The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1882-09-16

he said, at length, as if thinking aloud.
The tender phrase brought up the girls
color, making her exquisitely beautiful.
II do not know what he could do, y she
said "but I believe he will do something" !"
''Fire! fire! fre!''
The great Lyndon mansion was in flames
before the alarm was given. Leah heard
the cry through her sweet sleep-awoke,
rose and dressed.
She was not naturally nervous. Her
self-possession was of great service now, as
she went from room to room of her grand
fathers guests, giving the alarm without
undue excitement; giving also, instruction
and assistance where it was wanted.
She dressed the children and sent them
away in care of servant. When the ex-
citement of the fire and its hopelessness
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 ac-
tive, as we'll as self-possessed.
He gave her his watch and chain, and
she put them in her bosom. Then he took
from drawer a small, brass bound, scarlet
leather trunk.
"Is that valuable, grandpa ?"
eyes"
He went out of the room with it, while
she knelt before trunk, rapidly packing
it. She filed it with her grandmothers
clothing, rich brocades and costly shawls.
Grandsire Lyndon came back.
"What did you do with it, grandpa?"
II gave it to Preston to carry away"
"To whom, grandpa? Are you sure it
will be safe ?'' for the engines were come
and the water was beating in deafening
torrents against the plate glass.
"To Preston. 1t was full of gold coin.
1t will be perfectly safe. I am afraid they
will break the windows" said the old man,
beginning to grow 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, too,
and Brette Delford, whose services he
needed.
''Fortunately I am not quite without
ready money" said the old man, cheerful
ly. "The little scarlet trunk-what did
you do with it, Preston?"
The young man looked up in surprise.
II remember nothing of the kind, sir.
The good old man had his faults; he
was quick-tempered.
"Tut, tut what are you talking about ?
You promised to carry it to safe place.
II saw him take it, asserted Brette.
The young mans bewilderment had the
appearance of dishonesty.
s'There was thousand dollars in the
trunk. Produce it at once! cried the old
man.
II remember nothing of receiving it, !"
was all Preston could say.
He racked his brains he talked over
every incident of the fire with Leah, but
all to no purpose. He was wretched; they
both were.
Grandsire Lyndon seemed strangely bit
ter and hard. The catastrophe had greatly
disturbed him. He was not like his old
self, said Leah, sadly. But thousand dol
lars was not slight loss for anybody. 1t
was far too much for young man like
Preston Atherton to miss accounting 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 suspicious.
"Heaven knows I would pay him the
amount of the money, innocent though !
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 inspired seemed
changed to gall. He turned on him with an
accusing countenance. He would have lit
tie to say to him. He no longer consulted
him. Brette was his chief adviser and as.
sistant.
Preston's cheek was white, but Leah's
was winter She was i'll !; she was nearly
crazed with sleeplessness; yet her old habit
of self-control stood by her well. Preston
who loved her, did not see how thin she
, was growing. But she had courage, while
!, his had flown.
One night, as she lay thinking upon {
stormy pillow, she heard step on thu
gravel 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 ano
looked back. 1t was starlight night; h
could see nobody. He believed himsel
perfectly safe, and the temptation wa
strong He went on-down the starlighte'
road, under the low-hanging trees-dowl
the dewy lane to the wood, where the star
) light dimly Illuminated the fragrant, um
| brageous glade where he had once surprise,
Leah waiting for Preston Atherton. |
was full of gloom and dampness now. Ye
he pressed on, and at last stopped at tn
E end of huge, rotten log, lying half burie'
in the dark turf, and peered sharply abou
3 it. He bent down, at last, and pressed th
] spongy mould with his hands.
e As he did SO the shining butt of rt
a volver glinted in the light of a twinklinl
star. He still stopped, searching anon
!, the debris of former summers. The rotte
J, leaves sent up strong, woody odor as b
: disturbed them.
i At length he uttered faint exclamation
s and drew forth a square, dark object wit
glittering edges-the scarlet, brass-boun
f trunk. He rested it upon his knee whe
/ he had lifted himself, and paused mi
ment to rest.
d What white shape was that which glide
to his shoulder? Was it spirit? Nc
II only girl in simple, pale wrap. Ht
o slender jeweled hand reached and snatche
Q the revolver from his breast. With Q
2 oath, he turned and saw the weapon le'
alod az his head