The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1881-10-27

mGnded, sharply. You mad taste O1
it before you came here-you will find ii
worse to go back to. A poor young
country doctor is no match for the heir.
ess of Greyfrairs-well enough, perhaps,
when you could do no better, but moi
now-not nowl
I arose Indignantly.
"You utterly misunderstood my charac.
ter, grandma, if you think I would sell my
heart and faith for money. I would moi
accept fortune as the price of truth and
love' 1 thank you for your Kind atten'
tons, grandma; but on such terms ]
shall never be your heiress-and this
decision time can never change!"
"Then we part tomorrow. Ny roof
shall not harbor disobedience and ingrat.
itude! Goodnight
And thus dismissed I sought my OWL
chamber, with a heavy, aching heart.
lay awake in my bed that night, toe
much distressed to sleep. 1t was so sad.
ly strange to go to rest without the ac.
customed goodnight kiss and blessing
so hard to bear the accusation of diso-
bedience and ingratitude to one I loved
SO well. Yet / felt that I had acted
rightly my conscience acquitted me
although my heart still grieved. It was
the loss Of grandma's confidence and
friendship that panied me. If she would
only be reconciled, felt that I could not
care much for the loss of a fortune which,
after all, | had never possessed, and
therefore could not greatly miss. Won
dered whether, perhaps by this time Cher
anger having somewhat cooled she also
might not be feeling sorry for her quar-
rel Might she not even, if I ventured
into her room, bid me a kind ''good
night?" / resolved to make a trial, late
as it was, and, as I slid noiselessly from
the bed to the floor, the great clock in
the hall 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.
L CROPPED about cautiously to find a
match. Suddenly my heart gave a great
bound; 1 stood still. listening. Into the
darkness and silence crept a 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 androam through the lonely house9
Would it come here? My coward heart
beat SO that it almost checked me, nv
eyes dilated with their vain endeavor to
pierce the darkness. I could actually
feel my face grow white with horror,
when sudasaiJ hoard another sound.
I leaned forward, lfotuuius InJenuiy. "A
sharp metallic, rasping noise, like steel
grating against steel. 1t broke otf-was
resumed again-this time l recognized
it. 1t was the sound of filing lock-
there were burglars in the house
In the relief of finding it was not q
ghost, I actually became quite calm.
Burglars were tangible flesh and blood.
/ felt able to cope with what I could
comprehend Il 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; they
we're trying to open the great chest where
grandma kept the plate.
In an instant was at her door. Our
quarrel was forgotten, anxiety and her
safety WAS my only thought. 1 knew
she had money and jewels in her room.
1 opened the door and went in.
A dim light was burning in her room,
aud saw that she was not asleep, but
rose from her pillow on sight of me-
Motioning her to silence, I whispered
the fearful discovery I had made
She was brave old woman and un
derstood the situation at once. She die
not speak, but she took my face between
her hands and drew it down to her:
and kissed me earnestly-once-twi
thrice-and understood that we were
reconciled.
"We can't alarm the servants" whis
pered, ''for the robbers are down stairs
and perhaps have secured already, but
have plan indeed my heart wal
thrilling wildly with bold resolve. Loci
your door when l 60 out am going
God willing, to the old bell tower, tx
ring the alarm bell for our neighborsl"
In my excitement and the desperation
of our case, 1 had clean forgotten til,
ghostl
She bade "Ged bless me"-her oil
lips quivering, her eyes like sparks o
fire. went out softly-heard her turi
the key inside-that instant the ligh
down stairs cleaned upon the staircas
the burglars were coming up!
I glanced wildly around. Where coult
hide myself? A large old-fashone,
clock stood up against recess in tn
wall, into which / was too large to fit
quick as lightning glided behind it.
A man came up the stairs slowly
steathily; could see him from my hid
ing place, with mask upon his face an,
q dark lantern in his hand. His eye
fell on my door, standing open. FL
went toward it. In doing so he had +
pass the clock. he stopped and raise,
his lantern to its face. Oh, how M
heart beat! I thought he would surel
hear it. held my bieath in an agon
of fear, and felt as if 1 was dying, Blu
he only muttered, "Past / o'clock" an
passed on into my room.
| Now was my opportunity, I slippe
from my hiding place, gathered my nigh
dress around me, and, noiselessly as
shadow, fitted past the door and game
the stairs unseen.