The united opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1881-1970, 1882-09-15
"There +! the spoon is.gone. Where

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me she wanted to get up some muslin
this evening, and would come up a
soon as she had flushed"
Lima did not altogethet like to pas
down the long stairs and silent entire
leading to the pantry, but she went
and Leo trotted after her, AS sh
stood in the pantry, looking round TO
spoons with no light but faint CLEAN
from the hall lamp, a sound of low
voices caught her ear.
The pantry was on the ground floor
it's iron.barred suffered window look
ing into the garden. The sound wa
outside the window, and Lima pauseC
to listen. The first word that caugh
her ear startled her.
ga thousand pounds and all the
old woman's jewelry and plate !" sale
a mans voice, in husky undertone
EYES," was the reply, in woman's
voice-the voice, Lima knew, Of Par
kins, Mrs. Harrington's model, soft.
voiced lady-like nurse-''and there
wont be any trouble about it, because
| have let the women go away to stay
all night, and sent the gardener on a
FOOLS errand to misses brothers, 20
miles Off"
"But this girl that came tonight
what about her?" asked the man.
"Oh, she will 60 to her room pres
emily, and stay there if she is wise.
She'd be no hindrance anyway sill
ly, timid little thing. But it's as we'll
to let her get out of the way" said
Parkins, cody.
"But see here, Molly, why not do
it now? Then we'll have time to get
away before daylight said the man.
81 tell you it is not safe before II
O'clock" Parkins said, positively.
"People may come in. Sir Robert
don't like her out of his sight for long
and that idiotic young Marsden may
come incoming in. Wait till halfpast
eleven, and the west door here will be
open. And, Jim, look here, when
you get this swag, you are to take me
with you-your wife, mind"
The voices grew fainter. Evident
ly the speakers were moving away
from the house. But Lima had heard
enough. Sick with terror, she leaned
against the pantry wall a moment and
tried to think. What did it all mean?
murder! And no help near.
Her first instinct was to fly out Of the
house and across the field to the hall.
But her absence would be instantly
discovered, she knew, and poor Aunt
Margaret would be alone with those
wretches. No, she must not go-but
to stand here idle would do no good.
She flew like a bird along the halls
and up stairs, Leo pacing by her side.
At, Aunt Margaret's door she paused
AMI sudden thought came to her.
She would send Leo home for help.
"Where is the spoon, child? How
long you staid. Good heavens what |
is the matter?" cried the old lady, as
she saw the girls white, terrified face.
Lima began some svasive answer, but
remembered that Aunt Mar.
garet must be told the whole story or
nothinS could be done to save her.
She did tell it, and Aunt Margaret
istened in silent CONSERVATION, and
hen burst out inpetuously with -
"Good heavens, child! Why don't
you run right home?"
"Becanse | knew Parkins would be
Up here in few minutes and find l
vas gone, and then"
"Ah, well. So you stayed to save
he old woman if you could. What
ire you doing, child? Why don't
you lock the door and pile things
against it? Good God if was just
able to rise out of this bed?"
But Lima did not speak for mo-
nent. She had found a pencil and
PAPER and was rapidly writing few
words. When she had finished
"Now," she said, "When Parkins
comes tell her l am to sleep on her
couch here In your room, aud she must
70 somewhere else. will be back in
moment, Leo"
Out of the room she darted, and
Town to the hall door, which she un-
barred aud passed through. Then,
in the shadow of a pillar on
he portico, she tied the note tightly
n her handkerchief round Leo's neck.
She put her arms round his neck
liter that, kissed his forehead, and
lalf sob escaped her.
sis that you, miss?" said smooth
'olce from the hall. "Why, what
'ver are you doing in the dark there"
Lima sprang up as if she had been
hot.
81 am sending the dog home," she
laid; speaking quietly though the
hrobs of her heart shook her whole
rame. 'He is restless here without
lis master, Go home, Leo, straight
lone, STRIP