The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1882-07-15

| And opening the nearest door, she motoned
HIM to enter, AS it was dark therein, how
was he 10 know that il was the coal cellar oi
that the next minute the door would be shut
and bolled upon hmf
"Therew cried Polly, exultingly, her dark
eyes staring like balls Of fire, her cheeks turn
Cd from deadly pale To glowing red
But stop II mlnutc!" pleaded shilcd voice
from the other side of the door "Therc's Il
mistake. =
Yes" SAID Polly, there is mistake
You are mistaken IN supposing that | am IL
be imposed upon Now stay there until call
the coachman and the two stable hands, and
unloose the dog
(Which four last be it understood, were en-.
tirey fiction of NJ iss Polly's imaglnation)
She stood d second or 50 to consider Miss
Baird must not be excited or dlsturbed-at
least so the doctor SAID Besides, of what use
could Miss Bard possibly beg
IN go for the girls" said Polly, "Ill be
at the ball, after air.
And folding IA shawl around her pretty, taper
shoulders, away she shot, like an arrow, quite
needless of the lace.lincd train Of the garnet
silk dress.
Halle Hill, where the ball was being held,
was not more than quarter OF mile from
Stone Tower, and, lighted from garret to Gel
ihI, PitoSubNt " 'Niy P'N''y o'ShN w. o''y -
wo derlng eyes.
She posted herself on the verandah, just
where a easement had been opened to cool the
perfumed atmosphere of the danclng.room,
and there, with big, sparkling eyes, and cherry
cheeks, half hidden by the shawl drawn over
her head and ears, she watched to catch
glimpse of Amy or Mamie
There they were, dancing. Polly would
scarcely have known them, so radlent they
seemcd-thcir exquisite borrowed dresses set
off by lights, their checks flushed by happy
eXcilement--and at last Amy sat down by this
very open easement, smiling and tanning her
self while her partner hurried to bring her a
glass OF champagne.
All of II sudden a cold little hand fell on her
round, dimpled shoulder. She started and
looked around.
"Polly! Goodness me! 1t can't be posi-
BILE" see exclaimed. What on earth has
brougt YOU here? Is Miss Baird deady Has
papa come homer"
No" answered Polly, sepulchrally but
I've caught burglar! Call Mamie and come
home at once, because, maybe, hc'f break
loose"
And so Amy never got the iced champagne,
and Mamie didn't finish her waltz with
whiskered young gentleman from Montreal.
And Harry Sinclare, the brother of the hostess,
accompanied them back 10 the Tower, with
the tallest of the waters, two reyolvers and a
blackthorn stuck which would have done
credit to Rory OMore himself.
Thus backed up, Polly drew the bolt, UNI
locked the door, and called in stern accents, to
the sequestered victim:
Come out, you villain-come at once"
And a TALL rather pleasantlooking young
fellow emerged, shivering with the cold, and
a., nc Il To y TO
SHIRT collar and light kid gloves.
"Who are you?" savagely demanded SIN
clare.
The gentleman presented his card.
"My name is Stafford" said he. Colonel
Copely requested me to call here and bring
his daughters back to New York with me.
Here is letter from him. He has taken y
house IN Forty seventh Street, and
Goodness mer gasped Polly clasping her
hands over her eyes. And | shut him In the
coai.cellarW
For one dread second there was silence and
then they all burst into a peal of contagious
laughter, which broke up all ceremony at
once, and rendered them all excellent friends.
Mr.. Sinclare with the tall waiter and black.
thorn stick, departed; and Polly, with little
of Nannie's amateur assistance, served up an
supper of bread and toasted cheese,
which was pronounced a success. Mary Eliza
returned in little while and all was well.
The next day commenced the packing for
removal. Mary Eliza was to remain in the
Stone Tower until Miss Bairds convalesceAce,
and the three girls returned to New York with
Mr. Stafford.
And Mr.. Stafford, strange to say, appeared
to have no malice towards his fair little jailer.
"On the contrary" said the shrewd Amy, as
the season advanced, II do believe he likes
Polly the best of US all, or he would If she
wasn't such a child"
But she's growing older every day" SAID
Mamie.
"And preltier" added Amy, with a laugh.
SO that as the two sisters agreed, there was
no telling what might happen one of these
days But If they venture to question Polly
herself, she only laughs, and bushes aud
hides her face.
Because, you know, Pm not q grown wo'
man, yet, SAYS Polly.-Saturddy MINT.