Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1882-11-15

| "a thousand pounds and all the
Old woman's jewely and plate r
said mans voice, IN q husky uhder'
tone,
Eyes" was the reply IN a woman's
ypiee-the voice, Lima knew, Of Park
ins, Mrs ilaTTingtOn's model, soft
voiced, iady-like RuTse-"and there
won't be any trouble about il, because
| have lot tue women 81 away TO stay
all night and sent the gardener on 4
FOOLS GRAND 10 misses brothers TWEEN
| " miles on"
"But this girl that came tonight
what about herr" asked the man,
"Oh, she will 90 10 her rvola pres
emily, and stay there II she Is wise,
Shed be no hindrance anyway silly,
timid little thing, Hut It's rs well 10
Vt her got out of the way" said Park
ins, eoOlly,
"iiut SEQ here. Molly. why not do II
h0wY Then We'll have more time 10
got away before daylight" said the
man,
~ tell you It Is not safe before II
o'clock" farkins said, positively, "i'eO-
pie may come in, SiF Robert don't like
| her out of his sight for long, and that
idiotic young Marsden may come moon
ing Ia, Wait Til hall,past i and the
west door here will be open, And,
Jim. look here, when you get this
swag you are u take me with YOU
yourwlfe. mind"
The voices grew fainter Evidently
the speakers were moving away from
the house, hut Lima had heard enough,
Sick with terror she leaned against tie
pantry wall u mOment and tried 10
think, What did II all meany Rob
berry, murder And no help near, fler
lirst instIhCt was 10 ny out of the house
and across the field 10 the hall. But
her absence would DO instantly dis.
covered. she knew. and then poor
Aunt Margaret would DO alone with
those wretehes. No. she must not 40
but TO stand here Idle would be no
good, She flew alongthe halls and up
stairs. Leo pacing by her side, Az
Aunt Margarets door she paused. and
q sudden Thought came TO her, She
would send Leo home for help.
"Where IL the spoon. chlldS How
long you staid. Good heavens what
Is the mattery" cried the old lady. rs
she saw the girls white. terrified face,
Lima began some eyaSive answer but
instantly remembered that Aunt Mar.
garet must he told the whole story or
nothing could be done to save her,
She did tell II, and Aunt Margaret
listened In silent CONSERVATION, and
then burst ont impetuously with:
GOOD heavens, child Why didn't
you run right homer"
because l knew Parklns would DO
up here In a few minutes and find !
was gone, and then"
"Ah, well. So You stayed 10 save
the old woman II you could, What are
you doing, child9 Why don't you lock
h c door and pile things against itS
Good God, II ! was just able to rise out
Of this bed !"
But Lima did not speak for moment.
She had found q pencil and paper and
was rapidly writing few words.
When she had finished
Now she said, "when Parkins
comes tell her ! am to sleep on her
couch here in your room, and she must
90 somewhere else. / will DO back In
a moment, Leop"
Out of the room she darted, and
down to the hall door. which she UNI
barred and passed through. Then,
kneeling in the shadow Of pillar on
the portico, she tied the note tightly
In her handkerchief round Leo's
neck.
She put her arms round his neck
after that, kissed his forehead, and q
half-sob escaped her.
"Is that you, miss?" said a smooth
voice from the hall. "Why, whatever
are you doing in the dark there ?"
Lima sprang up as If she had been
shot
al am sending the dog home" she
said, speaking quietly, though the
throbs Of her heart shook her whole
frame. "IIe is restless here without
his master. Go home, Leo, straight
home, sir"
The dog, with one farewell lick Of
her hand, bounded down the steps and
vanished in the dewy darkness Of the
summer night.
ooh, God let him 60 safely and
swiftlyW prayed the girl in her heart.
Then she went in and helped Parkins
bar the door, and they went together
upstairs.
Aunt Margaret lay very quietly on
her pillows, but with her black eyes
cleaning.
Parkins was silent for one instant,
and then began a series of expostula-
tions, which no one would heed, and
finally the civil nurse prepared the
couch for Lima, and took herself off,
observing, sweetly:
eff Miss Leigh will leave the door
ajar can hear call from this room
and will come instantly"
"Thanks, Parkins, but / hope I shall
not have to call you," said Lima, speak
ing as sweet as Parkins herself.
Then as she glided to the door as
soon as it was closed, she turned with
face of dismay, and whispered:
"The key is gone! She took it when
she was tidgeting in and out with the
sheets and pillows"
"There is a bolt BESIDES" Aunt Mar
9aret answered.
Lima gave sigh of relief as she
slipped the bolt into the groove, and
felt that she had at least some little
protection against the enemy.
"Now, child" Aunt Margaret said,