Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1883-03-10

". Jna0 beard HONS
den tomorrow, and fight q duel with the Won
country
Gertrude ..ee. s;;ii instant in thought. Then
sne glanced In the mirror. 1t reflected bride
like figure. Dress of some ciinsinp creamy
white material daisy-decked head. cloud Of
lace clasped at the throat by tiny gold cross.
She smiled softly, re-read her note. waited i'm
patiently until half an hour had passed. and
then unlocked her door, opened 1t. and
listened. All was sient as the grave. eau.
tlousiy she ventured out into the entry, CROPPED
her way to the stairway, and began to descend
the stairs, pausing on every other step to make
sure that no one vas asTir and watching her.
AT last she reached the street door i'm safety.
1t seemed an age to her until she had succeeded
IN nnfastening the heavy chain across tin
reality it was just three minutes-and then she
felt for the key. 1t was gone, Her heart sank
within her.
"POor Everdel' she said and sadly prepared
to retrace her steps-not daring to try the base
ment way. because the servants slept i'm that
part OF the honsc-when faint light appeared
above her head, and looking up she saw great
gran, carrying a lighted candle in her hand.
coming down the stairs as carefully az she had
come down them herself. ''She will call the
others as soon as she is sure it is l." she eX-
claimed, clasp!ng her hands in an agony of fear
But Sreat-gran came straight on without q
word. until she stood beside the frightened girl
Here's the key. my dear" she said in a
whisper, and with quite grlish air. 1--WE got
key that fits the Generals door. though she
don't know it, and took this from under her
pillow. Oh! if she caught me. But she sleeps
nike soldier of the revolution. And here's a
little gift for you''-putting a small-package in
Geftrude's hand. Law. child. how much you
do look like ME the night / ran away with
Oliver Peeky! Your sweetheart's good boy:
know all about him. Goodnight. and a happy
New Year to you both.'' And eXerting all her
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS mi, ;,, ln.
great surprise-the old lady unlocked the door,
and gently pushed the girl out into the arms of
her lover.
And when the flight was discovered next morn
ing the anger thereat was nearly equalled by
the wonder In regard to the manner of it,
''She never went by the front door. for the
key was under my pillow" Numbered the bas-
soon.
: ''She couldn't have opened one of the parlor
windows to have saved her life." squeaked the
ME only John and myself know the secret of
the IaStenlngs. And IL she could have opened
1t, she certainly could not have fastened it be-
ilnd her Some OF the servants must have
helped her.
But the servants emphatically declared their
entire innocence
Huffey, looking rather spitefulIy at the old lady
as she rocked in her tavorite rocker and
munched her favOrite refreshment. ''She never
sees nor hears anything. But however the
nngratefui mink got out. I'm glad she's gone,
and not penny of my money does she ever
see.''
The great-gran's 'lttle gift proved to be a
bonbon box filled with fresh caraway biscuits,
IN the midst OF which lay a crisp thousand
dollar United States Treasury note But never
did Everdell or his wife hear from or see her
again. for very soon after their marriage she
passed quietly out of life, and so will remain an
enigma to them forever
And Madame Won Breeks Won Starch and Mis-
tress Huifey having succeeded in marrying the
merchant from BeIgen-Op-ZOOm to a distant
relative of the Won Starch famiy-sOught out
and lowered for that purpose departed with
the bridal pair for that once-renOwned military
town, and 1.-The land of the free and the home of
the brave" knew them no more
MARGARET EYTINGE.