Centre Democrat. [volume] (Bellefonte, Pa.) 1848-1989, 1881-10-27

He had been with us month, when,
one evening, we received from London
message that my fathers sister. an
old lady, was very i'll, and desired that
ono Of us should como to her at once.
4 had been suffering all day with a
nervous headache; therefore, il fell to
Helen's lot to go. Tho evening seemed
very long without her. as I eat alone in
our pretty sitting-room.
Above my head / could hear our guest
walking to and fro. He seemed strange
ly restless tonight. Had his restless
ness impaired itself to meY
At 10 o'clock closed the house and
went to my own room, but was wakeful
and could not sleep, even after l had
prepared for bed; so, throwing on a
wrapper, after two wakeful hours, sat
down to read.
In the Times, which l had carelessly
picked up, was q long account of q rob
berry committed in house located in
one of the suburbs, where one OF gang
of thieves had obtained admittence as
lodger, thus opening the way to the
others.
The whole thing had been most
adroitly done, and the police were on
the track of the thieves, who it was sus-
pected were in hiding and disguise.
Disguisel Why did this latter word
suddenly brand itself upon my brain?
Why did Douglas Sage's spectacles sud
denly loom mp before mel Why did I
remember how many times l had in
stinctively felt the bright eyes which
we're hidden behind them fixed search
ingly and scrutinizingly upon me?
A cold shudder ran through me. The
silver. With what pride had Re placed
tho heaviest and richest upon the tray
which served our guestl Neither had
We sought his references. His pay
ments had been made promptly and in
advance. He himself appeared so quiet
and unassuming that it had seemed all
unnecessary. But to-morrow-to.mor-
row l should satisfy myself at once.
Tomorrow All, was it not already
too late? just beneath my window
there sounded loud, low whistle. IL
was answered, / could havesworn, from
an open window within the house.
sprang to my feet, and stood with
fast beating heart, listening to every
sound. Fora time all was still, save my
own mad heart throbs.
4 hali-hour must have passed. Mid
night had struck it seemed a century
before, when suddenly l heard a graf
ing sound, as though lock was being
filed.
Why was this necessary, when their
confcderstes could throw open to them
the doors7 for I no longer entertained
any doubt as to the real status of our
guest. Everything went to prove 1t.
His close confinement to the house dur.
ing tho day, the uncertain view We had
ever obtained of his face, the voice Of
youth and assumption OF old age, the
spectHcles which seemed 80 effectual
diguiso-all, all But my enlighten-
ment had come too late.
The grating sound continued, when
suddenly there came TO me q desperate
courage. was alone, an unmarried
girl, but I would confront those mid
night marauders, possibly murderers,
and COW them by my very helplessness.
threw open my door and passed
swiftly down the hall. Yes, Mr.. Sage's
door was ajar. His room vas empty. I
ran on down the stairs. The dining
room was in darkness; but. as crossed
the threshold, light Aared 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.f .ffth
y5ss "a man both young and singularly
handsome, now that one could see the
bright, flashing eyes.
"AIiss Margaret" he began, in a
quick, alarmed tone, bat my wrath
could no longer be represscd.
Coward ! traitor T. l exclaimed.
But at that instant there was sud
den noise as the window was opened,
binding fash, deep groan, then my
courage fed and I tainted. Whom 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