Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1885-07-01

watched the sky all breakfast time, anC
when had finished my coffee hasteneC
to Aunt IIelen's room to tell her thu
bad news. She was not mucn impress
ell by it Snow in the South, she said
was not the obstruction, that it gener
ally WAS in the North
''My dear" she added, ~ have run.
three times for Wheeler, and she is no
come; will you go and see what is tn,
matter? am afraid her husband ma,
be worse.''
l hastened to obey her, but met Mrs
Wheeler at the top of the stairs, com
ing, she said, to see why her lady had
not wrung for her.
explained that the bell had been
rung three times, at which she seemed
much surprised, and, Fastening ntC
my aunt'S room, told her also that nc
bell had sounded. Aunt Helen desired
her to go down and listen while she
rang again, that they might ascertain
whether the bell was broken, or if she
had merely not heard it. She obeyed
and Aunt Helen pulled vigorously the
bell rope which hung at her bedside.
Presently Mrs. Wheeler re-appeared
and announced that no bell had SCUM
ded. Mrs. Keith looked annoyed, but
ordered her to send Immediately to the
village for the bell-hanger and have the
wi repaired. "The gardener can go
for him." sine added.
Under the circumstances this ordi-
nary accident gave us very disagree
able impression, especially as, soon af-
ter my aunt had entered the drawing
room, saw the gardener employed IN
quietly sweeping a path in the snow.
Aunt Helen asked Mrs. Wheeler sharp
ly, when she came to remove the break
fast things. why he had not been sent
for the bell-hanger? But the woman
though looking, l thought, confused
replied that she had asked the butcher,
who CHANGED to be at the house, to
send him, as Jones the gardener was
wanted 10 sweep away the snow.
By noon Mrs. Keith and began anx-
iously to expect the arrival of Mr.. Den
ham, and | did little else but watch
fro II the window across the dreary
waste of snow for his desired appear
ance-Fatima' S sister scarcely looked
more eagerly-but he did not come,
and two O'Clock dinner was served in
the profound gloom of a snow-stOrm,
Wheeler however announced that the
bell-hanger had arrived and was re-
pairing the bells.
''Lottie," said my aunt rather un-
easily after dinner, ''the bell-hanger is
respectable man, l remember. 1t
would be well perhaps to keep him for
the night. His presence would be a
protection. Go into my room, dear,
bring "A book off my table for an excuse,
and tell him for me, that, as the
weather is so bad, wish him to remain
to supper, and that Mrs. Wheeler will
air him bed"
l hastened to take the message, and
found the workman Just descending
his ladder, his work being completed.
Sand If you please to ring, miss, u
he SAID, ''you will find the bells all
right"
l rang, and the bell was Immediately
answered by Mrs. Wheeler. to whom,
instead of the man, gave Mrs. Keith s
message. Her brow clouded at 1t, bu t
the workman was excessively grateful 4,
and thanked me and Mrs. Keith effu-
sively. thought, as he spoke, had
never seen more cunning type Of face.
and | told my aunt so when l rejoined
her. She smiled.
"Prejudicel" she said. Ben Hill was
always a very honest, hard-worklng
fellow; your fears beguile your eyes,
Lottie."
But felt very uncomfortably i'm
pressed by the bell-hanger's looks, and,
the bed d-room he had just
quilted, looked all through It, behind
the arras and under bed; sofa, and tOi-
let table. Then. glancIng up at his
work. was surprised TO see four wires
where only three had been before. Had
he hung another bell? Was there any
trick in the matter? 1 returned to my
aunt and told her of my discovery.
-Four wIresl He must have hung
another bell" she said, 'Or perhaps he
has repaired the aiarum. Hill is an
honest fellow, and if he has any sus-
piciOns of the Wheelers, has probably
acted from good intention. Take no
notice of the extra wire, dear"
But where is the alarum- rope, aun-
.ie?' asked.
''Behind the tapestry at the head of
my bed," she replied.
Twilight was now closing in, obscur-
ng the remains of the very little day
light we had had, and high and bit
.er wind walled through the old trees.
rs if uttering a lament. L shuddered
1t the sound,
'.Mr. Denham cannot have received
ny note, or he would have come,"
exclaimed despairingly.
MY child" said Aunt Helen, Eve
Ire not sure that we are IN any danger.
It is a mere suspicion. Wheeler may
De faithful after all, and may not rer-
nit her vlllanious son TO carry out his
llots Remember, too, we are in the
lands of Heaven, to whose care L de-
commend you and myself" she
ldded reverently.
Ny aunt went to bed with head.
tche, and had her potion given to her,
\ hich she managed TO pour unperceiv-
ID into the bed. Wheeler was quite un-
'uSplCiOuS, anu lillSClCu Nibu hci hio-
ress, arranging her curtains etc, as
f unwilling to Say good night, ord af-
ection and fidelity probably contend
ng against powerful evil influence.
She went at last, and, as soon as the
louse was stilf, hurried Aunt Helen
ntO my room, and then returned to
arrange her own. L tucked in the cur
aims exactly as they had been when
Wheeler left her, and then prepared for
ny watch. How was to see through
he thick tapestry if any one tried the
loor?
1 had, and have still, in my posses
ion large green fan-formerly used
" ladies' In place of the then unknown
rasol, to shield the face from the sun.
had been greatly amused by finding
hat the upper and centre parts of it
we're perforated by large pin-holeS, not
,erceptible till the fan was held up to
he light, but enabIing its possessor to
ee all round her when her face was
covered by her fan. This
uggested to me that could pierce the
apestry in the same way with the still
eto used In embroidery. l hastened
o get mine from my yOrk-box, and
'ierced two eye-let holes carefully just