Martinsburg independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1875-1900, 1883-01-27

liable as any in the country. Cabi-
met officers, learned judges and SEN
ators without number had been
served from it; its fame was not
confined to one State. When her
father died suddenly, and she awoke
one morning to world of response
bility. that plate had bothered her
more than all other things. Time
and again had she started from a
sound sleep, lit lamp and gone
down into the great dining-room to
see that all was safe.
That very morning she succeeded
in making a bargain that relieved
her Of further concern. The bank
at Plummer was now able to laugh
at the boldest burglars. Her plate
would be kept there at a small cost
and brought to her when she re-
quired it. The bank would also
honor all her checks and she would
have no money in the house.
And yet, somehow Marian Moore
was not satisfied with herself that
afternoon. She could not help think
ing of her second cousin, at least ;
near enough to neglect-to over
look. Was that the reason she ne
elected him ? Marian Moore dis
missed the subject and busted her
self over her work. Vast as her pos
sessions were, she could not live
without doing something.
The afternoon wore around heavi
ly, slowly. When the servant lit the
lamps her mistress made a remark
that required an explanation.
"Dan is not here, ma'am.'
mot here ?"
''He went home"
without asking my permission?"
81 told him you were busy with
Mr. Telford."
"No matter; but Dan must not
repeat it he must wait my leisure. !"
Miss Moore was great reader.
Her evenings, when she was alone,
were the happiest hours of the TWEEN
ty-fOur. She lived with her favorite
authOress. On this night she was
unable to enjoy her nook. She laid
it down often, and at last put it
aside altogether, and looked out of
the window.
At that moment fash of light
ming lit up the scenes. Immense
black clouds lowered above her; near
the horizon there were others that
looked like frayed banners, while a
gust of wind slammed the shutter
nearest her fast-the first blast of a
terrible storm The wind five min
utes later caused the clouds to scud
like so many frightened birds. The
sheets of lightning illuminating the
heavens revealed to Miss Moore a
war Of the elements, such as she had
never before. She looked out upon
the scene with feeling of awe until
the force of the storm was spent.
She was still standing here, tapping
the window sill in an absent minded
way, when she heard Sound be-
meath her that caused her heart to
cease it's pulsations for a brief per-
iod. Turning to the servant, who
was removing some things from the
room, she said:
"Was there anybody here to-day?'.
Nobody, Miss Moore-nobody be-
side Mr.. Telford."
"You are sure ?'
"Oh, yes there was poor tramp.
| gave him bowl of milk land bread
and butter. You should have seen
him. / don't think he had bite for
days.
"That was right" The mistress
looked out again. The sound below
her was like the voice of man. She
could hear it through the sobbing
wind. A man, and at that hour !
And only two women in the house.
Miss Moore's pulse throbbed. Her
visit to Plummer She had been fol-
lowed. Her plans were discovered.
The money-the plate-would be
taken that night. That was what
the voice below her meant.
Would she take her girl into her
confidence +? No The girl was i'm
pulsive, nervous-a mere child in
difficulty.
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