Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1883-08-15
'Parkins.' she said steadily, as they

A
She will sleep on your couch, and you.
my poor soul, can 60 and get good
nights rest in another room.'
Parkins was silent for one instant,
aud then began series of smooth.
exposuatons which no one would
heed. and finally the civil nurse pre-
pared the couch for Lima, and took her.
self off, observing sweetly:
IL Miss Leigh will leave the door
aiar ( can hear call from this room
aud will come instantly
Thanks, Parkins, but l hope shall
not have 10 call you,' said Lima, speak
ing a. sweet as Parklns herself.
Then as she glided 10 the door as
soon as it was closed, she turned with
face OF dismay aud whispered :
The KEY is gone! She took it
when she was fdgeting in and out with
the sheets and pillows
There is a bolt besides Aunt
Margaret answered.
Lima gave sigh of relief as she
slipped the bolt into the groove, and
felt that she bad some little protection
against the enemy.
Now, chld,' Aunt Margaret said.
can YOU use a pistol {?
1 meyer touched one in my life, ,
said the little coward But if l had
one now l would try
VERY well. Take my safe key-i
is under my pillow-and unlock tie
safe-They are just as my husband
left them a year ego, but Rotert look
ed at them few days age, aud said
they were all right. That is it. Put
one of them on the foot Of the bed,
aud If those wretches come, try, my
dear, 10 use it. Now put the other
here. by nv left hand. Thank God /.
| can use tnat little. Nov. 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 bJ
me, aud let's say our prayers togeth-
er.'
With the I'D lad,'s thin, pallid hdhd
clasped tightly 10 ler two cold, lrembl-
lng little ones, Lima knelt down there
and burying her face in tie pillow,
tried to pray.
Her petition was not very coher'
rent one it was only Wild passion
ate cry for pity and help, aud mean
time she was listening, with every
nerve strained for sounds from the
outside. A lamp burned N the room.
On the mantlepiece softly tickling
clock marked the slow minutes. No
other sound broke the stiffness.
Presently sob shook the girls
figure. She was thinking of Sir Robert
and bis tender care over her.
oh, il she had not been so wayward
and prond this evening, all would |
have been we'll. He woul1 have come
to save her; they would have been
safe. But surely, surely, he would
come yet.
He could not fail 10 find the note.
and she knew he would come TO save
her. But yet horrible doubts came
to her as TO whether the noet would
reach him. 1t might be lost. or Leo
might wander about and not get home
until it was 100 late.
Too late! Lima shuddered and
sobbed again as she thought what that
might mean. Oh, it was lard to
think dying so hslplessly, so horri-
bly,, with help so near.
The long minutes crept on, aud no
sound came until eleven O'Clock had
passed. The little clock softly cbimed
the half hour. Then, in few mo-
ments, came sound Of stealing loot
steps 10 the passage, and the knob OF
The door was softly turned.
Breathless silence in the room.-
Then gentle tap at the door, Lima
clasped Aun. Margareps hand CON-
vulsively, and the old lady spoke.
What is thatY' she asked, steadi-
ly.
It'll me, Parkins, ma'am. Would
YOU ask Miss Leigh if she will kindly
open the door? | have the too.hache
and want some laudanum.'
'What devil it is = whispered Aunt
Margaret. Then aloud: GO down
stairs and get something, Parklns.
| cannot trouble Miss Leigh.
Lima hoped that Parkins would urge
the point little. Anything to pre-
long the parley and gain time.
But a whisper 10 the passage follow
ed, and then a mans voice
Ladies, there's no use making
row. Just open the door peacefully,
and you shan't be hurt, Wen break
It down you don't.
What do you want9 LIMA asked,
hoping 10 gain little time. A new
and gruff voice answered, lnsolently;
You know we'll enough what we
want, Miss. We wants the thousand
pounds aud the diamonds, and we
mean 10 have them. So don't be
fool, but just open the door peace fully,
or you'll be sorry
Lima spraug to hef fac! and seized
the pistol. A f cd o! color rushed to
her cheek and brow. She had BET d
lnsulted anil threatened, and iudIgna-
ton overpowered terror. She went 10 /
the door and called out quickly and
clearly:
You're not coming 10. have sent
for help, and Sir Robert and his men
II