Stephens City star. (Stephens City, Va.) 1881-1883, 1882-12-02

dllCu obuoAoy UhSAO eASy SO"A~ A>s'' -
fire in the great, open chimney-place,
and there was north window over
looking the distant simmer of the sea.
So here they were, now that the chill
winds of early November were shaking
the last brown leaves on the trees, to
the infinite disgust of Salina, the SUI
perstitious, who much preferred city
fiat.
That domestic damsel had just van
ished down the winding stair, which
she declared was destined "some time
or other to be the death of her." when
an opposite door opened, and in ran
Abby Clifford, the younger sister-a
tall, red-cheeked girl, with hair as black
and thick as an Indians, sparkling
brown eyes, and huge bundle under
her left arm.
1t was too dark to work longeur pom
the blue irises, and Fanny was sitting
in a reverie before the red glow of the
burning logs. She started up at sight
of her sister.
"I've gotit, Fan y said Abby, waving
1he bundle around in the air. "The
whole suit complete, with the dearest
old canvas hat into the bargain. They
used to belong to Mr.. Mifton's uncle,
who was a whaler, and finally died at
sea-his Sunday suit"
"Is it too late to dress him upP" said
Fanny, with animation.
"But he's down in the library"
"Well, We'll 60 there" said Fanny.
"We can work there as well as in the
studio; and we shall run less risk of
Salinas interference. Salina never
can forget that we are no longer little
girls of ten and twelve"
The supper, served up in the little
round room, before the dying gleam of
the logs, was exceptionally nice.
Fanny and Abby were in exuberant
spirits, and praised the chocolate, trout
and griddle-cakes with enthusiasm.
Salina was as gloomy as a prophecies.
II only hope we shall get through
this night alive" said she.
But as she had made the same
remark, on an average, three hundred
out of the three hundred and sixty-five
days of the year, neither Fanny nor
Abby paid much attention to it.
But as she passed out, with the last
dish from the table, Salina paused close
to Fanny Clifford, and asked, in a
sepulchral whisper
"Are them diamonds locked up?"
"They are in my desk9" said Fanny,
indifferently.
Salina lifted her eyes skyward.
"In your desk ?" she groaned. Hadn't
I better take 'em and put 'em under
my pillow?"
Certainly not" her young mistress
answered, sharply. "Do, Salina, leave
me to manage my own affairs "
And Salina vanished, in huff.
"I'll go to bed early" she said, grimly,
to herself. "It amt no use settin' up
to look arter the goods of people as
won't take no trouble for themselves"
But just as she was about to ascend
with a candle, Lady-Macbeth-like, to
her room, she suddenly paused.
"Them three hemstitched hand
kechers O mine are out on the grass,
a-bleachin'," she said to herself. "And
the black clouds in the West mean
wind. Idon't want them handkerchers
blowed away. "I'll 60 out and fetch
'em in"
Carefully unbolting three bolts and
unlocking one ponderous lock, Salina
sailed forth, shading the candle with
her hand; but the first puff of freezing,
pine-perfumed air blew the little fame
out.
Undaunted by this mishap, however,
Salina went valiantly out, feeling her
way through the cloudy starlight, until
she was opposite the woodshed.
II guess I'll 60 in and cross over that
way" she thought.
But as she was turning in the in
tended direction light suddenly
flashed out-the reddish glow of a
lantern, that was almost instantly
obscured by the slide.
"Gracious |" thought Salina, involun-
tarily stepping back, in her terror and
amazement.
"Confound your muttered gruff
voice-the identical voice of Mifton's
hired man. "What did you want to
show light for?"
"The slide was rusty" apologized a
second voice. at don't matter-there
is no one but the cats and the grass