The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1886-02-26
NUMBER Is.

Mr.. Craven, forgive me; but must
run"
But whyY" demands her puzzled host.
OBTAINING her.
He is my uncle's dearest friend.
And my uncle is 70 leave us all his
money; and he is as particular as vou
please, and 50 old-fashiOned; and If be
heard through this dreadful old man Of
my being here for two DAYS, showed up
alone with without mamma, or anY
one, he would disinherit me" winds up
Miss Rivers, breathless and incoherent.
ly, / mean?7
Yes, intimately, and he owes me
many a grudge, because Ronnie and I
can't bear him, and have often been
very rude to him." acknowledges Cissy,
In distressed tone. He used to wor-
ry 50. There is no end to the mischief
he would make out of this if he knew
not heard my name mentioned by the
servants"
He sha'n't hear anything" says her
host, reassuringly; but"
At this moment heavy step in the
nau outside, drawing every instant
nearer and nearer, fills the hearts OF
the two within with dismay.
He is coming he whispers.
oh, what Is to become of me?7 she
murmurs, looking wildly around in
search OF sanctuary-tryingt to discOv-
er some faint chance Of escape. No
such chance presents itself Already
the owner of the heavy step has touch
ed the handle of the door; but not be-
fore bright idea has dawned in Mr.
Craven's mind.
There is an anteroom, a large closet
come with me, quickly" he says,
grasplng her hand, and leading her
across the fire-lit room to where some
crimson curtains hang
out aim OF purpose. Pushing them
aside he discioses a door. Opening il
hurTiedly, he entreats her to enter the
tiny room beyond. -
She Obeys him instinctively, but whis-
pers neTvOusly as she sees him going
DO not leave me here long. 1t is
dreadfully dark, and do so hate being
without light"
He can only look a reply, which she
does not see, and has barely time TO
close her in, and get back to the fire,
before the Major comes slowly up TO
him.
"Horrid cold houseID SAYS the new ar
rival, III grating tone. ugh, ughl"-
coughing reminds one of a vault"
Il am afraid you have come to the
very coolest room in it, the library is
much more comfortable; you don't take
half care of yourself" says the young
man with great concern, wondering
"AANA1 AAD " AAI oAAttAA 81 NM CnN u AAlO
room again.
Night has fallen, and only the glow
OF the brilliant fire throws light upon
the sOmber apartment. All the corners
lie III shadow, only the hearth-rug and
part OF the carpet stand revealed.
I've been there" returns the Major,
lTTltaDiy. 1t nearly frOZe me. Barely
got off alive. And there isn'ta a chair III
1t fit TO sit on"
The dming-room." begins Craven.
weakly, at his wits end. but the Major
stops him.
And dinner preparing'-in disgust.
IF there S one thing l hate, IL is being
IN place where servants are fussing
and rafting plates and silver. One has
eaten one 5 dinner in anticipation long
before one gets IL. No, thank you. |
shall stay here until the gong sounds;
It's degree less depressing than the
other rooms"
Driven to this pass Mr.. Craven falls
to thinking, and happily remembers
how richards, when showing him the
house, had told him OF a second door
leading from the closet where Cissy is
lmmuTed INTO the dInlng-rOOm. If only
the key of this door can be prOducedi
Making some frivolous excuse, he
fOFSalles The Major, and, rushing head
long through the hall, bursts like a
whiTlwini into Mrs. RIChards's parlOr,
and asKs her. with mcoheTent anxiety,
if the key lac hopes Tor is still in exist
ence.
She thinks so-with maddeninE hesi-
tation-but is afraid she can not lay her
hand on il at this particular moment.
that is, unless --... r--
Here she pauses, and meditates for
some time. unconscious. dear soul. Of
the tOTments her master is enduring
When she has thought it out carefully,
and when the young man is almost on
the verge of lunacy. she recollects all
about il. and, with n smiling cOunte-
nance, delivers the key 10 him.
Selling it jOyfully, he speeds toward
the second door. cries. Open sesame
and enters eageTlv-only to find the
anteTOOm empty and the bird fi0Wnl
Horrible visions of discovery, and
consequences Of the most unpleasant
nature, crowd upon his brain as he goes
back TO the small dTaWing-roOm. eN-
pecting to find tho Major irate and in
dignant. and Miss Rivers in the midst
of angry argument. But no. The Major
is in his chair, serene, sleepy. There is
no sound of discOrd. not the faintest
sign of Miss Rivers's presence any
wherel
- I7b b Continusd1