The Carbon advocate. [volume] (Lehighton, Pa.) 1872-1924, 1882-03-18

mIs' AomphluS, 40 you love you
master7"
"What business is that of your,2"
"Do you love him?" Phoebe reiterated
with compressed limps.
Mrs. Tompkins shiank back, somewha
awed.
"Love himl I nursed him when ht
was baby, and he has been as dear as
my own child TO mel OF course love
himr'
"And would you save him from dan.
ger if you could?"
"Of course would"
Then help me. l have come to save
him-no matter from what. But if you
drive me from the house tonight, you
may live to regret it bitterly tomorrow
Now do just as direct you"
The trembling woman obeyed Phoebe
commands with alacritysafter that, and
twenty minutes later she stepped from a
little bedroom, dressed like fashionable
young man. Her tall, well-made figure
looked admirable in Mr.. Ives cast of
suit, and a white Mackinaw straw hat
was set on her short, black curls.
LEAD the way, Mrs. Tompkins. Re.
member that i am beloved neph wv of
yours"
Phoebe followed to the floor above, and
with a terrible groap, Mrs. Tompkins
opened her masters door and ushered
Phoebe into dinly lit sitting room.
This is young nephew of mine, Mr..
Ives-a beloved nephew of mine!" she
blurted coniusedly; "come to stay over
night IS he is in this part OF the country.
1 thought you might like. to have some
one to talk to, seeing as you are SO lone
some all day."
A slender, white hand closed over
Phoebe's brown fingers. and soft, high
bred voice bade her welcome.
She sat down by bis side, noting at the
same time with feminine accuracy even
in the shadowy room the peaceful resig-
nation in the dark, kind eyes and the
marble rallor of lis face.
He talked in an eloquent dreamy way
of music, books and their authors. and
strange countries; opening to her dazzled
eyes visions of wonderful beauty
II wish l could talk as you dor she
said regretfully. "Oh. wish l was rs
educated and refined as you arer'
Mr.. Ives laughed, and Mrs. Tompkius
below wondered at the unusual sound.
My dear boy, how serious you look!'
then his face clouded over. II wish /
was strong and healthy like You are! l
wish could feel free and hopeful as you
do! Now, whose case is more pitiable?
Yours may be remedied-mine never
canl"
Phoebe sighed in pity, and at that mo-
ment the clock struck eleven.
She took cigar and stepped out on
the balcony. Mrs. Tompkins rolled her
young masters chair to his bed-chamber
and Phoebe was left alone.
Half an hour passed, and still she paced
the balcony in full view of the road Her
hat was tilted over her eyes, the cigar
was held up bravely between her lips,
glowing like red eye through the gloom,
while she pulled the clouds of smoke up
lazily into the air in the most approved
fashioned, and all the while her heart
beat faster and faster at every sound, and
the cigar was making her miserably sick.
They will think when they see mt
that the guests from New York, expected
next week have arrived to-day, aud that
will put an end to their awful schemel
she thosght, hopefully.
Twelve o'clock at last.
A man walked hastily and silently uI
the road, and st the side of the house she
heard stealtby steps and the bushes rust.
ling.
Still smoking, and with the same lei,
surely step, she advanced to the end OF
the balcony over the place from which
the sounds had proceeded.
For a moment all was silent as though
the villains held their breath with dis.
may,
Her sharp ear caught an oath Of en-,
ragged disappointment hissed out; the
bushes rustled again, and then all was
silent.
She waited another hour. but heard
nothing more. Her strength was gone,
her brain was reeling,
The task was done and Philip Ives life
would not be sacrificed that night, and
poor Phoebe. worn with excitement, inst
managed to reach the long window and
fell in dead faint across the threshold
for the first time in all her strong young
life.
When Philip Ives. after wakeful night,
propelled his invalid chair at dawn, into
his sItting-room, the first eight that met
his eyes was the figure of Mrs. Tomp-
kins' nephew lying senseless on the floor.
But no! surely there was some mystery.
for the face, with the morning sunlight
shining upon it, was that of Phoebe
Mays. whom he had often seen bringing
eggs and butter to 1.-The Grove"
him in her old print dress and told him
the story.
Aud that day the Would-be murderers
were safely lodged IN jail.