Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1883-12-18
J, TUESDAY DECEMBER 18, 1888.

to help him.
"As l passed up the hill saw man
in the highway speak to him. hesitat-
ed about going on, but the man made
only moments pause, and then went
down the hill, and was soon concealed
by turn in the highway.
"'Who was that. Thomas: | in
quired.
"'Oh, miss, it was a man from the
mills, saying that my brother has had a
bad fall on tie dam, and is believing
for me to come and see him. His legs
are broken entirely
"'What will you dos'
"I told the man could not come TO
see him today-but il went, miss, |
would sure to be back by | o'clock, if
not earlier
"'You may go, Thomas, if your bro-
,her is hurt so bad Papa will not be
away long
ale talked few minutes more, was
profuse in his thanks for my kindness,
and then started down for the city. |
took up the two baskets, and went sing
ing to the house.
Al closed my window, and, obeying
some strange, impressive power, | walked
through the hall into the library, took
my fathers key from its accustomed place,
unlocked his desk, found the package OF
five thousand dollars, and, placing it in
my bosom, relocked the door, and re-
turned TO the sitting room. | did not
light lamp; | mad no need of a fire. as
that from the kitchen stove warmed the
sitting room sufficiently in this mild
weather.
The house was old-fashioned, very;
with d fireplace in the sitting room open
ing up into chimney of capacity sutii-
cient for foundry stack. We had
cheerful open, fires later on; but the
house being an ancestral pile, was getting
mewhat dilapidated, and the partition
separating the flaeJ in the large chimney
had fallen in. Men had been sent to
clear the rubbish and make repairs, but
the work, half done, was suspended on
accoun, of the arrival of Capt. Boswell
and this important business affair.
al would have enjoyed immensely to
kindle sparkling fire in the huge, wide
Fireplace, but as affairs were | could not.
So mused in darkness for hours. l
really took no heed Of time, until my
quick ear caught the sound OF foot fall
approaching, close up to the doorstep, l
could nave taken my oath. II was so
light an echo that | sprang to my feet,
thinking that my Cousin Milly, absent
when my father called, and returning
later, had come down to stay with me.
81 sprang up with smile to answer
her knock, albeit ! was bit jealous of
her pretty face; but no knock came, and
the echoes died out, and altogether con-
cluded that had deceived myself in re-
gard TO them. Anyhow would light
the lamp. did so, and was startled to
find it past 10 o'clock. | was sufficient
ly aroused from my reverie to want
book from the library shelves. | took
up my lamp and went singing into the
room.
81 obtained the desired volume, stepped
down from the stool, and
"If ever anyone felt themselves dying,
| did at that moment. Ny song died on
my lips, while a thousand thoughts
seemed to fash into my mind in one in
slant Involuntarily gasped, ard then
with strong effort of will power, for
W hich l am famous, took up the song
again and sang it to the close.
among other things l remembered
that the lock was off the library door for
repairs. | remembered the lateness of
the hour and the probability that all the
people were in bed and asleep. | re-
membered the footsteps in the dooryard,
and-there was fresh, pungent smell of
tobacco smoke in the room, Il scent of
smoke that was not in the room when |
was there and placed the package of
money in my bosom.
"Do you wonder that my brain reeled
and my heart stopped beating for an in
slant: Beside, whoever the robber was,
he would soon begin work, not knowing
how early my father and the Captain
might return. And | should be mur-
dered. Somewhere within few yards,
or few feet of me, the robber assassin
was either in the recess behind
the cabinet, or under the long, draped,
paper-strewn table.
"a faint sound outside nearly made
me set down the lamp; still had un-
consciously left my first song and was
singing:
"'For his bride soldier won her;