The Penn's Grove record., 1885-06-27

IL HltbIlu DANFNht Va
coming to us in answer TO my nOtep !
watched the sky all breakfast time, and
when | had finished my coffee fastened
to Aunt Helen's room to tell her the
bad news. She was not much impress
ed by it. Snow in the South, she said,
was not the obstruction, that it gener-
ally was in the North.
"My dear" she added, 81 have rung
three times for Wheeler, and she is not
come; will you go and see what Is the
NATTER | am afraid her husband may
be wOrse.o
FASTENED 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 INTO
my aunt's room, told her also that no
bell had sounded. Aunt Helen desired
her to 90 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 r~e-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 e repaired. 1.-THE gardener can go
for him" she added.
Under the circumstances this Ordi-
nary accident gave us a very disagree
able impression, especially as, soon af-
ter my aunt had entered the drawing
room, l saw the gardener employed IN
quietly sweeping a path in the snow.
Aunt Helen asked Mrs. Wheeler sharp
ly, when she came to removed 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 TO sweep away the snow.
BY noon Mrs. Keith and l began anX-
iously to expect the arrival of Mr.. Den
ham, and | did little else but watch
fro Il 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 vas 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 I'M
easily after dinner, 1.-THE bell-hanger is
a respectable man, | remember. 1t
would be well perhaps to keep him for
the night. Ills 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, l wish him to remain
to supper, and that Mrs. Wheeler will
i air him a bed"
| FASTENED to take the message, and
| found the workman Just descending
his ladder, his work being completed.
"And if you please to ring, miss"
he SAID, ''you will find the bells all
right"
Irang, and the bell was Immediately
answered by Mrs. Wheeler, to whom,
instead of the man, l gave Mrs. Keith's
message. Her brow clouded at it, but
the workman was excessively grateful,
and thanked me and Mrs. Keith effu-
sively. / thought, as he spoke, | had
never seen a nor cunning type OF face,
and l told my aunt so when | rejoined
her. She smiled.
"Preiudicel" she said. Ben Hill was
always a very honest, hard-working
fellow; your fears beguile your eyes,
Lottie."
But l felt very uncomfortably im-
pressed by the bell-hanger's looks, and,
returning to the bed -room he had just
quilted, | looked all through 1t, behind
the arras and under bed; sofa, and toll
let table. Then, %glancIng up at his
work, l was surprised to see four wires
where only three had been before. Had
he hung another bell? Wa there any
trick in the NATTER / 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 n sus.
picions of the Wheelers, has probably
acted from a good intention. Take no
notice Of the extra wire, dear"
But where is the alarum rope, aun-
| tie?' | asked.
"Behind the tapestry at the head of
my bed" she replied.
Twilight was nov closing in, obscur-
Ing the remains of the very little day
light we had had, and a high and bit
ter wind walled through the old trees.
as if uttering a lament. L ~shuddered
at the sound,
"Mr. Denham cannot have received
my note, or he would have CONF" |
exclaimed despalringly.
"My child,n said Aunt Helen, "we
are not sure that we are IN any danger.
1t is q mere suspicion. Wheeler may
be faithful after all, and may not per-
NIT her vlllanious son to carry out his
plots Remember, too, we are in the
hands of Heaven, to whose care l de-
votedly commend you and myself, " she
added reverently.
My aunt went to bed with a head
ache, and had her potion given to her,
which she managed to pour unperceiv-
ed into the bed. Wheeler was quite UNI
suspicious, and fingered with her mis-
tress, arranging her curtains etc, as
If unwilling to say good night, old af-
lection and fidelity probably contend
ing against a powerful evil influence.
She went at last, and, as Don as the
house was still, | hurried Aunt Helen
into my room, and then returned to
] dTIAiSb utI oNus l. luChcu III Tic Cul-
tains exactly as they had been when
Wheeler left her, and then prepared for
my watch. How was / to see through
the thick tapestry if any one tried the
door2
had, and | have still, iii my posses
sion a large green fan-formerly used
by ladies' in place of the then unknown
p rasol, to shield the face from the san.
/ had been greatly amused by finding
that the upper and centre parts of it
were perforated by large pin-holes, not
~perceptible till the fan was held up to
the light, but enabling its possessor to
see all round her when her face was
apparently covered by her fan. This
suggested to me that | could pierce the
tapestry in the same way with the still
leto used IN embroidery. l fastened
to get mine from my work-bOx, and
pierced two eye-let holes carefully just
whereof they showed at all-they
Yould aDDear like embroidered black