Evening capital. (Annapolis, Md.) 1884-1910, 1884-05-17

sunshine. We reused them up for
frolic, and made them beg and hold
out their paws. Then we wanted
something they could roll about. and /
put the little carved wooden ball down
on the floor, only meaning to leave it
there minute till Lou got a spool out
of her pocket.
But the kittens were so full of play
they sprang at it as quick rs q flash,
and rolled it along the floor towards
the board partition. | ran after them,
and caught them both, but could not
find the ball.
Its gone through that hole in the
boards" said Lou, when we had search
ed behind boxes and barrels in vain.
Lets go around and get it." | re-
piled.
The board partition separated the
great dark space which was nearly all
occupied by the chimney, built of huge
rough stones, whose foundation rest
ed on the solid earth, far below, but
which, though lessening in size to-
wards the top, was still SO large there
by the garret stairs that it seemed like
a stone tower. On either side, be-
tween the chimney and the garret par
titions, was dark, narrow, cavernous
space. where the projecting stones
made a foothold. and where broken
chairs had been slowed away. making
a sort of barricade. The darkness
was almost blackness as we looked in
from the top of the stairs
"Your aunt Ann will scold if you
lose that ball. said Lou Hampstead.
"You don't know. She isn't your
aunt; you're only third cousin!" Il re-
piled on the defensive, but secretly
Dnneasv,
Ipeered into the dark opening until
my eyes became used to the gloom, and
Icould see, past the broken chairs, two
or three pieces of board resting on the
stones, and at the very farthest part al
most was something that might be the
ball.
Il see it I'm going in after it r' l
exclaimed
Don't you Go it You'll get killed p
said Lou.
but pushed in by the chairs and
reached the first board safely There
stood, leaning against the chimney,
till | couldsee better, and then / peer
ed along on the next board. Yes, that
surely was the wooden carved ball al
most at the end, half under a cobweb.
took step or two farther, and set
my foot on the second board. Then /
looked on and down into what seem
ed an abyss of darkness, but far below
was little gleam of light For an
instant stood wondering what it
could be, and then | took another step
reaching my hand to grasp the ball
The board tilted under my foot. /
felt myself slipping into the horror of
darknessl | heard Lou scream, and
clutched despairingly at the rough
stones beside me- In that way
steadied myself. and then l shut my
eyes till / got confidence enough to
step cautiously backward and recover
my footing on the first plank. 1t was
such relief when i felt Lou Hemp
stead catch hold of my dress behind.
"I'll hold on and pull. Maidiel" she
said, in terror-stricken voice: but by
that time it was easy work to crawl
past the chairs back to the stair-top
again.
but the bali is lost forever nowr' I
said, ruefully. for even as l slipped. I
had heard it bound off among the
stones.
Never mind" said Lou, comforting,
ly.
But 40 mind" l replied ..for
shall have to tell grandmother, and
that win make her think OF Uncle
Giles, apd she'n cry. Anyway, though.
/ won't tell her till after dinner, I
added s,
lop 81 my dress and hair.
80 ~. - go -. <7.s..-.. 4,s 49,