The Abilene reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1883-1888, 1886-12-23

By the lantern on the snow, she saw him
( smile, forhidding, snecring, vindictiye.
Don't leave me l,ere,' she cried. 'YoU
dare not But the heavy door wa:
closed ami locked while she was speaking.
She few TO the windows, shrieking
'sHelpi helpr' but no one heard her Then
it occurred to her that it was only joke.
! Hiram had locked her in, not unwilling thst
she should have fright, but he would
soon come back and release her-that he
could dare to leave her there for the night
was too horrible. Why, the fright of il
would Kill her by morning!
Then she sat down in one of the pews and
tried to think what she should do.
They would not miss her, because each
would think she was with the other. Hel
mother would worry a little, but as the
night wore on, she would believe her safe
| at home with Kate Blossom or Alice Baker.
And Maurice-oace he would not have slept
till he had said ''good night to her. NOw
he would not miss hcr-no, even though
this was to have been their bridal eve.
1t was not cold. A great fire had beer
made m the furnace III the basement, ana
the heat was almost intense, but it was
Grearily lonely. May would have given
much for the company Of that church
mouse the girls had been laughin; about.
From time to time there were threatening
noises, as some straightforward pew
groaned in fiber, or the floors gave back
some echo that had lin gered in them. Bat
surely that was the organ! AMI that was
Maurice playing! SOFT, sweet AMI steady
the tones rollel il subdued grandeur
through the silent church. Spellbound,
Nay sat and listened.
Il II,
ing, not the mad musician, but the former
Maurice, clothed and in his right mind,
who, in finding the last chord of Christ
mas music, had also found himself. II
had hurried to May as soon as church was
over that evening, but, somehow, had
missed her, and, when he went to her
home, was told that she must have gone to
spend the night with Kate.
Then, restless, iInpelled by some Trgi n
spirit that was not one Of the caprIcious
fancies that had lately held him in thrall,
but sane and earnest desire to once more
test the wonderful production he had given
to the world, he went to the church, and,
entering by way he knew of, sought his
beloved instrument, to find that it was, in.
deed, reality he had found, and, i'm
prisoned in its letters of sweet sound, the
lost chord. He played with the rapture of
gratitude, and, when he had finished. lifted
his eyes and saw May standing beside him.
When Hiram Wright heard the bells
pealing forth the Christmas chimes he
covered his head and trembled like guilty
thing. Would the old sexton hear her and
let her out from that ghostly imprison-
mentl No, for lie had the key. He did not
need that to climb TO the bell-tower. Sleep
he could not, and he tossed till morning,
and then went forth TO hear-whatl That
Maurice Dawson had been married in the
church before the midnight hour rang
That the whole village had been present,
so quickly had the news of his dastardly
conduct spread, and the rector himself had
suggested the happy finale to year of mis-
cry. And Kate Blossom had cried, and in
the excitement proffered her gold thimble
for the wedding-ring. And, as a climax,
every one held out the hand of peace on
earth and goodwill to Hiram Wright. Like
the traitorous Roman maiden who gave UP
the gates of the city for the bracelets of the
soldiers, he was killed by the kindness Of
those who despised him.