The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1883-09-20

"'You may go, Thomas, if your
brother is hurt so bad. Papa willsnot
be away long.
But, my young lady
"Never mind me in such case as
this i always was very tender-heart-
ed. You may go, and l will run right
back to the house.
He talked u few moments more, was
profuse in his thanks for my kindness,
and then started down for the city. l
took up the two baskets, and went sing
ing to the house.
IL sat an hour by the open window,
enjoying intensely this being alone,
and the quiet beauty OF the cool, au-
tumn evening.
perhaps you will wonder at this, {"
and the dimples played about her
pretty mouth, "but little birds were
singing new song in my heart, and
the quiet let me hear the sweet echoes.
"But directly l chided myself for
being rather careless, as the road was a
thoroughfare, and a chance straggler
might surprise me. L arose, closed my
window, and, obeying some strange,
impressive power, l walked through
the hall into the library, took my
fathers key from the accustomed place,
unlocked his desk, found the package
of $1,000, and, placing it in my bosom,
relocked the door, and returned to the
sitting-room. did not light lamp; l
had no need of fire, as that from the
kitchen stove warmed the sitting-room
sufficiently in this mild weather.
The house was old-fashioned, very,
with fireplace in the sitting-room
opening up into chimney of capacity
sufficient for foundry stack. We had
cheerful open fires later on; but the
house, being an ancestral pile, was get
ting somewhat dilapdated, and the
partition separating the fues in the
large chimney had fallen in. Men had
been set to clear out the rubbish and
make repairs, but the work, half done,
was suspended on account of the arrival
of Capt. Boswell and this important
business affair.
Il would have enjoyed immensely to
kindle a sparkling fire in the huge,
wide fireplace, but as affairs were l
could not So | unused in darkness for
hours. l really took no heed of time,
until my quick ears caught the sound of
football approaching, close up to the
doorstep, L could have taken my oath.
1t was so light an echo that sprang to
my feet, thinking that my cousin Milly,
absent when my father called, return
ing later had come down to stay with
me.
[ sprang up with a smile to answer
her knock, albeit l was bit jealous of
her pretty face; but no knock came,
and the echoes died out and altogether
l concluded that / had deceived myself
in regard TO them. Anyhow, 1 would
light the lamp. L did so, and was
startled to find it past 10 o'clock. L had
gotten sufficiently aroused from my
reverie now to want book from the
library shelves. L took up my lamp
and went singing into the room.
Il obtained the desired volume,
stepped down from the stool, and
IF ever any one felt themselves dy-
ing l did at that moment. My song
died on my lips, while thousand
thoughts seemed to flash into my mind
in one instant Involuntarily gasped,
and then with strong effort of the will
power, for which / am famous, l 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. /
| remembered the footsteps in the door
yard, and-there 'caS fresh, pitngent
smell Of tObdccO-SmOke IN the room.
A 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
instant? Beside, whoever the robber
was, he would SOON begin work, not
knowing how early my father and the
Captain might return. And should
| be murdered. Somewhere within few
yards or q. few feet of me, the robber
assassin was concealed-either in the
recess behind the cabinet, or under the
long, draped, paper-strewn table
"A faint sound outside nearly made
me drop the lamp from my hand; still
had unconsciously left my first song
and was singing:
For his ride soldier won her.
! And a winning tongue had he.
Il knew that temporary salvation
power and liberty to leave that room
even-depended upon my appearing
unconscious of the robbers proximity.
Il got out of the library and found
myself in the sitting-room. A hasty
glance at the door showed the key alb.
sent from the lock.
"Treachery!
81 wonder that this new revelation
did not suffocate me. The man on the
highway the injured brother-Thomas
has betrayed us. He had overheard
about the money. A robber was in the
house and another was outside. Ny re-
treat would be cut off. How thoughts
ran riot through my mind. How
would they kill me? Would 1 suffei
long? At that instant was sure thai
I heard faint creak of the library dool
at the far end of the long hall.
"One swift, despairing glance around
me, one wild idea of escape, and / ex
tinguished the light upon the table
and, crouching in the fireplace, l restet
one foot upon the andiron, swung on
IL