Connecticut western news., 1888-06-06


 into her eyes -thon fell back and dis appeared. Lucy reached her room, locked the door and sat down, trembling and cry ing. This last cncou. ter had been too much for her nerves. She was full of excitement and dread. Uncons cious- ly to herself this constant pursuit had worn upon her. Her strength seemed suddenly to give way. Sho sat, sob ping, almost unable to stir, when there was a knock nt the door.
 Shc started at the sound as if some new summons of evil were at hand; but the person who arp,arcd was only a young lady boarding in tho house with whom Lucy had slight scquaint- ance. A notc had been lcf, at tho house while Lucy WIS at school. It was her mothers handwriting:
 Come home immediately. Your father is very ill. Miss Burton delivered the note, but fingered, drawn to a pitying solicitudc by the sight of Lucy's swollen face. As Lucy dropped the paper and sobbed moro bitterly than be ore, Mss Burton gently approa ched her. saying, "My dear Miss Hutton, you havo bad news9
 'My father is very ill-dying. per hapsl But how ca1 leave my school9
 II will be your substitute while you arc sbsent I think I can. I have taught in school before. Aud I will go with you tonight and see tho rcctor'
 This kindness reanimated Lucy's mind. In flow m omcnts she had set tied her plans and tho two sought tho Rev. John Archer and had tho matter satisfactorily settled. Lucy was to start on tho Q O clock train and Miss Burton was to en ter the school in tho morn ing. -',,.
 Hurricdly making other arrangements Lucy bade her new friends grateful goodby, took fly and was driven to tho station. The train was ready; she entered. It was only an hours ride to her home.
 Suddenly, while the train was rush ing through thick darkness, lighted on- ly by cloud of sparks, Llcy rcnem- bcrcd her obtrusive admirer. .. ....-
 Il havo escaped him!" she thought, with moments delight.
 Anticipating her arrival she found her fathers chase cart awaiting her, the horso driven by her little brother, Will.
 "How is father, Will" -ea
 ''He is very ill, Lucy"
 That night was long and hard ono for the friends of the sick man. But at dawn, to tho relief of all, the physicians pronounced him out of danger.
 Tho morning sunshine found Lucy. pallid and exhausted. She was greatly unnerved. They begged her to go to sleep, but she could not rest. Her eyes were heavy, her lips pale, her hands hot. She carried some spring water, cool and sparkling, to her room, wet her throb- biug temples and her thick rich hair, tho weight of which oppressed her aching head.
 While engaged in this she heard knock at the door. Hurriedly coiling up her bright hair, sho went down. Tho door was open. She did not approach it, for, standing full in the sunshine, upon the threshold of her home was the tall, gaunt, detcstcd figure that had haunted her, like nightmare, for weeks. Covered with dust, his lank hair struggling upon his shoulders, his sallow hands extended, and his blood shot eyes fixed upon her face, his ap- pearance was repulsivc, hi' presence frish full. She shrieked and ran away.
 Forgetting tho invalid, sho had slammed the sitting ITO om door behind her. when she heard her name gently pronounced. and Henry Grayson caught her in his arms.
 .''My dear Lucy, what is tho matter7'
 What an incxprcssible relief was hi, protecting embrace, and the gush of tears which followed! Sho told him what had happened.
 Search was made, but there was no appearances of any ono near tho housc, and gradually Lu:y became assured ard composed.
 It was ii O clock, when, full of happy thoughts, Lucy Hutton went up to her | chamber. "
 The room was large; window was open; a gust of air rushed through and cxtinguishcd her candle. She paused; a faint thrill of her old timidity came over her. But she summoned her nat ural courage, and saying, "I will not go down stairs for matches; I will go to bed in tho dark" sh, c,os:d and also locked closet door which yawncd behind her, drew back curtain to let in the starlight and began to un- dress.
 Nothing unpleasant now mingled with the girls happy thoughts, as she softly unrobcd herself. She had quite forgotten thu present in thinking of a delightful future, when strange oiso startled her. It seemed like something struggling against tho wall. Her heart leapcd iato her throat.
 "Pshaw! it is only rat!' sho said, the next momrnt.
 AS she lay down, sho thought sho heard the sound again. But after that,