The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1881-09-14

bell now long bne uhu Dtou uuCoubclOub'
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 mp and tried to
think, and then a sudden faint, soft
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 q way
across the parlor.
She grew calm at once. II was a
| 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 the
stealthy footsteps which sounded dis
tinct enough to her alert senses, moved
as noiselessly as a 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
butler's pantry, where we're 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 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 a
second corridor, where he turned.
Quick as q 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 1 should say sol 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 lngraham wore magnificent
diamonds. His watch was monogrammed
with them, his sleeve-buttons were oil
untold value, and his studs, though
small, were of the choicest water.
ALI this passed through her mind
like the transient but vivid CLEAN ol
lightning-and, too, that Morgan's room
opened on balcony, from which any
desperate man could easily jump to the
velvet sward below.
The thought was no sooner framed
than Ervine's ssatin-slippered feet carried
her with few swift bounds through
the darkness to Ingraham's door. i
never occurred to her to call any one
now, only to arrest the thief before ht
should force his way into his victims
room.
She was not minute too soon. The
man was already fumbling at the door
Ervine put out 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 mad
a struggle to free himself; but Ervine'
[ hands were too strong, and for a me
l ment she held him fast,
She did not scream, nor could sh
tell what it was that smothered her wit,
: a great fear, a great uncertainty, unit
9 the man wrested one hand from he
3 clasp, and, with unerring aim, caught a
/ ber throat, demanding, in low, conceI
b. trated voice:
8 "Who are you? What are you about
8 Ervine knew the voice. The man, q
: the first touch of the fair, white throat
s with a bunch of withered roses lyin
o against the bare breast, recognized th
@ sex of his opponent.
It was the girl who struggled nov
t but the mans strong right hand claspe
s hers.
"Who are you?" he questioned
- again, but in changed voice.
a Still Ervine was mute. Still she strug
I gled to free herself.
"I will not let you go" he whispered
|. "until know who you are Until
@ His hand slipped up Miss Grancy
a arm, and touched bracelet she wor
II a tiny line of gold, with crucifix DAM
ling from it. No one else in the hou'
wore such trinket.
10 Ervinel Miss Grancy! Is it you
Tell meP
denly threw both arms about her, an
|" drew her close to his breast. Worn OF
a by her useless attempts to free hersel
70 Ervine's splendid figure yielded to h
IS embrace. Only her heart throbbs
st madly. For moment the two stoc
thus in the darkness, the mans pulls,
y quickening and answering to her bea
a. ing heart.
at "I know you," he said present.
Is "and 1 think have frightened yo
8. Did you take me for a burglar?"
o, "Yes," whispered Ervine. ''Wi
t. you please to let me go now?"
IS. No; not until you tell me why yc
ct ried to capture me-"
e. "I Thought, with little constrain,
II, laugh, "you were going to steal yol
lg own diamonds. heard some stranl
men, who we're fishing in a distant pa
IS, of the park, talking about diamon'
ne this afternoon, and how easy it was
ay sell them"