Crawford avalanche. (Grayling, Mich.) 1879-19??, 1886-10-28

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} II is evening. The lamps are lighted
. the heavy curtains drawn.
Mrs. Atkinson, her cap all awry, is slum-
bering peacefully among the cushions OF
her easy chair.
} The Doctor and Constance are playing
chess.
Fred, lying on a couch, is listening in
diligently TO Nelly's low, vivacious chatter.
Sne has drawn low chair close up TO
the couch, and glances up at him every
now and again from under her long, curl
ing, golden lashes. The fire-light PLAYS on
the thick, soft curls of her fair hair. "How
is t-Fred interrupts her rather uncere-
moniously-"how is 1t that your hair is
short; did you cut it off to be in the
fashion,"
Fashion indeed! Did you think /
would cut off my hair to be in the fashion
Merci. Monsieur, l am not so stupid. l
lost my hair in fever had three months
ago. | was teacher-a teacher of draw
ing, but broke down ignominiously, right
N fhg hipp ppp5Sbtals talsf I TIE e5 S8xSiBe xiBIee S6sewsfs
was took it into their heads that it was
some kind of CONTAGIOUS fever that had,
and so was left TO the tender mercies of a
chambermaid. who was druak more than
half the time"
IL see, and, Nell, 1 must give those curls
just one pull, not q very hard one, of
course, but a pull. My health, all my
prospects of complete recovery demand it, :"
suiting the action to the words.
Nelly gives a smothered laughing shrek,
and Constance raises her eyes from the
chess board.
Her face grows pink from brow to chin,
and she drops her eyes again as quickly as
she had raised them.
The chances of the game have until that
moment been in her favor, but wild move
made now causes her adversary 10 exclaim
You did not mean to make that move,
think. You may take it back if you
choose"
"Oh, no-noi / made the very move 1
intended to" she replied and her adversa-
ry raises his eyebrows in astonishment. A
very few moments later and the game is
finished, and Constance totally routed, of
| course.
Il am afraid 1 played very badly" she
saws as she puts the men away intothe box,
"but Nap has been so teasing. He keeps
pulling at my dress every few minutes.
Nap is beautiful little Yorkshire terrier,
Constance's especial pet and property.
We'll, Nap. what is lido you want to come
on my lap?" STOPPING and picking him up.
But Nap evidently does not want to come
on his mistress lap; he refuses to stay
there, runs to the door. whines, scratches
on the panels, then scours back to his mis-
tress, barks, jumps up on her, runs back TO
| the door again.
Constance rises and opens the door. but
the little doggy, though he runs down the
corridor short distance, returns again di-
rectly, and, ju I as the mistress is about TO
close the door. he jumps up again, licks her
hand, his bright dark eyes saying as plainly
| as eyes can. "Please come. too" Con-
stance gives a backward glance into the
room before following her favorite.
Mrs. Atkinsons nap is over. She is sit
ting very erect now in her arm chair,
glancing grimly in Nelly's direction, who,
stu o l2 ON b her low seat has taken up her ban;
admiring and attentive auditors, at was a
lovely lady, richly dressed"
Constance hears her sing, as she softly
closes the door behind her.
Nap, delighted that he has induced his
mistress TO follow him, trots off in the di-
rection Of the kitchen.
well, Nap, now what is it you want
some milk?"
The kitchen is dark, save for the light
of the smoldering fre of logs upon the
hearth. Dinah is sleeping in the room
overhead; her snoring fairly shakes the
ceiling.
*.
and runs snuffing along the wall, stopping
under an old-fashioned easement window,
which has been left slightly ajar.
"Oh, you want the window closed, you
fussy little Nap!"
The little animal has grown all of sud-
den very quiet; it crouches close mp
against its mistress, its dark eyes anxiously
fixed upon her face.
Constances hand, which is raised to
close the window, drops heavily against
her side.
Surely there are voices speaking under
the window. She bends forward and
listens.
Her face grows white, her breath short
rs she does so. She puts ont her hand and
lifts the dog up. II nestles close up to
her, as silent, immovable now as she.
So pass some minutes; then Constance
fastens the window. carefully replenishes
the fire, pushes heavy wooden table
against the side door, which Is only fast
ened with an old fashioned wooden but
ton. This done she returns to the sitting
room.
where is DR.. Preston2" are her first
words.
Gone returns Nelly, "gone n half an
hour ago. Didn't you hear him ride off?
Have you" maliciously, "been asleep too?"
Il was In the Kitchen.
"In the kitchen? What were you doing
there at this time of night, pray?"
II followed Nap, who led me there
Aunt-Fred-it is too, too horrible to
think DIR. Preston has gone, for there are
four men outside, waiting until the house
Is dark, to rob il. / heard them. 1t was
Nap who discovered them; it was that that
made him restless and fdgety the whole |
evening: Nelly, why did you let the Doc
tor go?"
He had to see patient"
Constance, you are dreaming!" exclaims
her aunt.
II am not, indeed, Aunt Kate. l heard |
them as plainly as l hear you now. They |
seem 10 know that there is great deal Of |
silver In the house, and that you have |
your diamonds with you"
Fred has left his couch at her first words.
and is standing opposite to her.
The doors are strong and we'll furnish |
ed with locks and bolts, all except the |
small side door in the kitchen"
But that is the very door by which they |
will enter the house-they seem to know It |
well. Scip is away at a prayer me citing,
and Fred is wounded. One man wounded !,
at that, against four strong ruffians. God |
help us alll' says Mrs. Atkinson.
Mother, you and the girls had better
barricade yourselves in one of the cham
bers. will wait for the scoundrels IN the
kitchen, and IL they attempt to enter give
them warm reception. Don't give way
so, mother. One man inside q house is /
match for four outside il. / will fetch /
my. pistols, and you and the girls go and
lock yourselves up in one of the rooms"
Leave you to face death alone?" ex-