The Osceola times., 1882-10-21
thing"


grandfather's guests, giving the alarm
without undue excitement; giving, also,
instruction and assistance where II was
wanted.
She dressed the children and sent
them away in charge of servant When
the excitement of the fire and its hope
lessness was discovered, she assisted in
saving relics which she knew were valued
by the master of the crumbling mansion.
She kept beside her grandfather, who,
though eighty years old, was alert and
active, as wen as self-possessed.
He gave her his watch and chain, and
she put them in her bosom. He then
took from drawer small, brass-bound,
scarlet-leather trunk.
"Is that valuable, grandpa"
"Yes.'
He went out of the room with 1t, while
she knelt before trunk, rapidly packing
it, She filled it with her grandmothers
clothing, rich brocades and costly shawls.
Grandsire Lyndon came back.
"What did you do with it, grandpa p
81 gave it to Preston to carry away"
"To whom, grandpa? Are you sure ii
will be ep" for the engines were come,
and the water was beating in deaiening
torrents against the plate glass
"To Preston, it was full of gold coin.
1t will be perfectly safe am afraid they
will break the windows" said the old
man, beginning to get bewildered and
| tired.
Then she led him away from the sad
scene.
The house became ruin. Fortunately
the cottage Of the foreman was large and
commodious, and here the inmates found
shelter and comfort.
No one was injured and much had been
saved, though the beautiful house was in
ruins.
One by one the guests of that gay sum
mer-time departed. Leah remained with
her grandfather; Preston Atherton and
Brette Delford, too, whose services he
needed.
Fortunately am not quite without
ready money! said the old man, cheer
fully. "The little scarlet trunk-what
did you do with it, Preston"
The young man looked up in surprise.
81 remember nothing of the kind,
sir"
"Tut tut what are you talking about?
You promised to carry it to a safe place"
81 saw him take it, asserted Brette.
The young mans bewilderness had
| the appearance of dishonesty.
There was a thousand dollars in the
trunk. Produce it at once y cried the old
man.
81 remember nothing of receiving il"
was all Preston could say.
He racked his BRAIN he talked over
every incident of the fire with Leah, but
all to ne purpose. He was wretched (;
they both were.
Grandsire Lyndon seemed strangely
bitter and hard The catastrophe hac
greatly disturbed him He was not like
his old self Leah said, sadly. But a
thousand dollars was not slight loss for
anybody. 1t was far too much for young
man like Preston Atherton to miss ac-
counting for.
Day by day he grew more detected, as
the old man grew harder, colder, and
more suspicious. Leah saw, soon, how
Brette Delford added to those unjust sus-
picions.
Heaven knows would pay him the
amount of money, innocent as | am,
said Preston. "But | cannot | am
poor"
Once the old man had been fond Of
him; he was mentioned handsomely in
his will Now the affection once in
spired seemed to change to gall. He
would have little to say to him. He no
longer consulted him. Brette was his
chief advisor and assistant
Preston's cheek was white, but Leah's
was whittier. She was i'll she was nearly
crazed with sleeplessness; yet her old
habit of selfcontrol stood by her well
Preston. who loved her, did not see how
! thin Chn uToa f,pnxkinu Rt1t Sha had
age, while his had flown.
One night, as she lay thinking upon Il
thorny pillow, she heard steps on the
gravel walk under the window. She knew
it. She rose instantly and listened.
1t went down the avenue. Brette Del
ford paused at the foot of the avenue
and locked back. 1t was a starlight; he
could see nobody. He believed himself
perfectly safe, and the temptation was
strong.
He went on-down the starlighted road,
under the low hanging trees-down the
dewy lane to the wood, where the star
light dimly illuminated the fragrant, UNI
brageous glade where he had once sur
prised Leah waiting for Preston Ather-
ton. 1t was full Of gloom and dampness
now. Yet he pressed on, and at last
StppItl AT lut tilu VI II nNHt, lotttH lbG,
lying half buried in the dark turf, and
peered sharply about it. He bent down,
at last, and pressed the spongy mould
with his hands.
As he did so the shining butt of q re-
volver glinted in the light of twinkling
star. He still stopped, searching in the
debris of former summers. The rotten
leaves sent up strong, woody odor as
he disturbed them.
At length he uttered faint exclama-
tion and drew forth square, dark OBJ
IjeCt with glittering edges-the scarlet,
brass-bound trunk. He rested it upon
his knee when he had lifted himself, and
paused a moment to rest
What white shape was that which
rlded to his shoulder? Was it a spirit =?
No; only girl in simple pale wrap.
Her slender jeweled hand reached and
snatched the revolver from his breast
With an oath he turned and saw the
weapon leveled at his head.
"Take the trunk homer cried Leah,
81 will hesitate at nothing
He looked desperately at that slender
hand but its owner stood at a safe dis
tance. Weak as she was. he could not
take the pistol from her without advanC-
ing upon his own peril.
"Home-homew she cried
lie obeyed her. 1t was not far. If it
had been further he thought he might
have invented plan for escape but she
pursued him like an avenging fate, into
the cottage to her grandsire's bedside.
Here is the thief" she cried.