The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1886-11-09

coat unbuttoned, ana great mass
of loose golden hair came tumblin9
about her face and shoulders.
"In the name of all that's goodp
exclaimed the astonished house.
breaker, and then he let go Of her sc
suddenly that she staggered against
the wall.
1t was just then that the dool
opened and Brian kirkpatrick step
ped into the hall.
Neely. flew toward him with 8
sense of miraculous deliverance.
Brian she gaspcd, "that mar
was trying to roh-perhaps mnrdel
usp'
"The deuce he was" was Mr.
Kirkpatrick's terse rGoinder; and
then he stood staring at his cousins
attire in abject amSzement.
A burst of uncontfellablc laugh
ter broke the charm at last.
Nicely" Brian cried, for the loys
of heaven, what are yop doing Vi y y
those clothes on 2
s'That man, there, shemurmlsred
family, pointing to the would7be vic
tim, 'he's a burglar, Brian
."Not much. That is my friend,
Mr.. Nigel McAlpine. We came BY
the IL CLOCK train | had to stop
and tell Bates about tie horses, SO
gave Nigel my night6ey and sent
him on ahead And do you mean
to tell me yon took him for q bnr-
glar? Ha, ha, ha. That's richr'
A vivid crimson flooded Nee
ly's face as she glanced down at
her masculine attire, and felt a pair
of laughing eyes fixed upon her in
mingled amusement and surprise.
III thought-he was a robber,"
she stammered and then fed precip-
itately up stairs.
But she slmost fell on the second
landing over little whitc-rohed fig
ure that lay in heap upon the
floor.
Brian she cried, in choking
voice, "Come up here. Susie has
tainted. But don't you-don't you
dare to bring that man along
Nigel stepped into the parlor and
honestly tried not to laugh, but fail
ed ignominiously.
by Joveiw he exclaimed, Il had
narrow escape. She must be a
plncky little thing, and she did look
pretty with all that golden hair
tnmbling about her-in spi6e Of her
clothesl'
Susie came out of her faint short
ly, and laid back on the pillows
where they had placed her, looking
rather the worse for the shock she
had had.
"Iie has come to stay" sobbed
the heroine Of the adventure as she
buried her face in the bed clothes.
~ never, never in this world shall
be able to look him in the face
again.
"But, of course, she had to meet
him in the morning.
Il am sorry ] frightened you, Miss
Blanchard said Nigel, trying to
lcok at the lovely, blushing face OPP
posite without the ghost of a smile.
Il can't sec how Brian came to let
you come alone" she said severely.
aHe might have known we would be
frightened
Il can't see what his coming alone
had to do With it," Brian observed
serenely. 1T wouldn't have helped
matters, if there had been two hun
dred instead of one. But have you
missed anything this morning, sister
Susan? Dear knows but he did
commit some petty larceny when he
was sky-larking about here all by
himself
Neely preserved dignifcd silence,
And no efforts to draw her cut
were successful
"Why do you avoid ine?' Nigel
said to her one day when several
weeks had passed without his being
able to win her favor. 'sIf You will
excuse my saying SO, / think you act
very foolishly about-about .rifle.
II will not excuse your saying so, y
Ncely answered with heightenee
color. Il claim the privilege of reg
ulating my own conduct, Mr.. Meal
pine
IF you knew what / thought Of
it all, you would not speak to me
like that he said gravely. From
the first | admired your pluck and
courage I think that was one Of
the pluckiest things ! ever knew a
woman to do
Thank you,' she said stifily and
the subject was dropped.
The weeks went by,and the Judge
and Mrs. kirkpatrick were expected
home from Europe.
Brian went to New York to meet
them. He was to be gone severa
days; but as Nigel McAlpinc re
manned behind, the girls were MOI
afraid to let Brian go.
The second night after Brian's de
parture Neely sat up in the library
rather late, writing a letter Wher
she had sealed and addressed it, sh,
blew out the light and flung hersel
down in a great easy chair before th'
fire.
The Goals we're glowing beautiful
lly, but as she looked at them fad,
away one by one till at last she wat
enveloped in the impenetrable dark
ness of slumber
1t was almost an hour later tina
she was aroused from her sleep by /
slight touch on the shoulder.
AS she started up she saw Nige
McAlpine bending over her.
"Miss Blanchard he whispered
while he warned her with a gestur
to keep perfectly quiet, "there i
some one in the house-a real rob
Der this time."
A momentary CLEAN of amuse
ment shone in his eyes, but it die'
away almost instantly.
"Take this" he said, thrustin,