOu. Dub III mllSG Del Il must
gop
One by ono doors closed, and little by
little the stiffness of midnight came on.
The moon shone whitley on the silent
park and the open rose-terrace, with its
silvery fountain and dew-laden flowers.
The soft July breeze blew the damp,
ravishing odors against the girls visit
full, resolute face. The leaves whis-
pered enticingly, and the soft, sweet
voices of the night made restfui music.
A servant came into the great parlor,
back of Ervine, and put out the flaming
lights and closed the windows.
Leave this, just few minutes,
john" she begged, smiling, as he came
to her balcony. "I am going away
from here tomorrow and 1 want a few
light. I will fasten the window and
bar the shutters"
every well, Miss Ervine," he re-
sponded, respectfully and kindly.
When he was gone the girl drew
great chair near the window and threw
herself into it, where she could see the
moonlight and the waving tree-tops,
and yet be partially screened from the
cool, dewy air. Lying there and plan
ming her future she fell asleep.
When she awakened she could not
tell how long she had been unconscious,
but there was no moon; the room was
cold and damp and black, and she was
trembling and her heart was throbbing
violently.
She drew herself up and tried to
.n1r e., ,~t
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 darkness without per-
ceiving her, and was cropping way
across the parlor.
She grew calm at once. 1t was
burglar, of course; but the house was
full of people, and she had but to let
him go his way and then steal softly
after and arouse some one. He could
not do any harm, and he should not
even escape, with her on his track
She gathered her black tulle skirts
closely around her, and guided by thu
stealthy footsteps which sounded dis
tinct enough TO her alert senses, moved
as noiselessly as spirit across the
great room.
As she approached the hall she hesi-
tated. She had supposed that the
burglar, if he knew anything about the
house. would make directly 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, scarcely
drawing a breath lest she should be
discovered. The head Of the great stair.
case reached, the man groped his way
along the corridor until he came to
second corridor, where he turned.
Quick as fash it came to Ervine
that Morgan IngrahGm's was the room
sought; and then the words REQUIRED to
her which she had heard, dreamily,
in distant part of the park that after
noon:
Diamonds I 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 be-
tray their former owner, and you can
get full value for them"
Morgan Ingraham wore magnificent
diamonds. His watch was monogrammcd
with them, his sleeve-buttons 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
hghtning-and, too, that Morgan's room
opened on balcony, from which any
despera te man could easily 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. II
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 minute too soon. The
man was already fumbling at the door
Ervine put ont her hand in the dark
ness, and, with some fateful surety,
seized both of his.
The captive gave little, half-smoth'
cred imprecation OF surprise, and made
a struggle to free himself; but Ervine'S
hands were too strong, and for a mo
ment she held him fast.
She did not scream, nor could she
tell what it was that smothered her witt
a great fear, great uncertainty, until
the man wrested one hand from hel
clasp, and, with unerring aim, caught al
her throat, demanding, in low, concen
trated voice:
"Who are you? What are you about 2
Ervine knew the voice. The man, a
the first touch of the fair, white throat
with bunch Of withored roses lying
against the bare breast, recognized thu
sex OF his opponent.
1t was the girl who struggled now
but the mans strong right hand elaspej
hers.
"Who are you2' ho questioned
again, hut in q changed voice.
Still IRVINE was mute. Still she strug
gled to free herself.
al will not let you CO." "hewhispered
"nntil | know who you are Until
His hand slipped up Miss Grancy'
| nm. ard toEchel lracelet sha wore