Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1885-02-28

And don't mind saying Isabel, they
shall all be yours, one OF these days, if
mercy upon us-what's the matter with
the child ~
For Isabel had sprang from her seat Ike
a frightened hare from its form.
a face, grandmother pale, rigid
face, looking in at the window through the
darkness without"
"Oh, shaw p cried Mrs. Kesley, there
amt soul lives within two miles of us.
Who on earth should be lookin' in at my
winder !"
81 don't know" persisted Isabel, I" but l
did see face"
Mrs Kesley opened the door and looked
| up and down.
:" told you sor she nodded trium-
phantly, closing and boiling the door.
" Not a creetur to be seen, not so much as
stray dog, It's your fancy, Isabel"
And not all her granddaughter pro-
testations could convince the ancient dame
to the contrary.
But about half an hour afterward, just as
Mrs. kesley was spreading the round cherry
table with cloth of homespun damasl, two
tined forks and plates Of some foreign ware,
curiously decorated with unlikenesses Of
birds, bees and insects, knock came to the
door, and Isabel started again, almost as
neryously as before.
1t was beginning to snow softly, as Mrs.
Kesev opened the door, and the crooked
little figure that stood there was powdered
over with the white drift-an old woman
wearing crumpled black bonnet, and an
ancient brown cloak with double cape
descending below her elbows.
"Who be your" curtly questioned
grandmother kesley, and what do you
want disturbing honest folks at this time
% night?'
Pm LOUSY Ann Paddock" was the
humble and conciliating reply, "and
started to walk from Hollyford to stay
spell with Mrs. Squire johnson below
here-she and my motherw first cousins,
you know-and somehow I've got belated,
50 calculated you'd keep me all night, on
pinch"
"Humph!" grunted grandmother Kel
sey, g | amt acquainted with Mrs. John
son. but Eve heard she was a dreadful
likely woman, Well, walk in, Mrs. Pad
dock-its an ugly night to be out alone i'll,
and although we amt no great hands for
company, / guess you can put up with our
ways Won't you lay of your things -
"Thanket :" said the new conner, in
regular New England twang "Fll take
off my cloak, but if it's all the same to
YOU, III rather set with my mood oIl-i'm
dreadful subject to neurology in the face p
And all they could see of Louisa Ann
Paddock's face was the startling bright
ewes that were yelled beneath the screen of
pair Of spectacles.-
.Sba'- amor loolyiOr old f.raatura
amt she ?" said Mrs. Kesiey in whisper,
as Isabel helped her ladIe up dishful OF
delicious, limpid "apple sauce" from a
on the second pantry shelf. But Isabel
did not answer-she was watching the half
open door.
:" | suppose ana fanciful," thought she
sat least grandmother always says 50 but
do think the face is just the same that
was hattened against the window when she
was showing me the box OF old-fashioned
jewelry. / wish we hadn't let her in. |
wish there was u man about the house. |
wish"
. Dear heart alive, Isabel, what on earth
be YOU dom? ?" scolded Grandmother kes-
ley" holdin' the dish so that all the
sirups runnin' out :"
And Isabel, with a blush and start,
was forced to own her Observation-Disclosures.
Their own utter helplessneSS, their iso-
lation and distance from aid-the rich old
Jewels in the wooden casket, and the pallid
face at the window, vanishing almost as
instantly rs it appcared-these, combined
with one or two discrepancies in the con
duet and appearance of their unlimited
guest filed Isabella Darling's heart with
vague alarm. People had been ruthlessly
murdered in their beds before now, for
treasures less valuable than these, and, had
an opportunity presented itself, she would
fain have taken counsel with her grand
mother upon the subject. But even as she
pondered, the newcomer rose to get drink
Of water from the stone pitcher on the
table. One or two long, vigorous strides,
and then catching glimpse of Isabelia's
.tartled face, the soi-distant Louisa Anna
! subsidized once more into the hating limp
Of old age.
But that one instance Of forgetfulness
had been quite sufficient to confirm the
young girls already aroused suspicious.
d" | was right" thought Isabel, her heart
beating wildly. 81 was right She is no
woman, but a man in disguise. And Grand
mother Kesley never suspects. Oh, what,
what shall do p
Al that moment Mrs KeSley rose, and,
taking the shining brass candlestick, began
slowly to climb the steep stairway that
led to the attic of the one-story dwelling.
For | s'pose," she thought, =" the poor,
tired creetur'll be glad to get to bed; and
| may as well see if the little cot in the
: north chamber is all right, with blankets
enough to keep off ones death Of cold"
ISABEL had risen instantly to follow her,
when, with one forward stride, Louisa
Ann Paddock closed the door at the foot
: of the stairs and drew the bolt
Stay where you are" uttered low
voice in Enthusiastically masculine accents.
Isabel uttered wild scream.
Help she shrieked, invourftariiy ut
tering the watchword, although she knew
no human ear was nigh TO respond
Help For heavens sake do not muir
der US, two helpless lonely women y
Isabel -
In an instant the brown cloak and hood
lay in a lump on the floor, and she was
clasped in pair of arms that were as
strong as they we're tender And through
the cannonade of knocking and rattling at
the stairway door, Kept up by Grandmother
kesley. who had been alarmed by her
grand -daughter's scream, Isabel could only
gasp out the half audible syllables:
ooh, Fred Fred Hensely how could
; you frighten me so ~
"Open the door, some one" squeaked
Mrs. Kesloy Murder Thieves Fire !.
Robbery Let me in, say y
Grandmother, don't be frightened
cried Isabel, TREMENDOUSLY, It's only Fred ]"
and" added the stranger, blandly,