The united opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1881-1970, 1882-09-15
aud get good nights rest in another

Parkins was silent for one instant
and then began series of smooth
polite expostulations, which no ON
would heed, and finally the civil nurse
prepared the couch for Lima, an,
took herself of, observing sweetly:
elf Miss Leigh will leave the doc
ajar, l can hear call from this room
and will come instantly"
"Thanks, Parkins, but I hope
shall not have to call you," said Lima
speaking as sweet as Parkins herself
Then as she glided up to the doc
as soon as it was closed, she turnet
with a race Of dismay, and whispered
"The key is gone She took il
when she was fidgcting in and on,
with the sheets and pillows"
"There is bolt besides," Aunt
Margaret answered.
Lima gave sigh Of relief, as she
slipped the bolt into the groove, and
felt that she had some little protection
against the enemy.
"Now, child," Aunt Magaret said J.,
"can you use pistol?"
81 never touched one in my lire,"
said the 'little coward" ''But If !
had one now l would try W.
VERY we'll. Take my sale-key-
it is under my pillow-and unlock
the safe They are just as my hus-
band left them a year ago, but Robert
looked at them few days ago, and
said they were all right. That is it.
Put one Of them on the foot of the bed
and if those wrelches come, try, my
dear, to use it. Now put the other
here, by my left hand. Thank God!
l can use that little. Now, what
are you doing? Oh, yes; pile up all
you can against the door. There,
you can't move anything else. Now
come here, little girl, kneel down by
me, and let's say our prayers togeth-
er."
With the old lady's thin. pallid
hand clasped tightly in her two cold,
trembling little ones, Lima knelt down
there and burying her face in the pill
low tried to pray.
Her petition was not very cohe-
rent one ; it was only a wild, passion
ate cry for pity and help, and mean
time she was listening with every
nerve strained for sounds from the
outside. A lamp burned in the room.
On the mantle-plece softly ticking
clock marked the slow minutes. No
other sound broke the stiffness.
Presently a sob shook the girls
figure. She was thinking of Sir Rob
ert and his tender care over her. !.
Oh, if she bad only not been so
and proud this evening, all
would have been we'll. He would
nave come for her, and they would
nave been safe.
But surely, he would come yets
He could ndy fail to fnd tke> lAe,1
md she knew lie would come to Aave
Ter. But yet horrible doubts came to
Ter as to whether the note would
each him. 1t might be lost, or Leo
night wander about and not get home
ntil it was too late.
Too late Lima shuddered and
obbed again as she thought what
hat might mean. Oh, it was hard to
hink of dying so helplessly, so hor-
IDLY, with help so near.
Tie long minutes c:ept on, and no
ound came until II o'clock had pass
d. The little clock softly chimed
ne half hour. Then, in few mo-
tents, came the sound Of stealing
ootsteps in the passage, and the knob
t the door was softly turned.
Breathless silence in the room.
hen gentle tap at the door. Lima,
lasped Aunt Magaret's hand con-
and the old lady spoke.
"What is that?' she asked, steadily. ,,
"It is me, Parkins, ma'am. Would
on ask Miss Leigh if she will kindly
pen the door? | have the toothache {
nd want some laudanum."
"What a devil it is" whispered
Aunt Margaret. Then aloud: $50
own stairs and get something, Par
ms. cannot trouble Miss Leigh"
Lima hoped that Parkins would urge
lie point little. Anything to pro-
ong the parley and gain time.
But a whisper in the passage fol-
,wed, and then mans voice:
'Ladies, there's no use making a {
DIV. Just open the door peacefully, s
nd you shan't be hurt. Well break {
down if you don't.
"What do you want?" Lima asked i
oping to gain little time. A new /
nd gruf voice answered insolently ,
"You knows well enough what we
ANTS, miss. We wants the thousand s
ounds and the diamonds, and we I
lean to have them. So don't be a
,ol, but just open the door peacefully |
r you'll be sorry"
Lima sprang to her feet and seized |
lie pistol. A food of color rushed to t
er cheek and brow. She had been t
lsulted and threatened, and indig- I